The budget for the need-based Monetary Award Program (MAP) was cut in half in FY2010, during a period when the demand for the program is increasing – up nearly 25 percent from the previous year. At a time of great need, the program lost nearly $200 million.

The approximately 140,000 students receiving MAP grants had funding restored when Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation October 19, 2009.

As recently as 2002, MAP still covered 100 percent of average tuition and fees at both public universities and community colleges. Coverage of tuition and fees for FY2011 is an all-time low for the program.

Awards for the 2010-11 academic year were suspended April 19, 2010–the earliest ever–and ISAC projects over 220,000 eligible students will not receive MAP grant aid. Last year, about 130,000 eligible students did not receive ANY award because the program ran out of funding on May 15, 2009. Historically, ISAC has been able to make awards through the end of August or later.

MAP recipients come from every legislative district in this state and attend colleges throughout the state.

According to 2008 ISAC data, the mean taxable income of MAP recipients was just $23,558. About 77 percent of students receiving MAP grant assistance had a household income of less than $40,000 per year, and 48 percent reported less than $20,000 in household income.

The program serves both students just out of high school and independent adult students who are returning to school to advance their career or train for a better job.