The Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant program provides eligible tuition and certain fees (i.e., registration, graduation, general activity, matriculation and term fees) to members of the Illinois National Guard for undergraduate or graduate study at Illinois 2- and 4-year public colleges.

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[110 ILCS 947/45 and 20(f)

23 ILLINOIS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE CH. XIX, SEC. 2730.10

Provides a tuition and (certain) fee exemption for members of the Illinois National Guard attended at State universities and community colleges.

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Individuals;

Qualified applicants must: 1) Be an Illinois National Guard member, defined as either active in the Illinois Army or Air National Guard, or have been active in the Illinois National Guard for at least five consecutive years and had his/her studies interrupted by being called to federal active duty service for at least six months and be within 12 months after your discharge date from the Illinois National Guard; 2) Have completed one full year of service in the Illinois National Guard; 3) Be an enlisted member or an officer; 4) Be enrolled at an Illinois public 2- or 4-year college; 5) Not be in default on any student loan, nor owe a refund on any state or federal grant. If you are in default, you may re-establish your eligibility; 6) Maintain an acceptable grade point average (GPA) according to the policy determined by your college; and 7) Submit your complete application on or before the applicable deadline, based on the academic year. Applicants who have completed less than 10 years of active duty ING service may receive benefits for the equivalent of four years of full-time enrollment. Applicants who have completed at least 10 years of active duty ING service may receive benefits for the equivalent of six years of full-time enrollment.

Individuals

Direct Payments for Specific Use

Education

ISAC will verify application data in consultation with the Illinois Department of Military Affairs (DMAIL) when reviewing an application. Changes to a recipient's National Guard status must be reported to ISAC by DMAIL.

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The complete application must be received by ISAC on or before the deadline date, and an application must be submitted for each academic year in which benefits are to be used. Individuals who are unable to apply electronically may request a paper application from ISAC. It is the applicant's responsibility to fax the paper application, or allow enough mailing time, in order for the paper application to be received by ISAC on or before the applicable deadline date. Because this is an entitlement program, eligible recipients will receive their awards regardless of annual appropriations by the Illinois General Assembly and the governor - Illinois public 2- and 4-year colleges are required to waive any eligible tuition and allowable fees that are not covered by state appropriations.

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For the years when state funds are appropriated, ISAC works with the college to disburse funds for this program. The college certifies student eligibility and then submits a payment request on behalf of the student. ISAC processes the payment request and submits the information to the State Comptroller’s Office. Dependent on the level of State of Illinois funding at the time of the request, the amount of time it takes for funds to arrive at the college can vary. Depending on the college, students may be responsible for payment until program funds are received. Qualified applicants who are awaiting receipt of funds from this program should contact the Financial Aid Office or Business Office to determine the college's policy.

October 1, 2022 - Full Year Consideration March 1, 2023 - Only 2nd Semester (2nd/3rd Quarter) and Summer Consideration June 15, 2023 - Only Summer Term Consideration

ISAC will annually establish priority claim dates for the submission of payment requests and inform institutions of the required priority dates. For the fall term, the priority claim date will be during the month of December; for the spring term, the priority claim date will be during the last two weeks of March or the first two weeks of April; for the summer term, the priority claim date will be during the month of July.

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Applicants must apply annually.

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ING covers tuition and certain fees (registration fees; graduation fees; general activity fees; matriculation fees; and term fees). Benefits are applicable to both undergraduate and graduate enrollment. There is no minimum credit-hour enrollment requirement. Benefits are applicable for noncredit courses. Benefits are limited to use only at Illinois public universities and Illinois public community colleges. If a student is eligible for both an Illinois National Guard Grant and a MAP grant, the Illinois National Guard benefits must be used first. A student cannot decline an Illinois National Guard Grant in favor of using MAP. Illinois National Guard members who have been called to federal active duty service may also be qualified applicants for the Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) Program. Students can use ING in conjunction with IVG; however, students will use the same amount of eligibility units for each program regardless of the amount of benefits paid. Students who qualify for the ING Grant and the Montgomery GI Bill may receive benefits from both programs during the same term for eligible educational expenses. For veterans who are eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and who choose to use those benefits with ING Grant program in the same term, the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits may be applied first (VA will be first payer), and any remaining eligible tuition and fee charges would be covered by the ING Grant.

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The grant is applicable only toward tuition and approved fees.

The Illinois National Guard Grant provides payment of college tuition and certain fees (registration, graduation, general activity, matriculation, and term fees) for eligible applicants.

https://www.isac.org/e-library/documents/administrative-rules/2022-23-isac-rules/2730-ING.pdf

500 West Monroe, 3rd Floor Springfield, IL 62704

1755 Lake Cook Road Deerfield, IL 60015-5209

https://www.isac.org/students/during-college/types-of-financial-aid/grants/ing-grant-program.html

Illinois Veterans Grant (IVG)

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