Approximately 80 percent of UIS undergraduate students receive financial aid through scholarships, grants, loans, and/or student employment. We are ready to help you apply for and receive assistance to fund your education.

Federal Student Loan Repayment Pause 

On November 22, 2022, the White House announced another extension to federal student loan repayments.  Payments for borrowers that are not in a qualified deferment or forbearance status will now resume 60 days after the Department of Education is permitted to implement the debt relief program or litigation regarding the court cases is resolved by the Supreme Court.  If there has been no resolution to the litigation of court cases or the debt relief program has not been implemented by June 30, 2023, payments will resume 60 days after that.   Please visit StudentAid.gov to continue to get further updates regarding announcements for repayments and the debt relief program, and keep an eye out for future updates from the Office of Financial Aid here at UIS.

Students enrolled in college coursework at least half-time status are considered to be in-school status, and will not enter repayment status. Typically, when students graduate, withdraw from college, or drop below half-time enrollment, they will enter the 6-month grace period leading up to beginning repayment.

Preparing for Repayment to Resume

Here are four steps to make sure you’re prepared for student loan payments to resume:

1. Update your contact information in your profile on your loan servicer’s website and in your StudentAid.gov profile.
2. Review your auto-debit enrollment or sign up for the first time. To do so, log in to your loan servicer’s website or contact your loan servicer directly.
3. Check out Loan Simulator to find a repayment plan that meets your needs and goals or to decide whether to consolidate.
4. Consider applying for an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan. An IDR plan can make your payments more affordable, depending on your income and family size.

Federal Student Loan Debt Relief

UPDATE: The Biden Administration one-time Federal Student Loan Debt Relief program is currently on hold due to a federal court decision. The application is currently unavailable. Please review all the latest information at StudentAid.gov.  

updated 11/15/2022

 
2023-2024 FAFSA Application

It is now time to apply for financial aid for Academic Year 2023-2024 (Fall 2023, Spring 2024 and Summer 2024) by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) began October 1, 2022. The Office of Financial Assistance encourages all UIS students to apply early, by December 1, 2022, to avoid missing any grant opportunities. The University of Illinois Springfield Federal School Code is 009333. You can also find Financial Aid Information and Deadlines or check your status.

Illinois Alternative Application

Students who are not eligible to complete the FAFSA may be eligible to complete the Alternative Application. Please visit the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) Retention of Illinois Students & Equity (RISE) Act page for complete details. 

FAFSA Facts and Fiction