College Student Advocates Press For MAP Funding As State Budget Impasse Continues - Progress Illinois

As Illinois enters its third month without a budget, college student advocates want state funds freed up for the Monetary Award Program (MAP). The need-based grant program helps low-income Illinois students pay for tuition at more than 130 colleges and universities in the state. With college students gearing up for fall classes, MAP grants for up to 130,000 eligible applicants this school year are entangled in the Springfield budget standoff. As a result, there is "a lot of confusion among students and a lot of uncertainly as to whether they'll be able to afford to return to school this fall," said Eve Rips, Midwest director at Young Invincibles, a Millennial research and advocacy group. "These students who aren't getting MAP funding are all truly in a place where paying for college is going to be very difficult," she added. http://progressillinois.com/quick-hits/content/2015/09/01/state-budget-impasse-continues-college-student-advocates-press-map