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Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Possible

Meeting full demonstrated financial need for qualifying students

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Making Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Possible for students

Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Possible, a new financial aid program, enables the college to meet 100% of students¡¯ demonstrated financial need. Since being launched two years ago, it has attracted millions of dollars in donor support. Find out how it works.

Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Possible is a bold financial aid program that meets 100% of demonstrated financial need, up to direct costs*, for qualifying newly enrolled students. High-achieving students with demonstrated financial need can achieve an Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø education with Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Possible.

For fall of 2024, 156 students were recipients of Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Possible grants. Many are the first in their families to attend college.

This was the vision of Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø graduate Murry Gerber, who made the $40 million commitment to provide financial aid and scholarships to Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø students with backgrounds similar to his own. His vision has inspired many other donors to bring Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Possible to life for future students and alumni.

Charts showing aid allocation

Eligibility

Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Possible meets the demonstrated financial need, up to direct costs*, of every eligible student using available funds from federal, state and college sources. 

To determine financial eligibility, submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid, available for some students living in Illinois.

Academic eligibility is defined by recalculated** GPA of 3.5 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) and class rank (when available) of top 20%. More than 60% of admitted students are academically eligible for Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Possible, and about 25% are first-generation college students. 

Transfer students may be eligible with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 in a minimum of 12 credit hours and high financial need.

¡ú Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø in seeing if you might qualify academically for Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Possible? Complete Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø¡¯s Merit Scholarship Estimator, which includes an option to upload an unofficial transcript.  

How Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Possible works

Here are examples of how Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Possible makes Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø an affordable reality for three different qualifying students/families, with the direct cost of $62,000 for one year at Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø:

Student A

Student Aid Index (SAI)$375
Demonstrated need$61,625
Total awards and loans***$56,195
Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Possible grant$5,400

Student B

Student Aid Index (SAI)$4,998
Demonstrated need$57,002
Total awards and loans***$52,095
Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Possible grant$4,900

Student C

Student Aid Index (SAI)$10,618
Demonstrated need$51,382
Total awards and loans***$42,750
Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Possible grant$8,600

*Direct costs are those that are billed directly by Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø based on course registration, on-campus housing and dining and other mandatory fees. 

**A recalculated GPA is the best predictor of student success at Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø. The Office of Admissions automatically recalculates a student's high school GPA to standardize it across the entire applicant pool. Coursework in the following areas is included in the recalculation: English, lab science, mathematics, social studies and foreign language. Grades in such courses are recalculated and standardized on a 4.0 grading scale. The high school profile is a useful tool in helping ensure proper grade translation. Rigor of coursework, including honors level, AP, dual enrollment and IB, is considered, but not within the recalculation of the GPA. 

***Your award total will include Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø merit scholarships and other institutional awards, plus any federal and state grants and loans. An Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Possible Grant, along with all additional financial aid for which you are eligible, will meet the direct cost of Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø.