Displaced Energy Worker Dependent Transition Scholarship Program Eligibility Requirements

NOTICE: 2026-27 Alternative Application

As of July 24, 2026, a federal district court ruled that undocumented students are no longer eligible to receive state financial assistance for the 2026-2027 school year. For this reason, the 2026-27 Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid is no longer available. Students that do not complete the 2026-27 FAFSA and would have completed the 2026-27 Alternative Application will not be able to be considered for this program.

The eligibility criteria for the 2027-28 Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid will be changing. This application is scheduled to be released on October 1, 2026. Please visit isac.org/AlternativeApp for more information.

{ISAC Rules, Part 2746.20}

To qualify for the Displaced Energy Worker Dependent Transition Scholarship Program, an applicant must be:

  • a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen (FSA Handbook Volume 1, Chapter 2);
  • the natural child, legally adopted child or stepchild of an energy worker who has lost employment due to the reduced operation or closure of a fossil fuel power plant or coal mine;
  • enrolled or accepted for enrollment, on a full- or part-time basis (at least 3 credit hours) at an Illinois public university or community college; and
  • in the absence of transition scholarship assistance, deterred by financial considerations from completing an educational program at the Illinois public university or community college of choice, as shown by there being unmet need in their financial aid package.

An applicant does not need to be a resident of Illinois at the time of enrollment, however, the award is limited to the cost of in-district and in-state tuition and fees. The award amount will not exceed the cost of tuition and fees at the institution.