All students are eligible to apply for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Apply today at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. Award letters will be announced around the second week of March.
If a student qualifies for federal grant money through FAFSA, monies can be used for tuition, book vouchers, and any remaining money will be refunded to the student. “FAFSA grants such as, FSEOG, Pell Grant, and MAP grant, do not need to be paid back. FAFSA is not to be confused with student loans, which will need to be repaid,” said Isamar Taylor, financial aid director.
Exceptions for FAFSA repayment could apply if a student withdraws from a specific number of courses during a semester. Students can contact the Financial Aid office before withdrawing from courses to avoid any issues with this matter.
Taylor said, “Do not be afraid to stop in, I know Financial Aid may seem scary or complex, but there are people here to help students through the process. Even if a student would just like help going over their award letter, we can do that for you.”
The Financial Aid office is located in the Student Services Center, room CTC101S. Students can contact the Financial Aid office during office hours: Monday, Thursday, and Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. The main office number is 815-224-0438. Students can also email [email protected]. The Financial Aid office is closed when the college is closed.
“Students may think they do not qualify, but if the student qualifies for a small amount, the funds can still help. It is simple and easy to apply to. Students can apply for FAFSA even if they have received other scholarships,” said Taylor.
IVCC student, Jen Brown, said “I believe the FAFSA application can be quite intimidating for many students. The first time I applied, I felt a bit overwhelmed. However, once I gathered my thoughts and received some assistance with starting the process, it became much more manageable. It’s a process that may require guidance, but with the right support, it becomes far less daunting.”
If a student feels they are unable to obtain parent income taxes, has special circumstances, or has any questions, please contact the Financial Aid office to speak with a Financial Aid advisor.
“There is no deadline to apply; however, it is recommended to apply now,” said Taylor. “If a student applies too late, they could still receive a federal grant, but may not be awarded the state MAP grant.”
As a student that has received FAFSA, when asked “do you think it is important for students to try and apply for Financial aid even if they are unsure if they qualify?” Brown said, “Absolutely, it is crucial for every student to apply for financial aid, regardless of their perceived eligibility. Even if a student has been told they do not qualify, there is no harm in attempting.
“It would be a true disservice if a student, at any educational level, missed out on advancing their education and improving their future simply because they did not seek financial assistance or were misinformed. As a student who has benefited from FAFSA, I can unequivocally state that I would not have been able to attend college without it. Financially, I am not in a position to bear the burden of student loans,” said Brown.
What are FAFSA Fridays? Is it every Friday? What time? Do students need to make an appointment?
“FAFSA Fridays are a scheduled meeting with an Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISACorps) representative, Aubrie McDermott. She will help students apply and walk students through the application, whether it is creating an account or actually doing the whole application. Typically, McDermott prefers if a student has already created their username and password (within the FAFSA portal), because that process can take three to five days due to verifying student identity,” said Taylor.
Creating a username and password ahead of an FAFSA Friday appointment, can help save time.
When a student is applying for 2025-2026 FAFSA, “they will need 2023 income taxes for both parent and student, or just student (24 years or older), or if the student is married–their spouse’s. It depends on their individual situation, but they will need their taxes,” stated Talyor.
If Fridays do not work with a student’s or parents’ schedule, the Financial Aid office has advisors that will work with them on the FAFSA application. Evening office hours are available Tuesday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m.