Human Services Professional Loan Repayment Program

To be eligible, you must:

• be a U.S. citizen, or an eligible noncitizen
• be an Illinois resident 
• have worked for at least 24 consecutive months prior to applying and still be employed when applying as a human services professional at a community-based human services agency which currently has or did have a contract with, receives or received funding from, and/or is or was grant-funded by one or more State of Illinois agencies to provide direct or indirect human services. State of Illinois agencies include:
  • the Department of Human Services
  • the Department of Children and Family Services
  • the Department of Juvenile Justice 
  • the Department on Aging
  • the Department of Public Health
• have a balance remaining on an eligible student loan(s)
• not be in default on a federally guaranteed educational loan, nor owe a refund on any grant or scholarship program administered by ISAC. If you are in default, you may reestablish your eligibility using the Default Resolution Options to Regain Federal and State Student Aid.

You must work for 12 months as a full-time human services professional in the same agency for each year that you apply for and receive the loan repayment.

1. Create a profile in the ISAC Application Portal or log into your existing account.
2. Complete and submit the Human Services Professional Loan Repayment application before January 15, 2027 and required documentation  in the application portal   before   for priority consideration. You must complete the program application every year you want to be considered for an award. An application is not complete until you submit all the following: 
   1. documents verifying your education and licenses/certification 
   2. the signed Human Services Professional Loan Repayment Program Employment Verification Form, and 
   3. current accounts statements for your loans with an outstanding balance 
3. You will receive a confirmation email when ISAC receives your application. Applications may take up to 12 weeks to process. Please submit your application early enough to allow time for processing. 

After your application has been reviewed, ISAC will notify you of your eligibility status and provide information about the next steps. If your application remains incomplete, ISAC will contact you with instructions on how to provide the missing information.  

We recommend that you gather and organize the documents needed to complete your application before starting to fill out the interactive form. The online application process includes uploading and submitting required documentation. Acceptable uploaded files must have one of these file extensions: .pdf, .jpg, .jpeg. See required documentation to apply for the Human Services Professional Loan Repayment program.

Your complete application, including all supporting documentation, must be submitted by January 15, 2027 to receive priority consideration. Applications received after this date will be considered only if funds are still available.

The last day applications may be submitted for the 2026-27 academic year is April 30, 2027. Any missing documentation materials must be submitted by May 31, 2027. 

ISAC will prioritize renewal applicants first. Renewal applicants are those who received an award the previous year and are applying again. After all eligible renewal applicants have been considered, ISAC will consider eligible new applicants. Priority will be given to new applicants based on financial need.

ISAC will notify all applicants of the decision on their application, including whether they have been selected to receive an award. The award amount depends on available funds, and it varies based on your remaining balance on eligible loans and your education. Your award funds are paid directly to your loan servicer. Allow a minimum of 12 weeks from the date you receive a notification letter to when funds are disbursed to your loan servicer.

Award amounts will not exceed: 

• $15,000 per year for a master’s degree or higher 
• $10,000 per year for a bachelor’s degree 
• $2,000 per year for an associate degree 
• $5,000 per year in additional funds if an applicant holds current licensure or certification as a licensed clinical social worker, a licensed clinical professional counselor, a licensed practitioner of the healing arts, a licensed marriage and family therapist, a board-certified behavior analyst, or a registered behavior technician 

• Human Services Agency: An agency or organization that provides a wide range of direct and indirect services that ensure that individuals have the essential elements to build and maintain physical, emotional, and economic well-being at every phase of life. This encompasses a wide range of services and supports, including but not limited to:
  • Physical well-being: services focused on physiological, shelter, and safety needs, such as access to nutritious food (food assistance programs), safe and affordable housing (housing and homeless services, shelters), medical care for uninsured or underinsured (community health clinics), public health preventative care (vaccinations), disability and independent living services, services for vulnerable populations, (reentry services, immigration and asylum services) and ensuring a safe environment (domestic violence intervention services)
  • Emotional well-being: services focused on helping individuals develop skills and strategies to effectively build resilience, healthy development and wellness, such as access to mental health resources (counseling services), substance use services (drug and alcohol treatment), and supportive child, family, and senior services (case management, programs, trainings)
  • Economic well-being: services focused on helping individuals develop their ability to meet financial needs, achieve fiscal stability, and access opportunities for economic advancement, such as access to stable employment (job training programs), financial assistance (housing/food subsidies), and resources for financial literacy (budgeting and credit counseling); and;
     
• Direct Human Services: Services provided directly to clients or individuals, such as counseling, case management, behavioral health services, or other client support services.
   
• Indirect Human Services: Services that support the delivery of human services but do not involve direct client interaction, such as administrative, program coordination, or support roles.