Section 2735.20  Applicant Eligibility

a)         A qualified applicant shall be:

1)         a citizen or eligible noncitizen;

2)         a resident of Illinois;

3)         maintaining satisfactory academic progress as determined by the institution;

4)         enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program (34 CFR 668.8), or in an eligible credit-bearing Occupational or Career and Technical Certificate program at an Illinois public institution, for a minimum of three credit hours, for either a semester or quarter term, throughout the institution's tuition refund/withdrawal adjustment period; and

5)         enrolled at an ISAC-approved institution of  higher learning.

b)         MAP grant eligibility is based on the relative financial eligibility at an ISAC-approved institution of higher learning of the applicant's choice, and is reevaluated if the student's choice of institution changes.

c)         Eligibility is restricted to undergraduate students.

1)         MAP recipients must not have received a baccalaureate degree.

2)         Graduate students are not eligible for MAP assistance.  For purposes of this Part, an institution of higher learning shall classify as a "graduate student" any student who:

A)        is enrolled in an academic program or course above the baccalaureate level which leads to any degree above the baccalaureate level; and

B)        is not eligible to receive federal financial assistance (34 CFR 674.2, 675.2, 676.2) as an undergraduate student; and

C)        has completed the equivalent of at least three years of full-time postsecondary study, either prior to entrance into the academic program or as part of the academic program itself.

d)         MAP grants may be awarded for applicants in programs at Illinois public institutions that will culminate in the award of an occupational or career and technical certificate.  [110 ILCS 947/35(h)].

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 1038, effective January 5, 2023)