Illinois Veterans Grant

by , under Illinois, Military, Veteran

The Illinois Veteran Grant was implemented as a tool for returning veterans to attend to public colleges and universities in Illinois at no cost. The program allows for a veteran, regardless of time separated from the military, and who was discharged under honorable conditions, to receive a 4 year education, with the State of Illinois picking up the tab. Of course, there are stipulations;

To be eligible for the Illinois Veteran Grant, a student must:

  • Meet one of the following two criteria:
    • Have served at least one year of federal active duty service in the Armed Forces of the United States, which may include the Illinois National Guard and the Reserve component of the Armed Forces, or
    • Regardless of length of service, have served in a foreign country in a time of hostilities in that country; was medically discharged for service related reasons; or was discharged prior to August 11, 1967.
  • Have received an honorable discharge (general discharge under honorable conditions is not eligible) for each period of federal active duty service, and/or be honorably serving.**  Contact information is available for Illinois military personnel who need to request a copy of the DD214 (equivalent to the DD214 Member 4).
  • Not be a member of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC).
  • Meets one of the following two criteria:
  • Meets one of the following two criteria:
    • have established, or plan to establish, Illinois residency within six months after leaving federal active duty service, or
    • if married to a person  in continued military service:
      • have applied for this grant within six months after and including the date that the spouse was stationed within Illinois, or
      • if the spouse was stationed outside Illinois, have established or plan to establish Illinois residency within six months after and including the date the spouse separated .
  • Reside in Illinois unless the student is serving federal active duty service at the time of enrollment in college or residing with a spouse in continued military service who is currently stationed outside of Illinois.
  • Not be in default on any student loan, nor owe a refund on any state or federal grant.

In order to receive benefits, qualified applicants must be enrolled at an Illinois public 2- or 4-year college and maintain the minimum grade point average (GPA) required by that college.

*If the student receives benefits from the IVG Program while serving on federal active duty service, upon discharge the student will be required to verify that service has been characterized as honorable.

 

I have used the program in the past. I suggest all Illinois veterans take advantage of the program, before funding runs out.

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