ISAC Student PortalSuspense: 2025-26 MAP Grants
ISAC has suspended (paused) the announcement of 2025-26 MAP grants as follows:
- Wednesday, July 30, 2025 was the last day for students to apply for 2025-26 MAP grants by submitting an initial 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) or, for qualifying students, an Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid. ISAC bases its awarding on the application receipt date recorded in the initial FAFSA and Alternative Application records. The announcement of awards for students whose FAFSAs are received by the federal processor or whose Alternative Applications are received by ISAC after that date will be put "in suspense" – basically, a waiting list for 2025-26 MAP. See the 2025-26 Processing Updates section of the MAP page for further details. Note that this is a later date than previously had been announced (see the Processing Updates section of the MAP page for further details).
MAP awards are made on a first-come, first-served basis for eligible students, and available funding may run out quickly for the program.
For quick reference, see the chart, below:
2025-26 MAP APPLICANT AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT STATUS CHART
| Type of Applicant | Initial FAFSA® or Alternative Application Receipt Date | Award Announcement | Suspended |
| Standard | Prior to and including June 5, 2025 | Full Year | No |
| June 6, 2025 through July 1, 2025 | Full Year | No (released as of January 30, 2026) |
|
| July 2, 2025 through July 30, 2025 | Full Year | No (released as of April 7, 2026) |
|
| July 31, 2025 and after | Suspended | Yes |
If you have not yet submitted a FAFSA (or, for qualifying students, an Alternative Application), we encourage you to do so. The FAFSA determines eligibility for financial aid other than MAP for which you might be eligible, such as federal Pell grants and institutional aid. Also, if MAP funds do become available later, the only way you can be considered for MAP is to have submitted a FAFSA or Alternative Application.
If my application is submitted after July 30, 2025 is there any possibility I can still get a MAP grant?
If your application is submitted after July 30, it is still possible that you could receive a MAP grant, but you should not count on it. Every year there are students who do not use their MAP awards, and those who are eligible for MAP and whose applications are received after but very close to the deadline may have an opportunity to get those awards.
For more information on the Illinois Monetary Award Program, see the MAP area of the Students & Parents section of our website.
