Rep. Stuart Announces Free Prep Classes for SIUE Students Studying for Professional and Licensing Exams

SPRINGFIELD – State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Collinsville, Assistant House Majority Leader and chair of the House Higher Education Committee, is announcing a new state program that will help Illinois college students prepare for graduate school and in-demand careers.

The Prepare for Illinois’ Future Program is the result of a commitment by the State of Illinois, Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), and leading global education company Kaplan to provide free test preparation courses to students enrolled in Illinois’ public universities as well as five community colleges. Southern Illinois University (SIU) Edwardsville and SIU Carbondale students have already launched the program and saved more than $375,000 by signing up for more than 250 classes.

This historic workforce initiative enables students to access Kaplan’s best-in-class preparation for professional licensing exams, graduate-level admissions exams, and credential exams at no cost to them. Available courses include exam prep for the GRE®, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, NCLEX-RN, Illinois State bar exam, real estate and securities exams, and more. Students will also have access to a suite of certificate courses, including project management and cybersecurity, as well as professional and academic skills development courses from Kaplan.

The state budget includes $10 million for the program to provide all students access.

“The investment the state of Illinois is making in the academic and professional success of some of our brightest and best students is money well spent,” Stuart said. “This program makes Illinois schools more competitive with schools across the country, Hopefully, it will also help convince some of our most gifted students to live and work right here in Illinois, benefiting our entire state.”

The program aims to boost in-state enrollment at public universities, create career pathways for students from underserved urban and rural communities, and address the state’s critical shortages for essential professions—ultimately helping to reduce shortages in the Illinois workforce, including projected deficits of more than 14,00 nurses and more than 6,000 doctors by 2030.

“I am proud to see that our partnership with the state aligns with SIU’s mission of embracing access and opportunity as we shape future leaders, improve our communities, and transform lives,” said Daniel Mahoney, President of the Southern Illinois University System.

In addition to offering the program to students at all 12 Illinois public 4-year universities, the program is being piloted at five community colleges chosen to reflect the geographic and demographic diversity of the state, including Joliet Junior College, Carl Sandburg College, Southwestern Illinois College, Malcolm X College, and Morton College. Kaplan has already begun working with these community colleges and the state’s public universities to launch the program so students can access these courses.

The Web site for SIUE students to get more information can be found here: https://www.siue.edu/kaplan/.