AIM High

Aim High

The AIM High Pilot Grant program was signed into law on June 4, 2018 with the intent of increasing enrollment at Illinois Universities and decreasing the amount of student loan debt. AIM High funds are awarded by CSU to first time freshmen and Transfer students beginning with the 2019-20 award year. Students must meet the criteria of the grant.

AIM High Criteria

Illinois Resident
Attended an Illinois high school
Enrolled as a first-time full-time student seeking a bachelors degree at CSU – Fall 2019
U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen
Complete a FAFSA and not have household income that exceeds 8x poverty level
Have not yet earned a baccalaureate degree or 135 undergraduate credit hours
Is not incarcerated
Not be in default of student loans or owe a refund or repayment on any state or federal grant or scholarships
Renewal of awards will be contingent upon availability of funding

Freshmen Eligible Applicants

Renewable up to four years or eight consecutive semesters
Must meet/satisfy admissions criteria as listed
Be enrolled full time (minimum of 12 credit hours) for the appropriate semester

Transfer Student Eligible Applicants

Renewable up to 3 years*
Must meet/satisfy admissions criteria as listed
Be enrolled full time (minimum of 12 credit hours) for the appropriate semester

AIM HIGH Scholarships 2022-2023 through the 2024-25 Award Year

Scholarship	Required GPA	Required Test Score	Scholarship Amount	Renewal
AIM High Merit Scholarship	2.50 + cumulative Unweighted gpa	18 or higher ACT Total Score or SAT 960 or higher	Maximum $24,000 (up to $6,000 annually)	Maintain full time enrollment (minimum 12 credit hours), maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and good judicial standing
AIM High SuccessU Scholarship	Admission to the CSU SuccessU program		Maximum $12,000 (up to $3000 annually)	Maintain full time enrollment (minimum 12 credit hours), maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and good judicial standing
AIM High Honors College	Acceptance into the Honors College		Maximum $24,000 (up to $6,000 annually)	Maintain good standing with the Honors College
AIM High - Grow Your Own	Receipt of Grow Your Own Scholarship		Online Book Voucher to cover the cost of books	Continued receipt of Grow Your Own Scholarship

Transfer Student Requirements

Scholarship

Required GPA

Scholarship Amount

Renewal Criteria

AIM High Transfer Scholarship

2.50 + 4.0 Scale Earned a minimum of 24 semester credit hours

$12,000 (up to $6,000 Annually)

Maintain full time enrollment (minimum

12 credit hours), maintain Satisfactory

Academic Progress (SAP) and good judicial standing

*Effective October 1, 2021, Transfer students who have not completed their degree requirements but meet all other renewal criteria may appeal to receive additional AIM HIGH funding.

AIM HIGH Scholarships 2021-2022 Award Year

Scholarship	Required GPA	Required Test Score	Scholarship Amount	Renewal
AIM High Merit Scholarship	2.50 + cumulative Unweighted gpa	18 or higher ACT Total Score or SAT 960 or higher	Maximum $24,000 (up to $6,000 Annually)	Maintain full time enrollment (minimum 12 credit hours), maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and good judicial standing
AIM High SuccessU Scholarship	Admission to the CSU SuccessU program		Maximum $12,000 (up to $3000 annually)	Maintain full time enrollment (minimum 12 credit hours), maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and good judicial standing

Transfer Student Requirements

Scholarship

Required GPA

Scholarship Amount

Renewal Criteria

AIM High Transfer Scholarship

2.50 + 4.0 Scale Earned a minimum of 24 semester credit hours

$12,000 (up to $6,000 Annually)

Maintain full time enrollment (minimum

12 credit hours), maintain Satisfactory

Academic Progress (SAP) and good judicial standing

*Effective October 1, 2021 Transfer students who have not completed their degree requirements but meet all other renewal criteria may appeal to receive additional AIM HIGH funding

AIM High Scholarships 2020-2021 Award Year

Freshman Requirements

Scholarship	Required GPA	Required Test Score	Scholarship Amount	Renewal
AIM High Merit Scholarship	2.75+ cumulative Unweighted gpa	18 or higher ACT Total Score or SAT 960 or higher	Maximum $24,000 (up to $6,000 Annually)	Maintain full time enrollment (minimum 12 credit hours), maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and good judicial standing
AIM High SuccessU Scholarship	Admission to the CSU SuccessU program		Maximum $12,000 (up to $3000 annually)	Maintain full time enrollment (minimum 12 credit hours), maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and good judicial standing

