State of Illinois Benefits

Illinois Veterans Grant (IVG)

The IVG is administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC). In order to receive educational benefits, an applicant must be designated as a "Qualified Veteran" and reside in Illinois. IVG pays tuition and most fees. For more information regarding requirements to qualify for benefits under this program, please visit the ISAC website, or contact the Chicago State University Office of Veterans Affairs.

Illinois National Guard Grant

The Illinois National Guard Grant is administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC). In order to receive educational benefits, an applicant must be on active duty status and have served for at least one year in the Illinois National Guard. This program pays tuition and some fees. For more information regarding requirements to qualify for benefits under this program, please visit the ISAC website or contact the Chicago State University Office of Veterans Affairs.

How to Apply and Receive Benefits

Complete the ING Application.

Complete our Veterans Educational Benefits Information (PDF) form for each term you wish to use your benefit.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements

Recipients of ING must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 to receive ING. The cumulative GPA looks at every class you have taken at Chicago State University, regardless of whether or not you were receiving benefits during that time period.

Policies and Procedures

• New and transfer students must notify the Veterans Representative of "their eligibility status as soon as possible, but no later than the last scheduled day of classes for the term for which the grant is requested”.
• ING students must re-apply each year and submit their Letter of Eligibility to the Office of Veterans Affairs at Chicago State University.
• ING pays tuition and activity fees only; ING will not pay any lab/late fees. ING will not pay for books and it is not refundable to the student.
• Students can only receive ING starting from the date they become eligible; if a student was admitted for Fall 2009, but did not apply for ING until Spring 2010; they cannot use ING to pay for the Fall term because they did not apply until the Spring term.
• Your ING award is based on the number of credit hours you are enrolled in at the time your award is disbursed to your student account.

MIA/POW Scholarship

If you are the dependent of a person who was an Illinois resident at the time he/she entered active duty, who has been declared a prisoner of war, missing in action, dead as a result of a service-connected disability, or disabled with a 100 percent disability as the result of a service-connected cause as recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the U.S. Department of Defense, you may be eligible to receive the MIA/POW Scholarship. Dependents may apply via the ISAC Website

Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC)

The Department of Military Science offers interested students an opportunity to earn a commission as an officer (Second Lieutenant) in the United States Army, the Army National Guard, or the United States Army Reserve. The department's Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program also offers students valuable training in leadership and management required for success in either a civilian or military career.

Veteran Grant

For comprehensive information concerning IVG please visit ISAC's Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) Program.

Students who are requesting payment of the Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) must:

Apply and Receive Benefits: Qualifications

• Be a resident of Illinois within six months both before and after 1 year or more of active service or who served on federal active duty service in a foreign country during a time of hostilities in that country, and received an honorable discharge.
• Complete the IVG Application and mail the application and a copy of your DD-214 (Member 4) to the ISAC address on the form, not the CSU Veterans office.
• Provide the CSU Veterans Coordinator with a copy of the eligibility letter they from ISAC.
• Submit the Veterans Educational Benefits Information Form to the CSU Veterans Coordinator for each term they intend to use their Illinois Veterans Grant to pay their tuition and mandatory fees.

Obtain Satisfactory Academic Progress

Recipients of IVG must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 to receive IVG. The cumulative GPA looks at every class you have taken at Chicago State University, regardless of whether or not you were receiving benefits during that time period.

Policies and Procedures

• New and transfer students must notify the Veterans Coordinator of "their eligibility status as soon as possible, but no later than the last scheduled day of classes for the term for which the grant is requested" (www.isac.org); continuing students should have an eligibility letter on file.
• IVG pays tuition and mandatory fees only - mandatory fees are fees that are charged to every student; IVG will not pay any lab or late fees. IVG will not pay for books and it is not refundable to the student.

• Students can only receive IVG starting from the date they become eligible; if a student was admitted for Fall , but did not apply for IVG until Spring; they cannot use IVG to pay for the Fall term because they did not apply until the Spring term.
• Your IVG award is based on the number of credit hours you are enrolled in at the time your award is disbursed to your student account.
• Maximum amount of eligibility is 120 points(units of eligibility = credit hours).