More than 98 percent of Illinois Tech students receive some type of financial aid. You can review our cost of attendance and ways to finance your education in the financial aid section of our website.
Viewing Your Financial Aid Offer
Eligible domestic students who submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will receive their financial aid offers beginning in mid-April. Students will receive an email via their Hawk email account with a link to view their personalized financial aid award offer. At that time, students can also view their financial aid award offer in the Illinois Tech Portal. View instructions on how to access your financial aid offer within the portal.
When choosing a college, it is important to consider not just the cost of the education, but also its long-term value. The primary benefits of attending Illinois Tech are the knowledge and capabilities that will enrich your experience and create opportunities for your future, whether in graduate study, the workplace, or your everyday life. PayScale ranks Illinois Tech #1 in Illinois for mid-career earnings of our graduates (after aid).
If you have any questions about funding your education, we encourage you to contact your admission counselor.
Step-by-step guide to viewing your Financial Aid Offer
- Go to the Illinois Tech Portal
- Log in using your university credentials
- Search for Financial Aid Dashboard
- Make sure the correct Award Year is selected, then click on Award Offer
Our Support Philosophy
Illinois Tech was founded on the mission that we could build a school where students of all backgrounds could prepare for meaningful roles in a changing society. This informs our approach to student success and our commitment to affordability.
If you receive a merit or need-based scholarship and your GPA drops below the recommended threshold to remain in good academic standing, our financial aid team will work with you to form a plan to help you keep your scholarship and receive the academic support needed for long-term success.
Financial Aid Checklists
File Your FAFSA Form (ASAP)
- File your Free Application for 2024-2025 Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) using school code 001691. Illinois residents are encouraged to complete the FAFSA as early as possible to be considered for state aid.
Beginning in April
Receive your financial aid offer
- You will receive a link to view your interactive digital award offer via your student hawk email.
- You will also be able to view your financial aid offer through your Financial Aid Dashboard of your Illinois Tech Portal.
June
- Submit all outstanding documentation to the Office of Financial Aid for the upcoming year. View Document Submission for more information.
- Establish a payment plan with the Student Accounting Office.
- If you are considering borrowing a Private Loan to assist with your educational expenses, complete this process now.
July
- Accept your federal loans if you will be utilizing them to assist with your educational expenses.
- Complete Master Promissory Note(s) and Entrance Counseling for federal loans at studentaid.gov.
- Add an Authorized User to your online student account so that they may view your financial account information and make payments on your behalf.
- Grant a third-party (i.e parent, spouse, etc.) permission to access your financial records by completing a FERPA release form. Starting the first day of class, you will be the sole owner of your financial information and the staff will only be able to provide general information to others unless a FERPA release is on file with the university. Learn more about Illinois Tech’s FERPA Policy.
August
- Complete Title IV Authorization Form with the Office of Student. This form allows Illinois Tech to apply financial aid to non-mandatory fees such as health insurance, parking fees, graduation fee and late fees.
- Pay your student bill before the deadline. Fall courses begin on August 19. Institutional scholarships and federal financial aid disburse to your account. Payments can be made through the portal, in the TouchNet system.
- Be sure to make any course schedule changes by August 31. If you do not drop courses properly with the Registrar’s Office, you will be charged!
September
- Check financial aid disbursement in your portal. If all aid is not disbursed, but all requirements are satisfied, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.
Financial Aid Resources
The Office of Financial Aid is dedicated to assisting students through their financial journey. For more information and resources, please visit the financial aid undergraduate student resources webpage.
International Financial Documentation Requirement
You must demonstrate that you or your sponsor have available finances to meet the educational and living expenses while you are a student at Illinois Tech.
* Minimum dollar amount may vary based on any merit-based scholarships awarded.
To fulfill this requirement, you must:
- Complete the Financial Affidavit of Responsibility Form
- Submit Proof of Funds which may be in the form of a bank letter bearing the bank’s seal and signature or a bank statement of financial transactions stating that funds are readily available.
It is important to remember the following things when submitting your Financial Affidavit of Responsibility form:
- Acceptable sources of funding may include checking and savings accounts, loan letters, government sponsorship, fixed deposits, investment portfolio or stocks with liquid funds, bonds with a maturity date before the start of the semester, and business accounts (additional documentation of business registration). Unacceptable sources include salary verification letters, pay stubs, tax return forms, insurance policies and real estate or property holdings. Any financial document that does not show a currently available balance (liquid funds) will not be acceptable.
- If you are submitting proof of financing in an account that is not in your own name, you will need to have your sponsor complete the Sponsor Certification Section of the Financial Affidavit of Responsibility form.
- You may submit bank statements from two or more sponsors. However, each sponsor must complete the Sponsor Certification Section of the Financial Affidavit of Responsibility form.
- The bank statement you provide must clearly show the currency of the funds in the account.
- Your Financial Affidavit of Responsibility Form and Proof of Funds can be uploaded within the ISSS Portal once you have received your admission decision and paid your enrollment deposit fee. Please note that this information is required to issue the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) form I-20 or DS-2019, which you will use to obtain an F1 or J-1 visa.
June
- Establish a payment plan with the Student Accounting Office.
- If you are considering borrowing a Private Loan to assist with your educational expenses, complete this process now.
July
- Add an Authorized User to your online student account so that they may view your financial account information and make payments on your behalf.
- Grant a third-party (i.e parent, spouse, etc.) permission to access your financial records by completing a FERPA release form. Starting the first day of class, you will be the sole owner of your financial information and the staff will only be able to provide general information to others unless a FERPA release is on file with the university. Learn more about Illinois Tech’s FERPA Policy.
August
- Pay your student bill before the deadline. Fall courses begin on August 19. Institutional scholarships and federal financial aid disburse to your account. Payments can be made through the portal, in the TouchNet system.
- Be sure to make any course schedule changes by August 31. If you do not drop courses properly with the Registrar’s Office, you will be charged!
Financial Aid Resources
The Office of Financial Aid is dedicated to assisting students through their financial journey. For more information and resources, please visit the financial aid international student resources webpage.