Public Accountability Report Public Accountability Report

2025 Outreach
Mission Statement To ensure that students and families have the information and support services they need to plan for postsecondary education.
Program Goals and Objectives
  1. Increase awareness of college costs and aid availability among potential college students.
    1. Serve as a single point of contact for Illinois citizens for information regarding student aid programs.
      1. Conduct an increased number of outreach activities throughout Illinois to help students and families with college planning.
      2. Increase participation in outreach activities in nontraditional venues, such as community-based organizations.
    Source of Funds General Revenue Fund, Student Loan Operating Fund, Federal Student Incentive Trust Fund Statutory Authority 110 ILCS 947/20
    Fiscal Year 2026 Target/Projected Fiscal Year 2025 Actual Fiscal Year 2025 Target/Projected Fiscal Year 2024 Actual Fiscal Year 2023 Actual
    Input Indicators
    Total expenditures - all sources (in thousands) $ 28,030.0 $ 14,751.3 $ 23,928.8 $ 12,998.5 $ 10,784.9
    Total expenditures - state appropriated funds (in thousands) $ 28,030.0 $ 14,751.3 $ 23,928.8 $ 12,998.5 $ 10,784.9
    Average monthly full-time equivalents 68.0 54.0 84.0 69.0 70.0
    Output Indicators
    Number of Illinois cities and towns served 425.0 411.0 400.0 384.0 381.0
    Number of high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools requesting services 590.0 586.0 600.0 587.0 558.0
    Number of college planning and financial aid presentations and workshops 1,300 1,237 1,250 1,248 1,189
    FAFSA and Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid completion workshops 1,150 1,130 900.0 891.0 864.0
    Number of students and parents interacting with outreach programs 70,000 65,000 75,000 71,000 77,000
    Number of professional development sessions offered (a) 125.0 122.0 175.0 188.0 192.0
    Hours of professional development training presented by staff (b) 3,500 3,441 9,500 9,908 8,048
    Number of registrants for College Changes Everything conference 525.0 532.0 500.0 500.0 1,172
    Number of participants in outreach events 80,000 73,500 85,000 81,000 80,000
    Outcome Indicators
    Number of electronic transcripts sent 175,000 172,553 180,000 174,745 209,785
    Total financial aid applications filed statewide 662,290 644,580 643,000 656,005 630,152
    Financial aid applications filed within 30 days of system availability 162,190 157,853 135,000 141,081 143,753
    Financial aid applications filed within 60 days of system availability 229,314 223,182 200,000 206,072 211,689
    Financial aid applications filed within 90 days of system availability 284,463 276,856 240,000 248,115 253,864
    Financial aid applications filed by Pell-eligible applicants 381,445 371,245 335,000 341,950 317,108
    Percentage of high school seniors filing a financial aid application 72.00% 71.50% 71.00% 69.00% 71.30%
    Pell grant dollars received by students at Illinois schools (in millions) (c) $ 1,335.9 $ 1,300.2 $ 1,000.0 $ 1,022.4 $ 846.0
    Footnotes
    Fewer sessions were offered due to reduced staffing availability during fiscal year 2025. Professional development hours presented were reduced to align with the staffing resources available during this time. An increase in enrollment of low-income students resulted in more Pell grant dollars received by students at Illinois schools.

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