If you are an Illinois resident and you have a minimum of a 3.3/4.0 GPA, you will
receive an additional $300 per year over 2 years.
Our Textbook Rental Program already saves students an average of $1200 compared to
universities that require students to buy their textbooks. If you receive the Textbook
Rental Grant, your total savings will be $1500, meaning your textbooks could be completely
free!
TRANSFER Textbook Rental Grant FAQ
What is the Transfer Textbook Rental Grant?
If you are an Illinois resident and you have a minimum of a 3.3/4.0 GPA, you will
receive an additional $300 per year over 2 years. Our Textbook Rental Program already
saves students an average of $1200 compared to universities that require students
to buy their textbooks. If you receive the Textbook Rental Grant, your total savings
will be $1500, meaning your textbooks could be completely free!*
*The standard textbook rental fee is $9.75 per hour, so the Textbook Rental Grant
will only cover the full cost of textbooks for one year if you take 15 credit hours
or fewer for two semesters. