Financial Aid 101 Logo Identifier

At UIS, we make your aspirations of earning a degree achievable and affordable. While the cost of college is an investment, we're proud to share that approximately 80 percent of our undergraduate students receive financial assistance through scholarships, grants, loans and student employment opportunities.

Do you have questions about the financial aid process? We have solutions thanks to our Financial Aid 101 resources. With topics ranging from top tips you should know about financial aid to the specific types of financial assistance available to UIS students, our materials will provide you with peace of mind when it comes to financing your education.

The Top 5 Tips You Should Know about Financial Aid

University of Illinois Springfield Associate Director of Financial Aid Ella Lawrence discusses helpful tips to know when preparing for college.


Transfer and Graduate Student Aid

University of Illinois Springfield Associate Director of Financial Aid Ella Lawrence discusses financial aid options for transfer and graduate students.


Types of Loans Available to Students

University of Illinois Springfield Director of Financial Aid Laci Engelbrecht discusses the different types of loans that are available to students.


The Return on Investment of a UIS Degree

University of Illinois Springfield Chancellor Janet Gooch discusses the life-long return on investment of a UIS degree.


Ways to Save for College

University of Illinois Springfield Distinguished Professor of Public Administration Ken Kriz discusses long-term ways to save for college.


Military and Veteran Aid

University of Illinois Springfield Director of Military and Veteran Student Services Loren Easter talks about the types of financial aid that are available to military-connected students.


Prairie Promise

The University of Illinois Springfield is launching the Prairie Promise, a new four-year financial aid program for eligible Illinois residents that will fully cover the cost of tuition and fees for first-time, first-year undergraduate students enrolled full time in on-campus degree programs starting in Fall 2024.


FAFSA Changes

The U.S. Department of Education has made some changes to the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that you should know about as a new or returning student or parent at the University of Illinois Springfield.


Filling Out the FAFSA

A new version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) was released by the U.S. Department of Education in late December. Here’s what you need to know about filling out the FAFSA at the University of Illinois Springfield.


UIS Scholarships

Want to join the 80% of undergrads at the University of Illinois Springfield benefitting from scholarships? Discover how our Prairie Promise, merit-based awards, transfer incentives, honors and institutional scholarships are making educational dreams a reality.


New Student Information

Already an admitted UIS student? Check out our new student resources to help plan your next steps with financial aid.

Contact Financial Aid

Have questions about paying for college? Our Financial Aid team is here to assist!