Federal shifts in student aid, grant funding, FAFSA accessibility, and higher education oversight are creating additional barriers for Illinois students, especially for those from low-income communities and rural districts, and for students of color. As federal policy minimizes access to a postsecondary education and destabilizes institutional finances, Illinois needs to act in order to protect our state’s interest in having a healthy higher education ecosystem. Yet, our state has been slow to act, going so far as to further impede institutional stability by withholding the 2% of funds that were already appropriated to public universities in fiscal year 2026.
As a statewide alliance of equity minded advocates, the Coalition for Transforming Higher Education Funding calls on Governor Pritzker to support our students, universities, and communities by releasing the aforementioned 2% of FY2026 appropriations, passing SB13/ HB1581 to ensure that our state continues to invest in our universities in an equitable and sustainable manner, and increasing appropriations in the Monetary Award Program (MAP) by $71 million.
The Coalition’s Policy Priorities
Monetary Award Program
A $71 million increase to the MAP program would make college more affordable for students who qualify for the grant. Last year, insufficient funding forced the suspension of awards for many eligible applicants. Investing an additional $71 million would restore support for those students and ensure that every eligible applicant receives the financial assistance they need.
Adequate and Equitable Public University Funding Act (SB 13/HB 1581)
Illinois needs a data-driven funding model that underscores the resources individual universities need to fulfill their missions and ensure their respective student bodies can thrive. Since 2000, state appropriations to public universities have been cut by 46%. This means that students and their families are increasingly burdened by the cost of higher tuition and fees and institutions are forced to cut programs and services to cover shortfalls. Passing a student-focused, university funding formula, as proposed in SB 13/HB 1581, can fix the inequities in how Illinois funds its four-year public institutions.
Using This Toolkit
Write, call, and tag Governor Pritzker in your advocacy actions to tell him why Illinois needs to equitably invest in higher education. Use (and personalize!) the letter, phone script, social media bank, and other actions to share the message on how this work matters.
Jump to: Social Media Advocacy | Contact Governor Pritzker |
Meet with Your Legislator | Resources
Social Media Advocacy
Advocate for higher education on social media by raising your voice online! Use the following social media actions to share your higher education story and to tell Governor Pritzker to prioritize affordable, equitable higher education funding.
There are two ways you can share these posts. You can click the link to post to X (formerly Twitter), or you can copy + paste the text and image to whatever platform you use the most.
| Posting Date | Suggested Text | Suggested Image |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, Jan. 22 Click to post to X: https://ctt.ec/LAiuG | .@GovPritzker, Illinois and its students deserve better! Invest in #higheredequity and make sure every student can access and afford college. Prioritize college opportunity in FY27! #TransformILHigherEd |  |
| Tuesday, Jan. 27 Click to post to X: https://ctt.ec/_dIlH | Students bear a heavy burden. @GovPritzker without an adequate, equitable investment in higher ed, Illinois is pricing out its students. Support #SB13/HB1581 and show Illinois students what’s possible with accessible higher ed #TransformILHigherEd |  |
| Thursday, Jan. 29 Click to post to X: https://ctt.ec/6Vxe6 | Today, MAP covers less than 50% of tuition and fees. #MAPmatters as it supports low-income and first-gen students who deserve more. @GovPritzker, without an additional $71M for MAP in FY27 the program can’t keep pace with increasing demand and tuition costs |  |
| Tuesday, Feb. 3 Click to post to X: https://ctt.ec/tSNd1 | Imagine what 15,200 additional graduates per year could bring to IL. The path to equitable higher ed funding is clear. @GovPritzker, be bold and support #SB13/HB1581. It’s time Illinois invests in higher education as the public good we know it is. |  |
| Thursday, Feb. 5 Click to post to X: https://ctt.ec/e88Rv | .@GovPritzker, don’t leave behind thousands of students by ignoring college affordability. Illinois tuition and fees are over 40% higher than the U.S. average. Students are ready for college, make it affordable by investing $71M additional dollars for #MAPmatters |  |
| Tuesday, Feb. 10 Click to post to X: https://ctt.ec/Mb28P | Higher ed is not one-size-fits-all. Campuses from Chicago to Carbondale deserve the state resources they need to serve their unique communities. SB13/HB1581 provides just that #TransformILHigherEd |  |
| Thursday, Feb. 12 Click to post to X: https://ctt.ec/jeHox | An investment in higher ed is an investment in Illinois. More college graduates means more revenue through state taxes, innovation, and economic growth. Higher ed fuels growth #TransformILHigherEd | |
| Monday, Feb. 16 Click to post to X: https://ctt.ec/dEUIv | When students succeed, Illinois prospers. @GovPritzker let’s ensure degrees work for Illinois by keeping our students in state by prioritizing college affordability and stable funding. #MAPmatters #SB13HB1581 |  |
| Tuesday, Feb. 17 Click to post to X: https://ctt.ec/Uoe01 | Let’s help universities be community and state anchors by ensuring higher ed is affordable and attainable for every Illinoisan. @GovPritzker invest in an additional $71M in MAP and pass SB13/HB1581 #TransformILHigherEd |  |
| Wednesday, Feb. 18 Click to post to X: https://ctt.ec/F5Rb9 | Big moment ahead of Illinois. @GovPritzker, make sure higher education works for Illinois. Equitable higher education fuels economic growth, innovation, and statewide progress for all communities #TransformILHigherEd |  |
Jump to: Social Media Advocacy | Contact Governor Pritzker |
Meet with Your Legislator | Resources
Contact Governor Pritzker
Contact Governor Pritzker and his office to discuss why they should support the passage and funding of the Affordable and Equitable Funding Formula (SB 13/HB 1581) and an additional $71 million investment in the Monetary Award Program (MAP) in FY2027.
Call Governor Pritzker’s OfficeJump to: Social Media Advocacy | Contact Governor Pritzker |
Meet with Your Legislator | Resources
Meet with Your Legislator 1:1
Set up some time to connect with your local and state legislators to highlight why affordable college education and equitable university funding will benefit students, your community and the state. Urge them to demonstrate their support and ensure Governor Pritzker does the same.
Find Your Legislator
- Step 1: Find your local legislator by visiting ilga.gov
- Step 2: Be sure the “Show Senate” and “Show House” boxes are both checked
- Step 3: Enter your address in the search box
- Step 4: Your Illinois State Senator and House Representative should appear to the right of the map upon submitting your address
- Scroll down to the bottom to view your local legislators
- Step 5: Click on your State Senator and House Representative’s photo
- Step 6: You should see contact information where you can call your legislator’s office to schedule a meeting
Jump to: Social Media Advocacy | Contact Governor Pritzker |
Meet with Your Legislator | Resources
Additional Information and Resources
Click the image to view or download
 | Learn more about how this legislation, which proposes the Adequate and Equitable Funding Formula, is student centered and designed to ensure each institution has the resources needed to thrive. |
 | Take a closer look at how SB 13/HB 1581 would benefit each of the public universities. |
 | Read and share information about how the Monetary Award Program (MAP) is an essential state financial aid program that helps address affordability, a primary barrier to college education. |
 | Use these talking points to create the context around the need for a more equitable postsecondary system and to spread the word about this work with your networks and elected officials. Tell your community how an investment in higher education is an investment in Illinois. |