The University of Illinois Springfield is expanding its Prairie Promise financial aid program to include eligible transfer students starting in fall 2026.
The program, which launched in October 2023, currently guarantees full coverage of tuition and fees for qualified first-time, first-year undergraduate students, according to a community announcement.
To be eligible, students must be Illinois residents admitted to an on-campus undergraduate program and demonstrate financial need as verified by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or the Illinois Alternative Application. Applicants also must meet Illinois Monetary Award Program Grant eligibility and be enrolled full-time.
The Prairie Promise covers tuition and fees through a combination of MAP Grant awards, UIS scholarships and AIM HIGH grant funds.
Students who apply for admission and complete the FAFSA or Illinois Alternative Application by May 1 receive priority consideration. Funding is limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, according to the announcement.
Students who continue to meet renewal criteria remain eligible for Prairie Promise funding for up to four years of continuous, full-time enrollment or until earning their first bachelor’s degree.
For more information about the Prairie Promise program, visit uis.edu/prairiepromise.
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