ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø Possible

ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø Possible is a bold new financial aid program that meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for qualifying newly enrolled students. High-achieving students with demonstrated financial need can achieve an ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø education with ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø Possible.

For fall of 2024, 156 students were recipients of ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø Possible grants. Many are the first in their families to attend college.

This was the vision of ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø graduate Murry Gerber, who made the $40 million commitment to provide financial aid and scholarships to ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø students with backgrounds similar to his own. His vision has inspired many other donors to bring ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø Possible to life for future students and alumni.

Eligibility

ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø Possible meets the demonstrated financial need of every eligible student using available funds from federal, state and college sources. 

To determine financial eligibility, submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid, available for some students living in Illinois.

Academic eligibility is defined by recalculated* GPA of 3.5 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) and class rank (when available) of top 20%. More than 60% of admitted students are academically eligible for ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø Possible, and about 25% are first-generation college students. 

Transfer students may be eligible with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 in a minimum of 12 credit hours and high financial need.

¡ú ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø in seeing if you might qualify academically for ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø Possible? Complete ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø¡¯s Merit Scholarship Estimator, which includes an option to upload an unofficial transcript.  

How ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø Possible works

Here are examples of how ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø Possible makes ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø an affordable reality for three different qualifying students/families, with the direct cost of $62,000 for one year at ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø:

*A recalculated GPA is the best predictor of student success at ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø. The Office of Admissions automatically recalculates a student's high school GPA to standardize it across the entire applicant pool. Coursework in the following areas is included in the recalculation: English, lab science, mathematics, social studies and foreign language. Grades in such courses are recalculated and standardized on a 4.0 grading scale. The high school profile is a useful tool in helping ensure proper grade translation. Rigor of coursework, including honors level, AP, dual enrollment and IB, is considered, but not within the recalculation of the GPA. 

**Your award total will include ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø merit scholarships and other institutional awards, plus any federal and state grants and loans. An ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø Possible Grant, along with all additional financial aid for which you are eligible, will meet the direct cost of ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø.