SB2927 Summary

• Establishes the AIM HIGH Grant Pilot Program beginning in the 2019-2020 academic year, allowing public 4-year universities in Illinois to offer merit-based, means-tested matching scholarships to eligible Illinois students.

• Eligible applicants must be Illinois residents, file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, demonstrate financial need with household income no greater than 6 times the federal poverty guideline, meet minimum GPA or test score requirements set by each university, and be enrolled full-time as undergraduate students who have not yet earned a baccalaureate degree.

• Participating universities must match state-allocated funds with their own financial aid and cannot decrease total non-loan financial aid to undergraduates below fiscal year 2018 levels to remain eligible for program funds.

• Universities must post eligibility criteria and award amounts on their websites and report annually to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, including detailed demographic and financial data on grant recipients while maintaining student privacy.

• Program is repealed on October 1, 2024, making this a temporary pilot initiative to test whether tuition discounts increase enrollment and affordability at Illinois public universities.