[ Financial Aid ]

Grants

Need-Based Awards for Students

What are Grants?
Grants are awarded based on a student's financial need. They do not need to be repaid. Elmhurst students receive grants from the College itself and from the state and federal governments. To apply for a grant, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Elmhurst College Grants
Elmhurst offers students grants ranging in value from $1,000 to $14,000 per year. You must be a full-time, degree-seeking student to receive a grant. The College has awarded grant aid to more than 1,400 current students.

State of Illinois Grants
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission administers grants from the state's Monetary Award Program (MAP). These grants range in value from $350 to $4,968 per year. To be considered for a MAP grant as a dependent student, a parent or guardian must live in Illinois. To be considered for a MAP grant as an independent student, a student must live in the state for the 12 months immediately prior to enrollment. Students must be enrolled at least half-time in a degree program to qualify. About 900 Elmhurst students receive MAP grants.

Federal Grants
Pell Grants
The U. S. Department of Education awards Pell Grants to students who demonstrate high financial need. These grants range in value from $976 to $5,350 per year. A student must be enrolled in his/her first undergraduate degree program to qualify.

Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants
SEOG funds are a limited source of grant aid for students with the greatest financial need. Typically, awards range in value from $100 to $4,000 a year. To be eligible for SEOG funds, a student first must receive a Pell Grant.

Academic Competitiveness Grants
An Academic Competitive Grant may provide up to $750 for the first year of undergraduate study and up to $1300 for the second year of undergradute study to full time students who are eligible for a federal Pell Grant and have sucessfully completed a rigorous high school program. More information about  this  federal grant program can be found at www.studentaid.ed.gov

National SMART Grants
A National SMART Grant may provide up to $4000 for each of the third and fourth years of undergraduate study for full time students who are eligible for a federal Pell Grant, and majoring in physical, life or computer science, or mathematics. The student must also have maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.0. More information on this  ederal grant can be found at www.studentaid.ed.gov

TEACH Grants
Elmhurst College offers this grant only to graduate students who are in the Early Childhood Special Education Program. Eligibility criteria include planning to teach in a high need field in a public or private elementary, middle or high school which serves low income students. TEACH Grant eligible students may receive up to $4,000 per academic year based on enrollment criteria. TEACH grant recipients must teach for at least 4 academic years within eight calendar years of completing or withdrawing from the TEACH grant eligible program. If the service requirement is not met, the TEACH Grant will convert to an unsubsidized Direct Loan, with interest accruing from the day that the TEACH Grant was disbursed.