Types of Aid

What is the SIUE Commitment?

Just as you commit to SIUE, we commit to you! The SIUE Commitment is designed to cover remaining tuition and fees after utilizing scholarships and grants from all federal, state, and institutional sources. The Commitment is available for up to eight consecutive semesters for new freshmen and up to four semesters for transfers.

How is the SIUE Commitment calculated?

The SIUE Commitment will cover the balance of a student's tuition and fees after other scholarships and grants are applied. Grants include federal, state, and institutional grants. Institutional aid includes scholarships (i.e., Cougar Pride, Meridian, etc.), waivers, and military programs. These awards do not require repayment as long as students remain eligible.
"Tuition" includes domestic tuition and differential tuition rates for the School of Business and the School of Engineering. "Fees" include general student fees and course fees. Pharmacy students may be eligible at the undergraduate tuition rate.
Expenses for housing, meal plans, parking passes or fines, supplies, books purchased out of pocket, and graduation application fees are not covered.

Will I receive loans with the SIUE Commitment?

The SIUE Commitment, when combined with other scholarships and grants, will cover the cost of tuition, general fees, and course-specific fees. Loans may still be an option to assist with housing and other education expenses, if needed. Your financial aid package may include federal loans. You can also apply for private student loans. Loan amounts must be repaid. It is important to understand the terms and conditions and only borrow what you need.

What are the criteria for the SIUE Commitment?

New or transfer undergraduates who are enrolled full time in a first-time bachelor's program
Family income less than $113,575 with assets less than $50,000 based on submitted Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Must be an Illinois resident
Must be Title IV eligible

How is "family income" defined?

Family income is derived from an equation based on income information provided on the FAFSA including the student and/or parent's adjusted gross income, untaxed income i.e., child support received, untaxed IRA distributions, etc.) and additional financial information (i.e., education tax credits, etc.).

Will every student be verified to ensure their family income is less than $113,575?

No. However, if a student is selected for federal verification or if SIUE needs to resolve conflicting information, required information will need to be submitted before the award is disbursed.

What if my family income is different than what was reported on the FAFSA (i.e., loss of income, loss of parent, etc.)

If a student/parent's income has changed significantly since 2022, a student can file a special circumstance with the SIUE Office of Student Financial Aid. If the result of the special circumstance deems the student is now eligible, they may then receive the SIUE Commitment.

Are transfer students considered?

Yes, as long as the eligibility criteria is met, new transfer students are considered for this program.

Are returning students considered?

All students who began as incoming, first-time students, or new transfers from fall 2021 until spring 2024, eligibility remains at the $63,575 AGI. Any incoming first-time or new transfer students beginning in fall 2024 are considered for the $113,575 family AGI.

Are graduate students considered? Are students who are looking to receive a second bachelor's degree considered?

No, this program is only for first time bachelor's degree-seeking undergraduate students. However, there are a number of other financial aid options available.

For how many semesters can I use this award?

New freshmen are considered for eight consecutive semesters of eligibility. Transfers are considered for four semesters.

How many credit hours will the SIUE Commitment cover?

The SIUE Commitment will cover at least 12 full-time hours of coursework or more.

Can a student use this program for the summer semester(s)?

The SIUE Commitment is intended for use during the fall and spring terms. Therefore, it cannot be used for a summer term of enrollment.

Can a student use these funds for study abroad tuition and fees?

The SIUE Commitment is designed to help a student with tuition and fee costs at SIUE. Therefore, it cannot be applied to tuition and fees at another university, including those abroad. If you are attending both SIUE and a university abroad in the same term, you can appeal to have the SIUE Commitment be applied to your SIUE tuition and fees charges only, even if under the 12-hour enrollment requirement. This will count as one of the eight allowed semesters of eligibility for freshmen and one of the four semesters of eligibility for transfers.

What are the criteria for renewal?

A student must take at least 12 credit hours of coursework each semester and meet Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Will awards be determined on a yearly basis? Could they change if the FAFSA information changes?

For returning SIUE Commitment students, awards will be reviewed with each FAFSA filing. However, the student will be considered eligible the following academic year if the family income does not increase by more than 3%.

Have other questions?

Feel free to reach out to the Office of Financial Aid or the Office of Admissions for more information.