Manley Applauds MAP Grant Investments in Local Students

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – State Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, is highlighting the Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant, which provides funding to Illinois students attending certain Illinois colleges.

“As a former recipient of the MAP grant, I know what a gamechanger it was when it comes to being able to afford tuition,” said Manley. “When I first contemplated going back to school, I was a single mother and I wasn’t sure I could afford to go to college until I learned I qualified for a MAP grant. MAP grants are a critical tool in helping Illinois students continue their education, and I highly encourage high school seniors to check if the MAP grant can assist them in paying for college like it did for me.”

In 2023, nearly 150,000 students across Illinois were given almost $600 million in MAP grants to go towards paying for college. In Manley’s district, 1,608 students were provided $6,896,455, averaging over $4,000 per student. In order to ensure that this vital program will continue to provide financial aid to students across Illinois, Manley helped pass a budget last year that increased funding to the program by $100 million. Due to this expansion of the program, last year was the second time in over 20 years that MAP grants were provided to all eligible students who applied. Manley also helped expand funding for the AIM HIGH program, which provides scholarships to eligible students who attend one of Illinois’ 12 public universities. For more information on the MAP grant program, AIM HIGH program, and other tuition assistance programs offered by the Illinois Students Assistance Commission, please visit isac.org/students/during-college/types-of-financial-aid/grants/.

“With the cost of higher education steadily rising over the years, it is critical that we are doing everything we can to make college more affordable for local students,” said Manley. “Ensuring that our students have access to higher education without taking on a massive amount of student loan debt is critical to the success of our next generation. With the recent strengthening of the MAP grant and other financial aid programs, students throughout Illinois have access to affordable higher education opportunities that can help set them up for success in their future endeavors.”