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 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.
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 6x 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 4 years or eight consecutive semesters
- Must meet/satisfy admissions criteria as listed
Transfer students eligible applicants
- Renewable up to 2 years or four consecutive semesters
- Must meet/satisfy admissions criteria as listed renewable up to 4 years or 8 consecutive semesters
AIM HIGH Scholarships 2021-2022 Award Year
Renewals Only
Continuing Student Renewals
Only students who have received the AIM HIGH scholarship for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 award years will receive scholarships in 2021-22. Students must meet the renewal criteria designated below for the appropriate award year in order to receive the scholarship.
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 each term, 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 each term, 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 each term, 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 each term, 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 each term, completion of 12 or more semester hours (Spring and Fall) and good judicial standing |
FAQs
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.
A. All students who complete a 2020-2021 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
or the Alternative Application 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.
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.
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.
A. In addition to meeting the gpa, ACT/SAT 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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