Transfer Student Requirements

Scholarship

Required GPA

Scholarship Amount

Renewal Criteria

AIM High Transfer Scholarship

2.75+ 4.0 Scale Earned a minimum of 24 semester credit hours

$12,000 (up to $6,000 Annually)

Maintain full time enrollment (minimum

12 credit hours), maintain Satisfactory

Academic Progress (SAP) and good judicial standing

AIM High Scholarships 2019-20 Award Year

Freshman Requirements

Scholarship	Required GPA	Required Test Score	Scholarship Amount	Renewal
AIM High Presidential Scholarship	3.25+ Unweighted	20 or higher ACT Total Score or SAT 1030 or higher	$24,000 ($6,000 Annually)	3.0 cumulative GPA, completion of 12 or more semester hours (Spring & Fall) and good judicial standing
AIM High Academic Achievement Scholarship	3.0 – 3.24 Unweighted	19 or higher ACT Total Score or SAT 990 or higher	$16,000 ($4,000 Annually)	3.0 cumulative GPA, completion of 12 or more semester hours (Spring & Fall) and good judicial standing
AIM High CSU Persistent Scholarship	2.75 – 2.99 Unweighted	18 or higher ACT Total Score or SAT 960 or higher	$12,000 ($3,000 Annually)	2.75 cumulative GPA, completion of 12 or more semester hours (Spring & Fall) and good judicial standing
AIM High SUCCESS U Scholarship	2.5+ Unweighted	15 or higher ACT Total Score or SAT 880 or higher	$8,000 ($2,000 Annually)	2.5 cumulative GPA, completion of 12 or more semester hours (Spring and Fall) and good judicial standing

Transfer Students Requirements

Scholarship	Required GPA	Scholarship Amount	Renewal Criteria
AIM HIGH Transfer Scholarship	2.75+ 4.0 Scale Earned a minimum of 24 semester credit hours	$12,000 ($6,000 Annually)	2.75 cumulative GPA, completion of 12 or more semester hours (Spring and Fall) and good judicial standing

FAQs

Q. What is AIM High?

A. The AIM High Pilot Grant program was signed into law on June 4, 2018 with the intent of increasing enrollment at Illinois Universities and decreasing the amount of student loan debt. AIM High funds are awarded by Chicago State University to first time freshmen and Transfer students beginning with the 2019-20 award year. Students must meet the criteria of the grant.

Q. How do I apply for the AIM High Scholarship?

A. All students who complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Alternative Application for the appropriate award year and, are enrolled as a first-time freshman or a transfer student with 24 or more transfer credit hours will be reviewed to determine eligibility for the AIM High Scholarship.

Q. Will I be notified that I am eligible for the AIM High Scholarship?

A. Yes. In addition to your financial aid notice of eligibility, you will receive a letter of congratulations indicating that you are eligible for the AIM High Scholarship.

Q. Can I receive other financial aid in addition to the AIM High Scholarship?

A. Yes. The CSU AIM High funds are intended to offset tuition and mandatory fees before all other merit and gift aid is applied to a student’s account. Additional aid such as loans and student employment can also be received in order to assist in paying other educational expenses such as room and board, supplies and other personal or miscellaneous expenses. However, your total financial aid package cannot exceed the cost of attendance.

Q. How do I become eligible for the AIM High Scholarship?

A. In addition to meeting the gpa requirement and hours of transfer credit for transfer students, you must: be a resident of Illinois who attended an Illinois high school, not be in default, and meet the income eligibility requirements.

Q. Is there anything I need to do to ensure I receive my scholarship?

A. You must be enrolled as a full-time student (minimum 12 credit hours) for the Fall and Spring semester in order to be eligible for the AIM High scholarship.

Q. Do current CSU students qualify?

A. No. The AIM High scholarship is a newly available scholarship beginning with the Fall 2019 semester. Only students enrolled as a first-time full-time freshmen or transfer student (with 24 transfer credit hours) beginning Fall 2019 or later are eligible for the scholarship.

Q. Will I receive AIM High for my entire enrollment at CSU?

A. You are eligible for AIM High for a maximum of eight consecutive semesters (Fall and Spring) as long as you continue to meet the renewal criteria, full time enrollment, maintain satisfactory academic progress and good judicial standing. You must complete a FAFSA each year. Funding is contingent upon continued funding from the state of Illinois.

Q. Who should I contact if I have questions regarding AIM High?

A. Please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid with any questions regarding the AIM High Scholarship in person at the Cook Administration Building, Rm. 207, via telephone at (773) 995-2304 or via email at csu-finaid@csu.edu