ISAC in the News

December 17, 2025 - Illinois quietly changes scholarship for teachers of color amid lawsuit, threats from federal government - A spokesperson for the Illinois Student Assistance Commission confirmed that the lawsuit was dismissed in court earlier this month.

November 18, 2025 - Proceso de FAFSA: ¿Qué es? ¿Cómo funciona? Errores comunes que debes evitar (What is FAFSA? How does it work? Common mistakes and how to avoid them?) - Ana Moya se une a Univision para explicar el proceso de FAFSA, qué es, cómo funciona y los errores comunes que debes evitar. También ofrece orientación sobre cómo crear una cuenta de Student Aid, cumplir con los plazos y acceder a recursos clave de ayuda financiera.
(Ana Moya joins Univision to explain the FAFSA process, including what it is, how it works, and common mistakes to avoid. She also shares guidance on creating a Student Aid account, meeting deadlines, and accessing key financial aid resources.)

November 12, 2025 - Illinois steps up where feds fall down in making college affordable - The state is meeting the moment by providing assistance, guidance and resources for students.
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November 3, 2025 - Everything you need to know about FAFSA - Lynne Baker, Managing Director of Communications of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission joins Lisa Dent to share everything you need to know when applying for Federal Student Aid.

October 30, 2025 - FAFSA for 2026–2027 now open as families navigate rising college costs - With tuition climbing and budgets tight, Lynne Baker from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission explains what families need to know about the FAFSA, how to get help, and where to find trusted financial aid resources.

October 14, 2025 - D97 launching career exploration planning: Initiative designed to connect student academic experiences with real world - In 2022, Illinois mandated that students in grades six through 12 participate in career exploration.

October 1, 2025 - Ana Moya de ISAC Habla sobre el proceso para completar la solicitud de FAFSA. Ana Moya from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission explains what families need to know about the 2026-2027 FAFSA being available, how to get help, and what to expect.

September 27, 2025 - FAFSA applications open soon, here's what's changing - ISAC’s Ana Moya talks with NBC 5 Chicago about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which will be opening on October 1, 2025.

August 28, 2025 - Illinois has significantly increased MAP grant funding since the budget crisis. What has it done for college affordability? - In fiscal year 2016, the state appropriated $170 million to MAP. In 2025, the state budget devoted over $700 million.

July 16, 2025 - Report: Illinois graduates who earn college degrees make more money, but racial disparities persist - The collaborative worked in partnership with the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research along with the Illinois Department of Employment Security, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, and the Illinois State Board of Education to analyze data from the Illinois High School 2 Career dataset.

July 10, 2025 - Opinion: Because going to college pays off, increasing access is urgent - What’s the most reliable way for young people today to land a job with a salary that can support them and a family? The evidence is clear: Get a college degree.
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July 10, 2025 - PE class inspired Washington high school students to pursue special education careers - Thanks to a grant from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, college tuition and fees for all five students are covered.

July 2, 2025 - New Illinois Law Authorizes Direct Admissions At Public Universities - Illinois has become the latest state to create a direct college admissions program at its public universities.

June 12, 2025 - Graduate test prep program to lose state funding - The program received $10 million in the budget year ending June 30 and provided students with free access to more than 40 test prep courses, including graduate-level admission exams, according to Lynne Baker, a communications director at the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, one of the program’s partners.
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May 27, 2025 - The Graduate’s Burden: How Illinois Is Confronting The Student Loan Crisis - With $63 billion in collective student loan debt, new forgiveness programs and innovative solutions aim to help borrowers. But state funding and public awareness remains an obstacle.

May 23, 2025 - Illinois Legislature passes bills designed to give FAFSA help -Lawmakers at the Capitol have approved two proposed laws that could end up making filing for college student aid easier and more convenient.

May 1, 2025 - Advocates press for continued funding to college test prep support program - The program, a collaboration between the Illinois Student Assistance Commission and the educational service company Kaplan, allows students free access to more than 40 prep courses including graduate-level admissions exams such as the LSAT for law school, as well as courses in data analytics, cybersecurity and real estate.
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February 17, 2025 - Student MAP grants lower than expected - College students who receive Monetary Awards Program grants are seeing an 8% cut in their spring semester assistance after a higher-than-expected number of eligible students enrolled in classes this school year.

January 15, 2025 - MAP grant disbursement decreases for Spring 2025 - MAP grant amounts will be reduced by 8%, up to $336 per student for the spring 2025 semester.

January 13, 2025 - Contractors brace for the demise of diversity initiatives - Blum's radar last year picked up an Illinois scholarship program for minority teachers, established by the General Assembly in 1992 and administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

January 3, 2025 - Advocates and Educators call on Illinois to restore monetary award program for incarcerated students - Following the bipartisan reinstatement of Pell Grant access to incarcerated people which was signed into law in 2020 and went into effect this year, Illinois’ Back on the MAP campaign is pushing the state to restore Monetary Award Program (MAP) eligibility to people in prison by passing HB3740.