Sources of Aid
Gift Aid
Grants and scholarships are called "gift aid" because they are free money—financial aid that doesn’t have to be repaid*. Grants are often need-based, while scholarships are usually merit-based. Grants and scholarships can come from the federal government, the state government, the college, or a private or nonprofit organization. Do research, apply for any grants or scholarships the student might be eligible for, and be sure to meet application deadlines!
*Here are some examples of why you might have to repay all or part of a federal grant:
- You withdrew early from the program for which the grant was given.
- Your enrollment status changed in a way that reduced eligibility for grants (for instance, if you switch from full-time enrollment to part-time, the grant amount will be reduced).
- You received outside scholarships or grants that reduced the need for federal student aid.
Federal Programs
PELL Grant
Eligibility for this program is based on financial need. The program provides funds to undergraduate students for college costs, like tuition and fees, and living expenses. The financial aid administrator will determine the student’s Pell Grant Award based on their SAI (Student Aid Index) from their FAFSA and the number of credit hours in which the student are enrolled. Federal Pell Grants usually are awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or a professional degree. The student is not eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant if they are incarcerated in a federal or state penal institution or are subject to an involuntary civil commitment upon completion of a period of incarceration for a forcible or nonforcible sexual offense. The student may not receive Federal Pell Grant funds from more than one school at a time.
For more information on Pell Grant, please visit this page.
Lifetime Eligibility Regulation
The amount of Federal Pell Grant funds any one student may receive over their lifetime is limited by federal law to be the equivalent of six years of Pell Grant funding. Since the maximum amount of Pell Grant funding one can receive each year is equal to 100%, the six-year equivalent is 600%.
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
You can receive between $250 and $500 a year, depending on financial need, when you apply, the amount of other aid you receive, and the availability of funds at Heartland. Each participating school receives a certain amount of FSEOG funds each year from the U.S. Department of Education's office of Federal Student Aid. Once the full amount of the school's FSEOG funds has been awarded to students, no more FSEOG awards can be made for that year. This system works differently from the Federal Pell Grant Program, which provides funds to every eligible student. Make sure you apply for federal student aid as early as you can. Each school sets its own deadlines for campus-based funds.
For more information on SEOG, please visit this page.
State Programs
Monetary Award Program (MAP)
MAP grants can only be applied toward tuition and mandatory fees. Map grants cannot be used for items such as books, travel or housing. You must be a resident of Illinois and be enrolled in at least 3 credit hours at an Illinois college. The actual amount of the award each term depends on the calculation of financial need, the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at Heartland, the number of hours for which you are enrolled, and other factors related to the amount of funding provided for the program each year.
For more information on MAP grants, please visit this page.
24/25 MAP reduction information
Lifetime Eligibility Regulation
While you are classified by Heartland as a freshman or sophomore, the limit on the number of MAP Paid Credit Hours that can be paid is 75. If this limit is reached, you must attain junior status at whichever school you are (or will be) attending for your MAP grant eligibility to resume. The maximum number of MAP Paid Credit Hours is capped at the equivalent of 135.
Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid
The Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid is an application for Illinois students who are not eligible for federal financial aid (and do not file the FAFSA). The student may apply for a State of Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant using the online Alternative Application for Illinois Federal Aid, which is patterned after the FAFSA. Further details and the application can be found at the Retention of Illinois Students & Equity (RISE) Act and Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid page.
*Note from ISAC: The priority consideration date for the application process to be completed is Monday, May 19, 2025 for the 2025-2026 aid year. Applications recieved after that date will be considered only if funding remains after all timely, complete qualified applicants have been awarded.
ECACE (Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Scholarship Program)
The ECACE Scholarship addresses the shortage of qualified early childhood educators and build a strong, well-prepared workforce by encouraging those who want to further their education. The scholarship helps pay the cost of attendance for an academic year up to $7,500 for sudents. Recipients are expected to continue working or return to work in the early childhood care and education field in Illinois after completing their studies. To learn more and apply, please visit ISAC.
*Note from ISAC: The priority consideration date for the application process to be completed is Monday, May 19, 2025 for the 2025-2026 aid year. Applications recieved after that date will be considered only if funding remains after all timely, complete qualified applicants have been awarded.
MTI (Minority Teachers of Illinois Scholarship Program)
If: 1) you plan to teach at a nonprofit Illinois public, private, or parochial preschool, elementary school, or secondary school, for which the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has determined that no less than 30 percent of the enrolled students are African American/Black, Hispanic American, Asian American, or Native American; and 2) you are of African American/Black, Hispanic American, Asian American or Native American origin or are a qualified bilingual minority applicant, then you may qualify for up to $7,500 per year as part of the Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program. Funds from this program may be used to pay for tuition, fees and room and board, or commuter allowances, if applicable. This scholarship may be received for a maximum of the equivalent of four academic years (eight semesters) of full-time enrollment.
As part of the application process, you must agree to the terms and conditions that are outlined in the application's Teaching Agreement/Promissory Note (available for 2017-18 academic year and later via the Program Service Requirements page). By receiving this scholarship, you must teach in Illinois. If this teaching commitment is not fulfilled, the scholarship converts to a loan, and you must repay the entire amount plus interest. To learn more and apply, please visit ISAC.
