Illinois Veterans' Grant (IVG) (IVG)
Pays tuition and mandatory fees at all Illinois state-supported colleges, universities, and community colleges for qualifying veterans. One application establishes eligibility for the life of the benefit.
Who it is for
Veterans with an honorable discharge who lived in Illinois for six months before entering the service (or lived in Illinois for at least 15 consecutive years after leaving active duty), served at least one full year of active duty, and returned to Illinois within six months of leaving the service. A general or other than honorable discharge still qualifies if it was given only because of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Before you start
How you apply: Apply directly to the program.
How to apply
- Get the IVG application from an IDVA Veteran Service Office, your college's financial aid office, or the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) at isac.org.
- Submit the one-time application with your discharge paperwork to ISAC to establish eligibility.
- Once approved, the grant pays tuition and mandatory fees at Illinois public schools for the terms you enroll.
Deadline: Applications are accepted any time, but eligibility must be established no later than the last scheduled day of classes of the first term you want the grant to cover. (Rolling, apply any time)
Verified as of 2026-07-05. Resources are checked periodically against their official source. Details, amounts, and deadlines change. Confirm the current information on the official page before you rely on it.