Award Amount
Tuition and mandatory fees to a maximum of $2,000. The amount is determined by the institution.
Learn moreEligibility
You must be a student attending a college that participates in the HELP Program.
Learn moreApplication Process
Complete the FAFSA every year. Contact your college to see if they have an additional application process.
Learn moreApplication Deadline
The deadline depends on whether your school has application materials for students to submit.
Learn moreProgram Details
This program provides financial aid to students who attend colleges that participate in the special collegiate license plates. The Illinois Secretary of State issues special collegiate license plates for these institutions. Part of the funds from these license plates is appropriated annually to ISAC to administer a grant program for undergraduate students attending colleges and universities located in Illinois or a bordering state.
For Students & Parents
To be eligible, you must:
- be a U.S. citizen, or an eligible noncitizen
- be a resident of Illinois
- be able to show financial need by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA ® )
- be enrolled at participating college, which is a not-for-profit private college or university located in Illinois or a bordering state that participates in the collegiate license plate program through the Illinois Secretary of State. The current institutions participating in this program are:
- Bradley University
- DePaul University
- Loyola University Chicago
- Northwestern University
- Augustana College
- Concordia University Chicago
- Millikin University
- Elmhurst University
- University of Notre Dame
- University of Chicago
- maintain satisfactory academic progress determined by your institution, if you are renewing your application
- be an undergraduate student and have not received a bachelor’s degree
This program is managed by the participating colleges. There is no separate ISAC application. Students apply through their college by completing the FAFSA, which colleges use to decide financial need and eligibility based on program requirements. The college financial aid offices will make all eligibility and awarding decisions.
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Contact your college to find out if you need to submit any additional application materials.
Complete FAFSA by the deadline each year. Contact your school to find out if there are additional application materials you need to fill out, and if so, what the deadline is to submit them.
Colleges will decide how much each student’s grant award will be based on the amount of funding available for the grant.
If awarded, you may receive this grant for up to 10 semesters or 15 quarters of full-time enrollment to cover the costs of tuition and mandatory fees. Awards can be used for two semesters or three quarters each academic year, and schools can determine if awards are available for summer terms. You should contact your financial aid office for more information.
Illinois Collegiate License Plate Program: Collegiate license plates are special plates offered by the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office that recognize Illinois colleges and universities and allow motorists to help support scholarships at these schools. A portion of the sale of each license plate is given to the participating school.
Applicant FAQs
If you have questions, contact an ISAC Student Engagement Representative by calling 800.899.ISAC (4722) or send an email to [email protected].
For Partners & Professionals
The 2027 fiscal year (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027) appropriation for the Higher Education License Plate (HELP) Program is $110,000.
Higher Education License Plate (HELP) Grant Program: Part 2737 - Administrative Rules
Please review the Eligibility, How to Apply, Dates and Timelines, Award Amounts, and Program Definitions sections for additional program information.
Participating schools are responsible for determining student eligibility, selecting recipients, establishing award amounts, and disbursing funds to students.
The student’s grant award in any academic year shall be the lesser of:
- $2,000 for two semesters or three quarters of full-time undergraduate enrollment or $1,000 for two semesters or three quarters of half-time undergraduate enrollment; or
- the amount of tuition and mandatory fees applicable to two semesters or three quarters of full-time or half-time undergraduate enrollment; or
- the amount of the applicant's calculated financial need; or
- the remaining funds available.
Each year, typically in January, ISAC is notified of all money deposited by the Illinois Secretary of State into the University Grant Fund on behalf of each participating institution. This determines the amount of grant funds available for each institution’s students.
Each year, typically in September, ISAC determines annual institutional allocation amounts. Once allocations are finalized, ISAC notifies the institutions of the amount available to each college and requests the submission of payment requests.
Participating institutions are required to respond within the established timeframe and submit the required payment request information to ISAC. After receiving and reviewing the institutional request, ISAC will process payments in accordance with applicable State fiscal and accounts payable procedures.
If you have other questions, contact an ISAC Partner Services Specialist by calling 866.247.2172 or send an email to [email protected] .
Q. What is the school’s role in the HELP Program?
A. Participating colleges are responsible for administering the HELP Program. This includes determining student eligibility, selecting recipients, setting award amounts, disbursing funds to students, and maintaining all required documentation. Like other ISAC-administered programs, the HELP Program also falls under the purview of ISAC’s Program Review process and participating institutions are subject to applicable program review and compliance requirements.
Q. What is ISAC’s role in the HELP Program?
A. ISAC’s role is mainly administrative and fiscal. ISAC determines the institutional allocation and oversees statewide fiscal administration, compliance oversight, and institutional fund distribution for the program.
Q. How much can a school expect to receive for grant awards?
A. The amount of funds a school will receive is determined each year and will be communicated to the school. The Secretary of State shall deposit $25 per set of license plates issued or renewed into the University Grant Fund on behalf of the institution.
Q. Must the school award the full amount of funds disbursed for an academic year?
A. Schools are expected to award the full amount of funds disbursed in the academic year that it was received toward student grants. Schools are also expected to notify applicants that any grant assistance is contingent upon the availability of funds for the program.