Your hard work in high school is paying off. As an incoming freshman with high academic performance, you have the opportunity to save on your tuition with our AIM HIGH scholarships. AIM HIGH scholarships are only awarded during the Fall and Spring semesters–and in limited quantities–so apply today to secure your chance at earning your reward! You can also request more info for further details.
Scholarship Criteria
| HIGH SCHOOL | Fall 2025/Spring 2026 |
| TIER 1 | |
| GPA | 3.5+ |
| Award Amount | $5000 per year |
| TIER 2 | |
| GPA | 2.75 to 3.49 |
| Award Amount | $3000 per year |
AIM HIGH Criteria
To qualify for AIM HIGH, students must:
- Have attended an Illinois high school.
- Be enrolled full time in a baccalaureate degree program at Governors State University for the first time.
- Be a resident of Illinois.
- Be a U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen.
- Not have household income that exceeds six times the poverty rate.
- Meet full admissions criteria.
- Not yet have earned a baccalaureate degree or 135 undergraduate credit hours.
- Not be in default of student loans or owe a refund or repayment of state or federal grants or scholarships.
Renewal Criteria
To remain qualified after your first semester at GovState, you must:
- Continuously enroll as a full-time student (at least 12 credit hours) at GSU for Fall and Spring semesters.
- Must maintain good standing.
- Maintain a cumulative 2.5 institutional grade point average at GSU.
- Submit the FAFSA or Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid each year you are enrolled at GSU.
Questions?
For more specific information on our AIM HIGH Scholarships, please reach out to us at admission@govst.eduor708-534-4490.
You may also view our answers to some frequently asked questions below:
Governors State’s AIM HIGH commitment is a new financial aid program that can significantly reduce–and in some cases
completely offset–tuition and fees for qualified Illinois students who enroll at Governors State.
To qualify, you must:
• Have attended an Illinois high school.
• Be enrolled full time in a baccalaureate degree program at Governors State University for the first time.
• Be a resident of Illinois.
• Be a U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen.
• Not have household income that exceeds six times the poverty rate.
• Meet full admissions criteria.
• Not yet have earned a baccalaureate degree or 135 undergraduate credit hours.
• Not be in default of student loans or owe a refund or repayment of state or federal grants or scholarships.
Be admitted to GSU. No separate application required.
Yes. The Governors State 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.
No. The state of Illinois mandates require this program only be available to first-time freshman and transfer students
enrolling the Fall and Spring semester.
Up to the full cost of tuition and mandatory fees.
AIM HIGH covers the following: tuition and fees, on-campus housing, and meal plans.
You are eligible for the program for up to eight continuous semesters (Spring and Fall), so long as you meet the renewal
criteria. The program is dependent upon continued state appropriation of associated funds.
To remain qualified after the first year, you must:
• Continuously enroll as a full-time student (at least 12 credit hours) at GovState for Fall and Spring semesters.
• Maintain Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as outlined by the SAP Policy
• Submit the FAFSA or Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid each year you are enrolled at GovState.
Use the chart below to determine federal government poverty guidelines based on family size.
2020 Poverty Guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia
| Number of People in Household | Family Income | AIM HIGH Max Income |
| One | $12,760 | $72,840 |
| Two | $17,240 | $98,760 |
| Three | $21,720 | $124,680 |
| Four | $26,200 | $150,600 |
| Five | $30,680 | $176,520 |
| Six | $35,160 | $202,440 |
| Seven | $39,640 | $228,360 |
| Eight | $44,120 | $254,280 |
| For more than eight, add this amount for each additional person | $4,480 | $25,920 |
For more information, please visit ASPEM.
In Spring 2018, the Higher Education Working Group—a bipartisan group of Illinois legislators interested in finding commonground and viable solutions—proposed and passed a new merit-based grant program. That program—the AIM HIGH Grant—was signed into law in August 2018. The Governors State University Guaranteed Scholarship is dependent on that grant and on state appropriation annually.
Questions?
For more specific information on our AIM HIGH Scholarships, reach out to us at admission@govst.edu or call us at 708-534-4490.