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Illinois College Advantage Plus offers a guarantee of value and affordability by pledging that all first-year students will receive a minimum of $20,000 in scholarships, which they will keep for all four years. 

Additionally, first-year students who are Illinois residents and who have a 3.0 GPA will have 100% of their financial need met. This is in addition to IC’s long-standing guarantee that all students will graduate in four years or the College will cover the cost of their remaining courses, and textbooks are included in upfront tuition to avoid the hidden costs families face at other universities.

Plus, students who attend Illinois College get the academic excellence IC’s nationally ranked education is known for and guaranteed access to the internships, research experiences, and international travel that ensures graduates are prepared for success. And IC’s graduates are successful, with nearly 100% IC students employed or pursuing advanced degree programs immediately following graduation.  

“We are making this investment in our future students because we believe in the power of an Illinois College education,” noted Evan Wilson ’01, associate vice president of enrollment management. “For nearly 200 years, IC has offered innovative curriculum, personal attention and mentoring, and dedication to student success. This private education, combined with the affordability of a public institution, offers students and their families unparalleled value.”

With the IC Advantage Plus program, all admitted first-year students will be awarded a minimum of $20,000 in institutional scholarship funds, regardless of their financial need. Additional scholarships are available to students who qualify. Financial need and eligibility for need-based financial aid — which includes grants, loans, and work study — is determined by filing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). IC works with prospective students and their families to develop a financial aid package after they apply for aid through the FAFSA.

For Illinois residents, this will now mean that if scholarships and financial aid don’t meet their financial need determined by the FAFSA, Illinois College will provide additional scholarships and resources to bridge the gap.

The cost of college is more transparent and predictable for IC students than at other universities thanks to IC’s Finish in 4 promise and upfront tuition, which includes textbooks so families don’t have to worry about hidden costs. Illinois College has an international reputation for inspiring achievement and empowering students to make a difference in the world. The Illinois College Advantage Plus allows students to spend their energy on the hallmarks of an IC education, such as working with faculty mentors who help students identify and realize their dreams for the future, rather than worrying about how to pay for it. 

Illinois College offers an innovative curriculum, life-defining experiences, hands-on preparation for careers, one-on-one mentoring and academic coaching, and access to outstanding athletics, arts, student organizations, and campus life. IC’s graduation rate is well above the national average and the College is consistently ranked as a top school by leading college guides like U.S. News & World Report and the Princeton Review.

To learn more about IC Advantage Plus, visit ic.edu/AdvantagePlus or contact the Office of Admission at admissions@ic.edu or 217.245.3030 to start the conversation. To file the FAFSA, visit fafsa.gov. 
 

+ All first-year students receive a minimum of $20,000 in scholarships, which you keep all four years.

+ Illinois residents with a 3.0 GPA will have 100% of their financial need met.

+ We promise you will graduate in four years or we cover the cost of your remaining courses.

+ Textbooks are included in our tuition. 

+ You get the academic excellence our nationally ranked education is known for and guaranteed access to the internships, research experiences, and international travel that will prepare you for success.