Grants
Grants are a need-based form of financial aid that do not need to be repaid. They exist at the university, state, and federal levels. Please see below several grant options for which you may be eligible.
University Grant
Committed to making a world-class education affordable for all, UChicago uses information from your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the University of Chicago Financial Aid Worksheet, and your family’s tax returns determine your eligibility for University funds. When packaging a University Grant, we first determine your parent and student contributions as well as your eligibility for federal and state grants. We then package the University Grant funds based on the remaining costs associated with your enrollment.
All grant eligibility is reevaluated each academic year. You must reapply for aid and meet all applicable deadlines in order to be considered for all programs.
Federal Pell Grant
Federal Pell Grant eligibility is determined by the U.S. Department of Education when reviewing your financial information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The Pell Grant is made available to families who, based on the information they provided on the FAFSA, have the greatest financial need. The maximum amount for 2024-2025 is $7,395, based on full-time enrollment. Because it is a grant, this amount does not need to be repaid.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a campus-based federal program. Students who are eligible for a Federal Pell Grant and who demonstrate exceptional financial need are given priority for these limited funds. The amount will vary.
Illinois MAP Grant
The State of Illinois operates the Monetary Award Program (MAP), which supplies need-based grants to students who are residents of the state of Illinois. The Department of Education forwards your FAFSA data on to the Illinois Student Assistance Committee (ISAC), and they determine your eligibility for the MAP Grant. Your eligibility is based on the financial data provided by the information you supplied on the FAFSA. The maximum MAP Grant for 2024-2025 is $8,400, based on full-time enrollment.
The deadline for submitting your FAFSA to the State of Illinois is usually earlier than Financial Aid's annual deadline to reapply for aid. Due to the state’s deadline, we highly recommend that, once it becomes available, you submit the FAFSA.
* If you are an Illinois resident and are not eligible to complete a FAFSA application for federal financial aid consideration, you may be eligible to complete an alternative application to be considered for State of Illinois financial aid. You can learn more and determine your eligibility to apply by clicking here.