UIC Free Your Mind 2024

UIC Aspire is a financial aid program that covers 100% of tuition and fees, starting for students entering in the Fall 2025 term, for new, first-time undergraduate students at UIC. Qualifying recipients must live in Illinois, be enrolled full-time at UIC and have a household income of $75,000 or less (full qualifications below). The goal of UIC Aspire is to expand access to UIC’s transformational education, and to make our financial aid program more transparent and predictable.

The program includes the UIC Aspire grant, which, in combination with other federal and state grants, covers 100% of tuition and fees.

To qualify to receive a UIC Aspire grant, you must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen or eligible undocumented student
• Be an Illinois resident
• Have a family income of $75,000 or less, or, if no income is reported, assets of $75,000 or less as reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Illinois Rise Act’s alternative financial aid application
• Be admitted as a new first-year or new transfer student
• Be an undergraduate seeking your first baccalaureate degree
• Enroll in at least 12 credit hours per semester

Please note that continuing UIC students, graduate students, summer session students, visiting and non-degree students, readmitted students, or anyone other than new first-year and new transfer students are not eligible for the UIC Aspire program.

There are no additional applications or steps required to be considered for the UIC Aspire grant. You are automatically considered by:

• submitting the FAFSA or an alternative financial aid application like the RISE application
• applying and being admitted to UIC

If you don’t currently meet the qualification requirements for UIC Aspire, you may still be eligible for other financial assistance or scholarships.

If your family’s financial situation changes, that will be reported on the FAFSA. Since eligibility for the UIC Aspire grant is based on the most recent FAFSA, we will take those financial changes into account when awarding the grant each year.

No. On campus housing is optional for UIC students. Please note, if you choose to live on campus, UIC Aspire does not cover housing costs.

If you’re interested in living on campus, visit https://housing.uic.edu/rates for rates.

No. This program is only available for new UIC students. Current students will continue to be eligible for existing financial aid programs.

The UIC Aspire program pays for 100% of UIC tuition and fees, including differential tuition for specific majors.

UIC Aspire does not cover the cost of food, housing, books or supplies. Nor does it pay for any additional costs of special programs such as intercampus enrollment, concurrent enrollment, lab or course fees, or study abroad.

Federal student loans and other forms of aid are an option for covering any personal or miscellaneous expenses.

As long as you continue to meet the eligibility requirements, you can take time off and return to UIC without losing your UIC Aspire grant.

The UIC Aspire grant may be renewed every academic year. To remain eligible for the grant, you must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress and continue to meet the grant program criteria, including income requirements, in-state residency and full-time enrollment.

Yes, the FAFSA* is how UIC determines if you and your family meet the income eligibility requirement of the UIC Aspire grant.

Eligible undocumented students may use Illinois’ Rise Act Alternative Application instead of the FAFSA.

We encourage you to complete the FAFSA* by March 15 for maximum consideration. Since there is no separate application for the UIC Aspire grant, we rely on the FAFSA* to determine eligibility for the grant.

*Eligible undocumented students may use Illinois’ Rise Act Alternative Application instead of the FAFSA.

Like other forms of financial aid, eligibility for the UIC Aspire grant is determined every year. To receive the grant all four years (new first-year student) or two years (new transfer students) at UIC, you must continue to meet the income requirement and other eligibility criteria like in-state residency and full-time enrollment.

Note that UIC students are able to receive the UIC Aspire grant for a maximum of four academic years. So if you don’t qualify for the grant one year, you could use the funding for a fifth year at UIC if you regain eligibility.

For new, first-year students, there is an 4 year (8 semester maximum) and for new transfer students there is a 2 year (4 semester maximum). Aspire is only paid during fall and spring semesters. Summer terms are not covered.

The UIC Aspire grant is reserved for Illinois residents. Learn more about how UIC determines in-state residency status.

UIC Aspire is a need-based program designed to cover 100% of a qualifying student’s tuition and fees. Other forms of financial aid, including merit-based grants and federal student loans, are still available to cover any additional costs of attending UIC.

If you have any questions about the UIC Aspire program, please contact UIC Admissions.