*Note from ISAC: The priority application consideration date for the 2025-2026 academic year was March 31, 2025.
iGROW (Illinois Graduate and Retain our Workforce Tech Scholarship Program)
The Illinois Graduate and Retain our Workforce (iGROW) Tech Scholarship Program provides scholarship assistance to Illinois students pursuing IT and related careers. The program was designed to recruit and retain individuals to work in technology jobs that have a high demand for new employees. The program gives priority to renewal applicants, students who demonstrate academic excellence, students who demonstrate financial need, and minority students. Scholarships pay up to $7,500 in tuition & fees and room & board costs for each year recipients meet eligibility requirements at an ISAC-approved institution of higher learning.
As part of the application process, you must agree to the terms and conditions outlined in the Application/Work Agreement/Promissory Note (available for 2024-25 academic year via the Program Service Requirements page. You must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) or Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application). By receiving this scholarship, you must agree to work in Illinois in a qualifying job for a period of no less than two years. An additional year of work will be required for each year of scholarship funds received beyond two years (examples: if you receive scholarship funds for one or two years then, in order to fulfill the program requirement, you must work in Illinois in a qualifying job for two years; if you receive scholarship funds for three years, then you must work in Illinois in a qualifying job for three years). You must begin employment with an employer in Illinois that is directly related to the field of study that qualified you for assistance under this program within one year following completion of the program. If this commitment is not fulfilled, the scholarship converts to a loan, and you must repay the entire amount, plus interest. To learn more and apply, please visit ISAC.
NES (Nursing Education Scholarship Program)
If you are pursuing a certificate in practical nursing, an associate degree in nursing, a hospital-based diploma in nursing or a bachelor’s or graduate degree in nursing and demonstrate the greatest financial need among qualified students, you may be qualified to receive the Nursing Education Scholarship. If awarded, you must begin full- or part-time employment as a licensed practical or registered professional nurse, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a nurse educator in Illinois within six months of graduating, and remain employed for a period equivalent to the educational time supported by the scholarship. If you terminate studies, or fail to become employed, you will be required to repay the full scholarship amount, plus seven-percent interest per year. To learn more and apply, please visit ISAC.
Self-Help Aid
Includes work opportunities and loans. It's called self-help because you take responsibility for receiving this type of aid. Work-Study allows you to earn money while you are in college. Student loans assist with educational expenses while in college.
Federal Work Study
Eligibility for this program is based on financial need. The financial aid administrator will determine the Federal work study eligibility based on your student aid index (SAI) from the FAFSA and the number of credit hours in which you are enrolled. The program provides on- and off-campus jobs for undergraduate students who are enrolled at least half-time. Eligible students earn the federal minimum wage and are paid every two weeks by paycheck. Work study hours are typically 10-20 hours per week.
View more information about the federal work study program here.
William D. Ford Federal Direct Stafford Loans
Stafford loans are funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Direct loans are funds that must be repaid with interest. Your lender is the U.S. Department of Education and the loan is repaid to the federal government. All students borrowing under the direct loan program must submit the FAFSA. There are two types of Federal Direct Loans – a subsidized loan and an unsubsidized loan. You must demonstrate financial need in order to receive a subsidized loan. The federal government will pay the interest on a subsidized loan while you are enrolled in college at least half time (6 credit hours). An unsubsidized loan is not based on financial need. You are responsible for paying the interest on an unsubsidized loan from the time the loan is disbursed. The loan(s) will only disburse if you are enrolled in six (6) credit hours or more.
Because both Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans MUST be repaid (with interest) to the U.S. government, you will be required to sign a legally binding contract (promissory note) promising to repay the loan. You should think very carefully before borrowing under these loan programs because there are serious consequences to not repaying student loans.
Under the Direct Loan program, you may generally borrow up to $5500 as a freshman and up to $6500 as a sophomore per academic year. Under certain circumstances independent students may be eligible to borrow up to an additional $4000. Please visit our loan page for further information.
For more information on Federal student loans, please visit this page.
William D. Ford Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)
PLUS is available to parents of dependent undergraduate students who are enrolled at least half time (six credit hours). The loan is not based on need and the borrower is the parent, not the student. Eligibility is based on credit approval. Parents may borrow up to the amount of educational expenses minus any financial aid received by the student. A fee of 4.228% is deducted from the loan amount. This fee goes directly to the federal government to help offset the cost of processing the loan. Repayment begins within 60 days of the funds being fully disbursed.
Private Loan
Due to HCC's affordability, only about 12% of HCC students need a student loan. Over 99% of these students' borrowing needs are met by the Direct Loan program. Since less than 1% of HCC students have a need for a loan beyond the Direct Loan program, the HCC financial aid office does not have a preferred lender list for private loans nor do we have preferred lender arrangements. Students who have need of a loan beyond the limits of the Direct Loan program should evaluate lenders to find the most affordable private loan.