More Illinois universities are covering tuition for low-income households, but issues with cost remain

A free ride or not-so-free?

Like many students, financial aid was a deciding factor for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign psychology student Nora Harvey. Despite the fact that her dad, who died when she was 16, had gone to University of Wisconsin at Madison and raised her as a Badgers fan, she chose the option that wouldn’t saddle her with debt. Harvey, who grew up in Beverly, said the decision would have been closer if she hadn’t been looking at a $10,000 tuition bill every year at Wisconsin. At Illinois, her tuition, which ranges from $17,640 to $22,904 a year for in-state residents, is covered. Grants and scholarships pay for other costs, such as rent and books.

“Once I got my financial aid [package] from Wisconsin, I knew I was going to U of I,” said Harvey, 21. “If it weren’t for this, I really would be having a different experience in college. … I feel a lot more freedom knowing I’m not gonna have a crazy amount of loans.”

Illinois universities lead the way

University of Illinois started Illinois Commitment, its free tuition program for low-income households in 2019, and a growing number of private and public universities have followed suit. Roosevelt University announced it will start offering a similar program this month, the Roosevelt Pledge, and in September, University of Illinois Chicago announced its plans to launch its own version, UIC Aspire, next fall.

The Roosevelt Pledge program, which starts in the spring 2025 semester, will cover tuition costs not covered by loans, grants or work-study programs for students whose family incomes are less than $50,000 per year.

Other Illinois institutions follow suit

Sara Miller, executive director of Green Halo Scholars, a west suburban program that helps first-generation and low-income students navigate college, said schools are fond of programs like these because they’re easy to advertise.

“Programs like this help families understand from the get-go that the price on the website isn’t what they’re going to pay,” Miller said. “The certainty of income-based programs is really great. It advertises it on the front end to encourage them to apply.”

Not-so-free ride

However, the fees not included in some of these programs, including Roosevelt’s, can leave hefty bills for students. Minnesota’s North Star Promise — which offers free tuition for students with family incomes of less than $80,000 a year — left many of the 17,000 students responsible for housing and food costs that often total more than $10,000 per year.

Harvey said she would be paying $8,500 out of pocket if her scholarship didn’t also cover costs beyond tuition — though she also said she’d appreciate if the payments came before rent was due, since reimbursements are paid out a week before classes start as opposed to when students need them.

Conclusion

While some Illinois universities are taking steps to make higher education more accessible to low-income households, the issue of cost remains a significant concern. As colleges and universities continue to hike tuition and fees, the need for more comprehensive financial aid packages is increasingly clear.

FAQs

• What is the Roosevelt Pledge program?
  The Roosevelt Pledge program is a free tuition program for low-income households, starting in the spring 2025 semester.
• Who is eligible for the Roosevelt Pledge?
  Eligible students must be Illinois residents who attended and graduated from an Illinois high school, be younger than 24, and enrolled as a new freshman in a baccalaureate degree program for at least 15 credit hours. Their parents or guardians listed on their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must also be Illinois residents.
• What is the income threshold for the Roosevelt Pledge?
  The income threshold for the Roosevelt Pledge is less than $50,000 per year.
• How do other Illinois universities compare?
  Other Illinois universities, such as the University of Illinois and the University of Chicago, have their own financial aid programs, including the Illinois Commitment and UIC Aspire, respectively.