CHICAGO – The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) announces its 10th annual College Changes Everything® (CCE) Campaign, which runs from Labor Day through Thanksgiving. During the campaign, ISAC partners with schools and community organizations to help students and families with exploration of education after high school, and with college and financial aid applications. While ISAC provides these supports year-round, the CCE campaign offers an intensive schedule of free college and financial aid application completion workshops throughout Illinois.
“Each year, the CCE Campaign helps Illinois students find the path to education after high school that is right for them, and assists them in applying for the funding that can make that education possible,” said ISAC Executive Director Eric Zarnikow. “We celebrate the commitment and collaboration of our partners in the CCE Campaign over the last 10 years, who have helped make it possible for hundreds of thousands of Illinois students to gain access to higher education and financial aid, opening doors to brighter futures.”
Most students planning to attend college next year will complete the 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®), the application that determines eligibility for federal, state, and some institutional financial aid to help students pay for a two- or four- year degree or many certificate programs. The FAFSA determines eligibility for federal student loans, but also for money students don’t have to pay back, including scholarships and need-based grants like the federal Pell grant and the Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant.
While most students will complete the FAFSA, the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid offers a pathway for qualifying students who are not eligible for federal aid to apply for state financial aid, like the MAP grant.
Completing a financial aid application can be life-changing: uncovering education options that a student might not otherwise have thought possible or within reach. ISAC’s free resources are available to students and families statewide to help them complete their financial aid application and to support them through the entire college planning process.
Free college and financial aid resources for students and parents
- College and financial aid application completion workshops. studentportal.isac.org/events
- One-on-one assistance with college planning and financial aid applications. Contact a local ISACorps™ member, part of ISAC’s statewide team of near-peer mentors trained to support students with the college and financial aid process, studentportal.isac.org/isacorps. Or, set up a virtual meeting with an ISAC expert at www.isac.org/booking.
- Get answers via text! Ask questions and get answers from an ISAC expert through the ISAC College Q&A free text messaging service. isac.org/collegeqa.
- Online tools like scholarship search, financial aid planning, cost estimators, College Minute™ tips, and more through the ISAC Student Portal. isac.org/studentportal
- Answers to questions about ISAC financial aid programs, through ISAC’s Student Engagement and Support Services, 800-899-ISAC (4722).
- Support and resources for First Gen students, who will be the first in their family to earn a college degree, through the First Generation Scholars Network. studentportal.isac.org/FirstGen
ISAC also provides resources to help our partners support their students:
- CCE Campaign support. Downloadable campaign toolkit, materials, swag, and event support. Counselors can find out more and sign up at collegechangeseverything.org/campaign/
- ISAC’s Financial Aid Application Completion Initiative helps high schools support their students and meet the Illinois financial aid application completion requirement. ISAC’s free service helps counselors identify students who have not filed a financial aid application. This information can then be used by district counselors to help reach students who might not be aware of resources available to make education or training after high school affordable, perhaps helping some decide to attempt college when they might not otherwise have done so. Schools receive Recognition of Excellence honors for reaching financial aid application completion milestones. isac.org/FAFSA-Completion
About ISAC
The mission of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is to provide Illinois students with information and assistance to help make education beyond high school accessible and affordable. ISAC provides comprehensive, objective, and timely information on education and financial aid for students and their families—giving them access to the tools they need to make the educational choices that are right for them. Then, through the state scholarship and grant programs ISAC administers, ISAC can help students make those choices a reality. Find us at isac.org or on Facebook (@ILStudentAssistance), X and on Instagram @ISACfinaid, and watch our videos on YouTube.
About College Changes Everything
College Changes Everything® (CCE) is a college access movement that recognizes that college can be a life changing experience not only for students, but also for families and communities. In Illinois and across the nation, those who obtain education beyond high school not only see a significant impact on their potential career prospects and future salary, but also change levels of poverty, life expectancy, crime, and obesity rates in their communities. Find out more and join the conversation at collegechangeseverything.org.