SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker announced a deal with the University of Illinois Board of Trustees to expand its free tuition program, only a day after the board voted to hike tuition for in-state freshmen.
The governor says the University of Illinois has agreed to expand the free tuition program for low income families.
Pritzker said it’s important that more students have college options.
“I asked them to lift the income threshold for the Illinois Commitment program by an additional 10%, and they will institute this for the coming school year,” said Pritzker.
According to the news release, the program provides scholarships and grants to cover tuition and campus fees for students who are Illinois residents and have a family income of up to $61,000.
This would mean half the households in the state would qualify.
Meanwhile, the U of I announced this week that tuition would increase for incoming freshman in the fall. It also indicated hikes in fees, including room and board rates of up to 3.65%.
This would be for the first time in six years.
