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Institutional Grants

UIC Undergraduate Grant Program (Effective for Students Matriculating Fall 2009 and after)

The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) is committed to providing access to higher education and minimizing loan debt for all undergraduate students, by optimizing the positive impact of university supported grants on student retention and graduation while controlling the campus based financial aid budget. UIC has allocated a portion of its operating budget to provide Illinois residents who are Pell or MAP eligible with supplemental grant aid that will support them to degree completion while attending UIC. There are two levels of grant aid in this program, the UIC Access to Excellence Grant and the UIC Gateway Grant.

The UIC Access to Excellence Grant is awarded to neediest UIC Undergraduates as defined by their eligibility to receive both the Pell Grant and MAP Award. The UIC Access to Excellence Grant in combination with the Pell Grant, MAP Award and other federal/state gift assistance will fully fund direct costs (defined as tuition, fees, and books).

IMPORTANT: If as a result of reduced funding of the MAP Program by ISAC, UIC will not cover any shortfall. The UIC Access to Excellence Grant you receive will be based upon the MAP program being fully funded as per the state statutes with a maximum award of $4,968.


The UIC Gateway Grant is awarded to eligible UIC undergraduates receiving the MAP Award, but not receiving the Pell Grant. The UIC Gateway Grant award is $1500.


Eligibility for the UIC Access to Excellence Grant

Students must be enrolled at UIC and must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each academic year. All FAFSA applicants will be considered for the UIC Undergraduate Grant Program; no other financial aid application is necessary. In order to qualify for the maximum grant aid, students must also meet the following 8 criteria:

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident
  • Must have demonstrated Financial Need each semester
  • Must qualify to receive the Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) each semester
  • Must qualify to receive the Federal Pell Grant each semester
  • Must qualify for Illinois resident tuition
  • Must enroll for at least 6 credit hours each semester
  • Must maintain satisfactory academic progress each semester
  • Must have not completed their degree requirements for graduation

The UIC Access to Excellence Grant will support up to 135 credit hours earned towards a degree at UIC or support the number of credit hours required to complete a degree program plus 15 additional UIC credit hours, whichever applies.

Eligibility for the UIC Gateway Grant

The UIC Gateway Grant is awarded to those students receiving the MAP Award, but are not eligible for the Pell Grant. Students awarded the UIC Gateway Grant must meet all criteria listed for the UIC Access to Excellent Grant award with the exception of receiving the Pell Grant.

The UIC Gateway Grant will support up to 135 credit hours earned toward a degree at UIC or support the number of credit hours required to complete a degree program plus 15 additional UIC credit hours, whichever applies.

UIC Housing Award

Students who receive a Federal Pell Grant, qualify for the Access to Excellence Grant and have an EFC between $0 and $2,000 are also eligible to receive a UIC Housing Grant if they reside in University owned housing. The Campus Housing office informs the OSFA of students who have signed housing contracts. For 2009-10, the amount of the award will vary based upon EFC per the table below:

Estimated Family ContributionAmount of Award
$0 - $500$2,200
$501 - $1,000$1,800
$1,001 - $1,500$1,400
$1,501 - $2,000$1,000

VERY IMPORTANT: Students who were enrolled prior to the 2009-10 academic year and who received a UIC Housing Award in the 2008-09 academic year will still be eligible to receive one for the 2009-10 academic year if their EFC is between $0 and $2,000. However, starting with the 2010-11 academic year, only students eligible for the Access to Excellence Grant and who live in campus housing will be eligible for a UIC Housing Award. Please plan accordingly.

OSFA Tuition Award

Each year the OSFA is allotted a very limited amount of funding to provide to undergraduates in need of additional assistance. In order to be eligible, a student must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a full time undergraduate degree seeking student who meets the requirements of UIC’s SAP policy.
  • Complete the appropriate year FAFSA and have an EFC generally between $5,501 and $6,500.
  • Be eligible to receive the Illinois MAP Grant in the appropriate year.

For the 2009-10 academic year, the OSFA Tuition Award will range from $1,000 to $2,000 for the full year. The OSFA Tuition Award can be used to pay for tuition and fees. Funding for this program is very limited, thus not all students who meet the above criteria will be awarded the OSFA Tuition Award.

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