Illinois Alternative Application

The Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid is accessible online through the ISAC website. Pre-screening questions at the beginning of the application help you determine which application (Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid vs. FAFSA) to complete.

If your answers to the pre-screening questions show you should not complete the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid, a message will advise you to consult your high school counselor, a financial aid professional or an ISA Corps member for help completing the FAFSA.

An EFC will be calculated and provided to the college via the MAP component of the Gift Assistance Programs (GAP) Access portal as an Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid Student Record.

MAP award amounts will be calculated for eligible students and provided to colleges via GAP Access. As with all MAP awards, eligibility notification will be provided to the student by the college, not ISAC.

It costs nothing to apply. Like the FAFSA, accessing financial aid via the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid is a free application.

For 2022-2023 Aid Year, plan to compile the following items:

• your tax forms
• your parents’ tax forms (if applicable)
• your driver’s license or state ID
• social security card (if applicable)
• information about assets such as: savings, certificates of deposit, stock shares, bonds, investments in real estate, businesses or farms

Yes. Just like the FAFSA, you must apply every academic year.

Contact Gema Mariscal (a Financial Aid Coach at CLC) by phone (847) 543-2368 or email fa.facoach@clcillinois.edu with any questions or for help applying.

To stay-up-to-date with all the information on the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid you can also visit ISAC’s website.

CLC hosts free workshops with brief presentations about the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid. At the workshops you can get help completing the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid or FAFSA application.

Also see these resources:

• Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid User Guide (PDF)
• Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid User Worksheet (PDF)

No. The FAFSA is a federal form to request financial aid. Undocumented students, including DACA recipients, should not submit a FAFSA form. Filling out the FAFSA can have legal consequences. Consult with your counselors and advisors for support.

No. Completing the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid won’t affect your immigration/legal status in any way, unless you falsely claim to be a U.S. citizen.

In addition to offering federal and state financial aid programs, CLC also awards scholarships, via the CLC Foundation. The CLC Scholarship application is available year-round. These scholarships are based on academic achievement, financial need and field of study. Many scholarships are open to all students, regardless of citizenship status. 

View CLC scholarship opportunities

You can also visit  Information for Undocumented Students to learn more about additional resources and about advocates for our undocumented students.

There are also external scholarship opportunities available. 

View external scholarship opportunities