Military and Veteran Services

Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant

As a member of the National Guard, you qualify for free tuition, general student fee, registration fee, and graduation fee at SIUE!

SIUE changed the fee structure and combined fees into a general activity fee.  National Guard funding at SIUE now includes tuition, general student fee, registration fee, and graduation fees for undergraduate and graduate students enrolling at SIUE. Our undergraduate fees include the cost of renting textbooks to further reduce your expenses. We’ll also waive the SIUE application fee.

Application Process

1. Click here to be directed to the online application.
2. Complete the process each academic year. ISAC will not approve late applications and you will be required to pay outstanding balance.
3. The completed application must be received by ISAC on or before the deadline date, and an application must be submitted each academic year.  An academic year starts in the Fall and ends with the Summer semester.  (i.e. Fall 22, Spring 23, Summer 23)
4. Starting with the 2023-24 academic year, and no later than the last scheduled day of classes for the first term for which ING Grant benefits have been requested, qualified applicants must notify the institution at which the benefits will be used regarding their eligibility.
5. If the application is accepted, ISAC will send an eligibility letter, which you should provide to Military and Veteran Services.
6. ISAC’s processing time is approximately four to six weeks. 
7. See Campus Requirments/Steps below for University process. 

Covered Costs 

1. Tuition
2. Application fee: Veterans do not pay an application fee at SIUE.  After completing the application you can close out at the payment screen. 
3. Graduation fee:  Veterans using this benefit will need to apply for graduation and then go to Student Financial Aid and complete the Graduation Application Fee waiver form. From there, Student Financial Aid will process (confirm eligibility) and submit to the Registrar to have the fee waived.
4. General Student Fee: (does not cover lab fees or specific course fees) 

Eligibility        

1. Be an Illinois National Guard member, defined as meeting one of these two criteria:
   1. be active in the Illinois National Guard or
   2. have been active in the Illinois National Guard for at least five consecutive years and have been called to federal active duty for at least six months and be within the 12-month period immediately following the applicant’s discharge from the Illinois National Guard.*
2. Have completed one full year of service in the Illinois National Guard.
3. Be enrolled at an Illinois public 2- or 4-year college.
4. Not be in default on any educational loan or, if in default, have reinstated eligibility in accordance with ISAC Rules.
5. Not owe a refund on any state or federal grant.
6. Maintain an acceptable grade point average (GPA) according to the policy determined by the applicant’s college.
7. File a complete application each academic year, indicating the college to be attended.
8. No later than the last scheduled day of classes for the first term for which benefits have been requested, notify the institution at which the benefits will be used regarding their eligibility.
9. Notify ISAC, in writing, of name, address or college choice changes as they occur.

* Those individuals who have been active in the Illinois National Guard for at least five consecutive years, had their studies interrupted by being called to federal active duty for at least six months, and meet eligibility requirements in addition to those listed above may be eligible to receive an additional year of Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant Program eligibility. Eligibility under these criteria is determined by the Education/Incentives Branch of the Department of Military Affairs Illinois (DMAIL) in Springfield, Illinois. Questions regarding individual eligibility status under this legislation should be directed to the applicant’s chain of command, or to the Education/Incentives Branch of DMAIL at 217.761.3782.

Campus Requirements/Steps

1. Complete ING application. (see Application Process)
2. After application completion, allow six to eight weeks for delivery of the eligibility letter. 
3. If you do not have your eligibility letter by the first payment due date, please provide your confirmation of application to the Office of Military and Veteran Resources.
4. If you are living in on-campus housing, payment for housing is still required by the due date.
5. Submit a copy of the eligibility letter to the Military and Veteran Resource Center (2nd floor MUC) on campus. 
6. Complete the process each academic year. ISAC will not approve late applications and you will be required to pay outstanding balance.

Link to ISAC Full Benefit Descrition

https://www.isac.org/isac-gift-assistance-programs/illinois-national-guard-grant/index.html