Eligibility
You must be the spouse or child of an Illinois police, fire, or correctional officer who was killed or disabled in the line of duty. You must also meet enrollment and academic performance requirements.
Learn moreApplication Deadline
Deadline dates are based on the term(s) for which you are applying. Submit your application in time to be considered for the first term for which you want to receive grant funds each year.
Learn moreProgram Details
If a correctional officer working in a security role for the Illinois Department of Corrections — or an Illinois police or fire officer — is killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty, their spouse and children may qualify for these grants. Financial need is not considered.
For Students and Parents
For Partners and Professionals
The 2027 fiscal year (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027) appropriation for the Grant Programs of Police, Fire, or Correctional Officers is $1,100,000.
- Grant Program for Dependents of Correctional Officers: Part 2731
- Grant Program for Dependents of Police or Fire Officers: Part 2732
Please review the eligibility, how to apply, dates and timelines, award amounts, and definitions sections above for additional program information.
2026-27
- The 2026-27 PFC application is anticipated to be available soon.
2025-26
- ISAC is accepting PFC payment requests (claims) for the third term (spring for quarter schools).
- The third-term priority claim deadline is Friday, May 8, 2026 .
- Although the first (fall for semester and quarter schools) and second-term (spring for semester schools; winter for quarter schools) priority claim deadlines have passed, colleges may continue submitting claims for these terms.
- Claims submitted after a term's priority claim deadline date will be paid only if funds remain after all timely claims have been paid.
<p>
There is not a separate PFC certification step. By submitting a payment request to ISAC, a college certifies that the
student meets all eligibility criteria.
</p>
<p>
Refer to the PFC User Guide for more information.
<em>
[🡨 launches the PDF currently located at https://www.isac.org/isac-gift-assistance-programs/pdf/PFCUserGuide.pdf
(document does not yet appear on the “Documents Assignments” spreadsheet)]
</em>
</p>
- PFC awarding reminders:
- If a student receives other assistance targeted specifically for tuition and fees, the combined assistance may not be more than the total tuition and fee expenses incurred; if it is, the institution must reduce one of the awards accordingly.
- The total amount of a student's gift assistance may not be more than the cost of attendance. If it is, it is considered an "overaward" and the institution must notify ISAC so this grant and/or other gift assistance can be reduced.
- If a student is eligible for assistance under both the MAP grant and PFC programs, the MAP grant may be reduced. PFC grant funds must be applied before MAP funds. MAP funds may be used to pay any tuition and mandatory fee expenses not covered by the PFC grant.
- PFC awards are paid in multiple disbursements.
- For full-year awards (including the summer term):
- semester schools receive three disbursements, and
- quarter schools receive four disbursements.
- Multiple disbursements are not required if the student's eligibility is not determined until the final term of the award year for which the grant is awarded.
- If the student has applied for or is enrolled in a term(s) which is less than the award year, they may receive the full maximum annual award amount.
- For full-year awards (including the summer term):
- Payment offset and reconciliation procedures apply to payment processing for the PFC programs. Learn more at the Payment Offset, Reconciliation, and Refunds page. [ 🡨 launches stand-alone page under “Home | Partner Resources | Partner Guides & Tools | Financial Aid Program Guidance” (located at https://www.isac.org/faas/processes/refunds-and-unpaid-claims/payment-offset-and-reconciliation-map.html and https://www.isac.org/faas/processes/refunds-and-unpaid-claims/returning-program-funds-to-isac/index.html on the current site; lines 414 and 415 on the “Page Assignments” spreadsheet)]
Refer to the PFC User Guide for more information regarding awarding and payment processing. [🡨 launches the PDF currently located at https://www.isac.org/isac-gift-assistance-programs/pdf/PFCUserGuide.pdf (document does not yet appear on the “Documents Assignments” spreadsheet)]
2025-26 PFC Priority Payment Request (Claim) Deadline Dates
- Term 1 (fall for semester and quarter schools): January 23, 2026
- Term 2 (spring for semester schools; winter for quarter schools): March 30, 2026
- Term 3 (spring for quarter schools): May 8, 2026
- Term 4 (summer for semester and quarter schools): Not yet determined
<li>PARTNER FAQ</li>
</ol>
<p>
Want to learn more about the PFC programs? Find additional details to assist as you administer this program in the PFC
FAQs for Partners.
<em>[</em>
🡨
<em>
launches a separate page located under “Home | Paying for College | Find ISAC Financial Aid Programs” (content
provided in separate file:
</em>
<strong><em>PFC - FAQs for Partners DRAFT.docx</em></strong>
<em>]</em>
</p>
<p>
You may also want to review the PFC FAQs for Applicants.
<em>[</em>
🡨
<em>
launches a separate page located under “Home | Paying for College | Find ISAC Financial Aid Programs” (content
provided in separate file:
</em><strong><em>PFC - FAQs for Applicants DRAFT.docx</em></strong>
<em>]</em>
</p>
<p>
For other questions, contact Partner Services by calling
<strong>866.247.2172</strong>
or emailing
<a href="mailto:[email protected]"><strong>[email protected]</strong></a>
.
</p>
<ol>
- Administrative rules
- Grant Program for Dependents of Correctional Officers: Part 2731
- Grant Program for Dependents of Police or Fire Officers: Part 2732
- USER GUIDE
- PFC User Guide [ 🡨 launches the PDF currently located at https://www.isac.org/isac-gift-assistance-programs/pdf/PFCUserGuide.pdf (document does not yet appear on the “Documents Assignments” spreadsheet)]
- FAA SPECIAL PROCESSES FOR PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION
- TRANSMITTING DATA
- GAP Access Two-Factor Authentication [ 🡨 launches the PDF currently located at https://www.isac.org/gap-access/media/Two-Factor-Auth-User-Guide.pdf ( line 1127 of the “Documents Assignments” spreadsheet)]
- GAP USER VERIFICATION
- GAP Access Portal User Guide [ 🡨 launches the PDF currently located at https://www.isac.org/isac-gift-assistance-programs/pdf/GAP-Access-Portal-User-Guide.pdf (does not currently appear on the “Documents Assignments” spreadsheet)]
- RECONCILIATION AND REFUNDS
- Payment Offset, Reconciliation, and Refunds [ 🡨 launches stand-alone page under “Home | Partner Resources | Partner Guides & Tools | Financial Aid Program Guidance” (located at https://www.isac.org/faas/processes/refunds-and-unpaid-claims/payment-offset-and-reconciliation-map.html and https://www.isac.org/faas/processes/refunds-and-unpaid-claims/returning-program-funds-to-isac/index.html on the current site; lines 414 and 415 on the “Page Assignments” spreadsheet)]
NEEDS TO BE INCLUDED IN PFC USER GUIDE:
- The “Student List Overview” info from the current PFC Application Procedures page (https://www.isac.org/isac-gift-assistance-programs/grant-programs-for-dependents-of-police-fire-correctional-officers/application-procedures/index.html). Note that general application info for applicants is included under the “Student” area of the PFC page on the new website.
- All necessary info from current PFC Payment Procedures page (https://www.isac.org/isac-gift-assistance-programs/grant-programs-for-dependents-of-police-fire-correctional-officers/pfc-payment-procedures/index.html) except for “PFC Priority Payment Request Deadline Dates” info.
- Any necessary info from current PFC Electronic Processing page (https://www.isac.org/faas/processes/PFC-electronic-processing.html) that is not already included in the PFC User Guide.