Illinois steps up where feds fall down in making college affordable

Across the country, the dream of going to college is slipping further out of reach. High school seniors, adult learners and parents are all staring down a system that’s simply become too expensive.

Right now, the affordability gap between financial aid and the actual cost of college is more than $9,000 nationwide, and over $10,000 in Illinois. That’s the difference between getting a degree and giving up on one.

Compared to men and woman with only a high school diploma, bachelor’s degree holders will earn $1.2 million more over their lifetime, are 24% more likely to be employed, over three times less likely to be impoverished, and nearly five times less likely to be incarcerated. 

Unfortunately, President Donald Trump and his allies in Congress are pulling in the opposite direction. Their so-called "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" is making college even harder to afford by limiting federal Pell Grants, restricting access to supplemental aid, capping borrowing and raising repayment costs.

The Trump administration is taking further action to limit opportunities for Black, Latino and Native American students. In September, the administration canceled $350 million in grants for colleges and universities that educate significant numbers of students of color, as well as froze $660 million in funds for Trio programs dedicated to students from low-income backgrounds. Those three programs are Upward Bound, Talent Search and Student Support Services. Over 43,600 Trio students will now be without a slew of resources, including tutoring and assistance with financial aid.

If the federal government refuses to invest in our students, the responsibility — and the opportunity — falls to the states. The Pritzker-Stratton administration and the state of Illinois are meeting that moment by stepping up and standing with our students in the following ways:

1. Targeting help where it’s needed most: The Monetary Award Program directs aid to students with the greatest financial need — including part-time students, adult learners, returning students and undocumented students. Because the program is a "first-dollar" program, students can use Pell Grants and other aid to cover housing, food, child care, books — the real costs of getting to graduation.
   
2. Opening the door wider:  Illinois launched our direct admissions program, One Click College Admit, which automatically admits eligible high school seniors to public Illinois colleges based on their academic performance and GPA. 
   
3. Making it easier to apply for aid: Illinois made the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form completion a high school graduation requirement, so every student has a fair shot at the aid they are entitled to, especially those who might not have someone at home to walk them through the process.
   
4. Giving students a head start: Through our dual-credit programs, high school students can earn both high school and college credit, saving money and time while easing the transition to college life. 
   
5. Guiding every step: The Illinois Student Assistance Corps provides hands-on help with career exploration, college selection, test prep and financial aid. For first-generation and underserved students, that kind of support is often life-changing.

At EdTrust — an education policy and advocacy organization that promotes education equity — we celebrate states like Illinois that are proving what it looks like to lead with values. 

But this progress can’t stop here. Other states must follow suit and make sure financial aid covers all the real costs of college, because opportunity shouldn’t depend on where you live or how much money your family has.

The current administration in Washington, D.C., may be turning its backs on students, but states like Illinois are showing a better way forward by working to build a future where all students — no matter their income or ZIP code — have a real opportunity to access an affordable, high-quality education.

Denise Forte is the president and CEO at EdTrust.

Juliana Stratton is the Illinois lieutenant governor and a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in the 2026 election.