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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Easing the college application process for high school students, state Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, passed a measure out of the House on Monday that creates a direct admissions program to public universities in Illinois for high school and community college transfer students.

“Illinois is home to so many great public universities and community colleges and this direct admissions program to public universities and community colleges would encourage our students to continue their educational career here in Illinois,” Stuart said. “What differentiates this program from other states is community college transfer students are included in this program and they would receive guidance on not only their educational options, should they choose to continue their educational career, but also their career options.”

Stuart's House Bill 3522 would create a direct admissions program for qualified high school seniors and community college transfer students that would automatically offer them admission into public universities and community colleges in Illinois.

Rather than needing to apply to these schools, eligible high school seniors would be automatically notified by colleges and universities of their guaranteed acceptance to those schools. Admissions standards would continue to be set by the universities themselves and this program would be introduced for the 2027-2028 academic year.

“Many of our students experience stress throughout the college application process and we should do what we can to make the college application process less stressful for our high school and community college transfer students,” said Stuart. “This direct admissions program would help to lessen this stress for all students who want to attend a four-year university. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to pass this much needed legislation.”

Stuart’s bill has passed out of the House and will now move to the Senate for consideration.