ISAC Student PortalOESP 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, Section 2741.20}
In order to qualify for the Optometric Education Scholarship Program, applicants must:
- be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen who meets the eligibility requirements to complete the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid. Any ISAC grant or scholarship program that requires the FAFSA will also accept the Alternative Application
- be a resident of Illinois; and
- be enrolled, or accepted for enrollment, on a full-time basis in a public or private college of optometry located in Illinois that awards a doctorate degree in optometry and is approved by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation.
