Federal shifts in student aid, grant funding, FAFSA accessibility, and higher-education oversight are creating additional barriers for Illinois students, especially for students of color and those from low-income communities and rural regions. 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, the Governor’s budget proposals over the past three years have failed to keep up with inflation, and his budget for FY27 recommends no additional funding for MAP, both of which further exacerbate fiscal challenges for universities and mounting affordability issues for students and their families.
As a statewide alliance of equity-minded advocates, the Coalition for Transforming Higher Education Funding calls on Illinois budgeteers, the House and Senate Higher Education Appropriations Committees to support our students, universities, and communities by 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. These investments are strategic and necessary to stimulate Illinois’ postsecondary landscape, competitiveness, and long-term fiscal health.
The Coalition’s Policy Priorities
Monetary Award Program (MAP)
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 more than 38,000 awards for eligible applicants. Further, in late April, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) was forced to suspend MAP funding for applicants who did not submit their FAFSA by the end of that month – this includes incoming and current students. Those who were MAP eligible, but did not meet the deadline were placed on a waiting list. 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 ensures individual universities have the resources they need to fulfill their missions and make sure their respective student bodies can thrive. Since 2000, state appropriations to public universities have been cut by nearly half. 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
Use this toolkit to target Illinois’ budgeteers and the House and Senate higher education appropriations committees in your advocacy actions to tell them why Illinois must equitably invest in higher education. For decades institutions have stretched limited state resources to serve students, and as a result, students and families have been placed in difficult financial positions. Our state will benefit if we choose to anchor communities through thriving universities.
Tell legislators that Illinois has fallen short in supporting its students, but there is an opportunity for the state to to change this and make meaningful progress. Use (and personalize!) the letter, call campaign, social media bank, and other actions to share the message on how this work matters.
Jump to: Resources | Social Media Advocacy
Contact the Budgeteers | Meet Your Legislators
Information and Resources
Click the image to view or download
 | Post or print this postcard, and circulate them with your networks and legislators to urge Illinois to fund students forward. |
 | 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. |
 | Integrate key points about SB 13/HB 1581 into your letters, social media messaging, and conversations with lawmakers. |
 | 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. |
Jump to: Resources | Social Media Advocacy
Contact the Budgeteers | Meet Your Legislators
Social Media Advocacy
Use your social media platforms to tell your legislators to prioritize affordable, equitable higher education funding in FY2027. Elevate your voice and ensure lawmakers know what they must do to ensure Illinois students and communities are well-supported. Click here to see your legislator social media accounts
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.
| Suggested Date | Suggested Text | Suggested Image |
|---|---|---|
| May 5 Click to post to X: https://ctt.ec/CAq2O | #Highered transforms lives and communities in Illinois. Let’s ensure every student can afford and access college. Supporting SB13/HB1581 and increased MAP funding is supporting student success #TransformILHigherEd |  |
| May 7 Click to post to X: https://ctt.ec/Xh5ZU | Illinois has disinvested in higher ed for decades. #SB13/HB1581 is our blueprint to do right by our students, with adequacy, equity, and sustainability at the forefront. |  |
| May 12 Click to post to X: https://ctt.ec/a1aT0 | Support students who need it most. A $71M increase in MAP would help ensure college is affordable and that every eligible student receives funding. #MAP #TransformILHigherEd |  |
| May 14 Click to post to X: https://ctt.ec/518hN | Investing in our students is an investment in our state’s success. #SB13/HB1581 could help graduate tens of thousands additional graduate who could stabilize our economy by adding an estimated $691M in state tax revenue |  |
| May 19 Click to post to X: https://ctt.ec/W54Df | #MAP is one of the most powerful vehicles for equitably making college affordable. 58% of MAP receipts are first gen and 55% are low-income. Increase investments by $71M to ensure every student of every background can access college |  |
| May 21 Click to post to X: https://ctt.ec/14tRw | Imagine what thousands more graduates per year could bring to IL.The path to equitable higher ed funding is clear. Be bold and support #SB13/HB1581. Higher education is a public good, it’s time IL treats it as such. |  |
| May 26 Click to post to X: https://ctt.ec/UxuyK | Higher ed funding is not one-size-fits all. From Chicago to Carbondale, #SB13/HB1581 is the funding approach that serves every learner and every institution equitably. |  |
| May 28 Click to post to X: https://ctt.ec/NUfdF | Our students need both institutional funding and financial aid to persist. Pass #SB13/HB1581 and invest $71M more in #MAP to ensure greater college access and affordability for Illinois students |  |
| Click to post to X: https://ctt.ec/88gOy | Equitable investments in higher ed is a non-partisan issue and we know every Illinoisan will benefit from well-funded public higher education. #SB13/HB1581 is Illinois’ smartest investment for every student and community. #TransformILHigherEd |  |
| Click to post to X: https://ctt.ec/Pn5te | Illinois will feel the statewide benefits when it prioritizes an adequate and equitable funding approach for its public universities. Pass #SB13/HB1581 |  |
| Click to post to X: https://ctt.ec/nb675 | Ongoing disinvestment has created access, retention, and completion gaps and we’re driving away our students to more affordable states. #SB13/HB1581 is the future of fair, just, and sustainable public #highered in IL |  |
| Click to post to X: https://ctt.ec/z7Qc8 | A bachelor’s degree doubles income and boosts local economies by $278,000 over the earner’s lifetime. Investing in #highered is investing in Illinois’ future. #TransformILHigherEd |  |
Jump to: Resources | Social Media Advocacy |
Contact the Budgeteers | Meet Your Legislators
Two Ways to Contact the Budgeteers
1 – Call the Budgeteers
Call the budgeteers to ensure they understand why the passage of SB13/HB1581 and an additional $71M investment in the Monetary Award Program are essential to ensuring public higher education is accessible, affordable, and stable.
Reference these talking points during your phone call to underscore why it is critical Illinois supports this work.
Click to Call2 – Write to the Budgeteers, Senate, and House Higher Education Appropriations Committees
Who are the legislators comprising the budget, senate, and house higher education appropriations committee? View a list of members here.
Each of these legislative groups play a critical role in constructing the FY27 state budget. Take 3-4 minutes to reach these key decision makers to underscore the importance of SB13/HB1581 and MAP. Input your name and contact information. Be sure to personalize areas of the letter to share more on why you advocate for equitable, affordable higher education.
Jump to: Resources | Social Media Advocacy |
Contact the Budgeteers | Meet Your Legislators
Meet with Your Legislator 1:1
Set up some time to connect with your local 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 all legislators do 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