Apply for FAFSA

Students who wish to receive consideration for financial aid funds (grants/loans/student employment, and many scholarship programs) must complete the financial aid application process every academic year. At Chicago State University (CSU) the academic year begins with the Fall semester and ends with the Summer semester. Whether you are an incoming or returning student (in an undergraduate, graduate or professional program), the application process is the same. The first step you must take is to complete a FAFSA (Free Application For Federal Student Aid). The FAFSA establishes eligibility for Federal Student Aid Programs and most State of Illinois and many CSU aid programs.

 

 

 

You are encouraged to complete and submit a FAFSA on-line. CSU’s Federal school code is 001694. You will need to enter this code , so that the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) sends us a copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR). Comprehensive information concerning your FAFSA filing options are available on the same site.

Apply for a FSA ID - The fastest way to complete the FAFSA application process is to electronically sign your application on-line. You can do this if you have a FSA ID assigned by the USDE. All students (and parents of dependent students) should apply for a FSA ID. If you do not have a FSA ID you may, of course, print out a signature page from the FAFSA web site and mail it to the address indicated on that signature page.

Request a copy of a Federal Income Tax Form - You will, in most cases, need a copy of your Federal Income Tax Form (and your parents' forms too, if you are a dependent student) in order to complete your FAFSA. If you can’t locate this important document(s) you can easily obtain the needed copy(s), free of charge, from the IRS.

Once your FAFSA has been processed you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). If you filed via the internet (and were able to sign your FAFSA with your FSA ID) and you provided your e-mail address on the FAFSA you will be able to access your SAR via the Internet within two business days. If you filed a paper FAFSA, or via the internet without providing an e-mail address, you can expect to receive a printed copy of your SAR in approximately three weeks. Our office will receive an electronic copy of your SAR (provided you included our Federal school code) once processing is completed.

You should review your SAR thoroughly. If additional information is required, or you see that you made an error in any of the information you provided in your original filing, it is your obligation to provide the additional/correct information in order to complete the FAFSA process. Our office will receive electronic copies of any additions/corrections you make.

Illinois Map Grant

By filing a FAFSA, undergraduate Illinois residents are also completing the application process for the Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant. Be sure to file your FAFSA as soon as possible beginning October 1st of every year for the upcoming academic year in order to qualify for all possible Illinois grants.

2024-2025 Academic Year - The priority filing deadline for continuing students is April 1, 2024. In order to ensure you receive your maximum eligibility, please complete your FAFSA prior to this date. The MAP Suspense date for the 2024-25 academic year is August 21, 2024. ISAC has announced the suspense of 2024-25 MAP awards for all students whose initial 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is received by the Central Processing System (CPS), or whose initial Alternative Application for Illinois Financial is received by ISAC, on or after August 21, 2024.

By applying for financial aid and agreeing to share that information with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) you have been considered for the State of Illinois (IL) Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant. All MAP-approved institutions are
required by the State of Illinois to announce MAP Grant awards to students who are enrolled or intending to enroll at their institution. An award amount is included in your financial aid package if you have met the eligibility criteria. The MAP Grant award amount is an estimate made by the financial aid office and is identified as a "State of IL MAP Grant (Est)". Please be aware that the number of available MAP Grants is limited by funding levels approved by the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor, and reductions to estimated or actual MAP Grants are possible.

There are also limitations to how long you can continue to receive a MAP Grant. Usage is tracked by the number of credit hours for which you’ve received MAP benefits and is referred to as MAP Paid Credit Hours (MPCHs). The maximum number of MPCHs that can be received is 135, which is equivalent to approximately four and a half years of fulltime enrollment. For your reference, and to learn more about MPCH limitations, you may access a record of your MPCHs, as well as other student resources, through the ISAC Student Portal at studentportal.isac.org. Eligibility for the need-based MAP Grant award may indicate that you are eligible for assistance with expenses such as food, housing, or child care for dependent children. If
you have dependent care expenses, ask the financial aid office about the federal dependent care allowance. For eligibility and application information about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Child Care Assistance
Program, contact the Illinois Department of Human Services at 800-843-6154 or www.dhs.state.il.us. Contact the Illinois Hunger Coalition Hunger Hotline at 800-359- 2163 or www.ilhunger.org.

2023-2024 Academic Year - The priority filing deadline for continuing students is December 1, 2022. In order to ensure you receive your maximum eligibility, please complete your FAFSA prior to this date. The MAP Suspense date for the 2023-24 academic year is September 23, 2023. ISAC has announced the suspense of 2023-24 MAP awards for all students whose initial 2023-24 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is received by the Central Processing System (CPS), or whose initial Alternative Application for Illinois Financial is received by ISAC, on or after September 23, 2023. 

By applying for financial aid and agreeing to share that information with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) you have been considered for the State of Illinois (IL) Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant. All MAP-approved institutions are
required by the State of Illinois to announce MAP Grant awards to students who are  enrolled or intending to enroll at their institution. An award amount is included in your financial aid package if you have met the eligibility criteria. The MAP Grant award amount is an estimate made by the financial aid office and is identified as a "State of IL MAP Grant (Est)". Please be aware that the number of available MAP Grants is limited by funding levels approved by the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor, and reductions to estimated or actual MAP Grants are possible.

There are also limitations to how long you can continue to receive a MAP Grant. Usage is tracked by the number of credit hours for which you’ve received MAP benefits and is referred to as MAP Paid Credit Hours (MPCHs). The maximum number of MPCHs that  can be received is 135, which is equivalent to approximately four and a half years of fulltime enrollment. For your reference, and to learn more about MPCH limitations, you may access a record of your MPCHs, as well as other student resources, through the ISAC Student Portal at studentportal.isac.org.

Eligibility for the need-based MAP Grant award may indicate that you are eligible for assistance with expenses such as food, housing, or child care for dependent children. If you have dependent care expenses, ask the financial aid office about the federal dependent care allowance. For eligibility and application information about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Child Care Assistance Program, contact the Illinois Department of Human Services at 800-843-6154 or Contact the Illinois Hunger Coalition Hunger or Hotline at 800-359-2163

2024-2025 Academic Year - The priority filing deadline for continuing students has not yet been announced due to the late release scheduled for December 2023. For additional information please visit the "ISAC Suspension of Map Award Announcements"  web page.