Illinois National Guard Grant Program (ING)

The 2027 fiscal year (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027) appropriation for both the Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant and Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) programs is $5,000,000.

The FY27 state budget includes funding through ISAC to reimburse public universities for some of the tuition and fees that they waive on behalf of eligible Illinois National Guard members and veterans. The budget also includes funding for the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) to reimburse Illinois community colleges for the costs associated with waiving tuition and fee charges for ING Grant and IVG recipients; their appropriation is expected to cover community colleges' IVG and ING Grant costs in full.

Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant Program: Part 2730 - Administrative Rules 

Please review the eligibility, how to apply, dates and timelines, award amounts, and definitions sections for additional program information.

2026-27

• ISAC is now accepting ING Grant, IVG, and MAP budget information for the 2026-27 processing cycle. 
  • Budget data must be submitted to ISAC by June 1, 2026.
  • Further details are provided in ISAC'S BUDGET REPORTING PROCESS USER GUIDE. 

2025-26

• ISAC is accepting ING Grant benefit usage data for the winter quarter and spring term (semester and quarter).
  • To be considered timely, winter- and spring-term ING Grant benefit usage data must be submitted no later than May 29, 2026.
• Although benefit usage data for the fall term must have been submitted by December 31, 2025 to be considered timely, colleges are still encouraged to report fall-term data as soon as possible.

There is no certification process for colleges to complete for this program. The Department of Military Affairs in Illinois (DMAIL) certifies the applicant’s eligibility status in the Illinois National Guard. Learn more in the USER GUIDE. 

• Eligibility must be established by ISAC each year before a student is eligible to receive ING Grant benefits.
• The ING Grant is an entitlement program. By statute, eligible students are not responsible for payment of tuition and certain fees, even if no funding is appropriated for the program through the annual state budget process.
• Even when no funding is appropriated for the ING Grant Program and ISAC is unable to reimburse colleges, ING Grant benefit usage data still must be submitted so eligibility units can be accurately assessed to students' accounts.
• If an annual state budget includes an ING Grant appropriation, ISAC will provide colleges with details regarding the disbursement of funds once they have been determined.

See the USER GUIDE for more information about awarding, reporting benefit usage data, and – when applicable – payment processing.

Benefit Usage Reporting Deadline Dates

• Fall term – During the month of December
  • Although fall 2025 benefit usage data must have been submitted by December 31, 2025 in order to be considered timely, colleges are still encouraged to report fall-term data as soon as possible.
• Spring term (second semester/second & third quarter) – Typically, during May or June
  • Spring 2026 benefit usage data must be submitted on or before May 29, 2026 in order to be considered timely.
• Summer term(s) – Typically, during July or August
  • The summer 2026 benefit usage data reporting deadline has not yet been determined.

ING Grant benefit usage data submitted for a subsequent term will be held until processing for that term is open.

• ING Grant User Guide
• Administrative Rules
• 2025-26 ING Grant 160 Byte File Layout Specifications 
• FTP Process Using GAP Access Credentials
• GAP Access Two-Factor Authentication
• GAP Access Processes
• Assigning an Administrator in GAP Access
• GAP Access Portal User Guide
• Payment Offset and Reconciliation 
• Refunds and Unpaid Claims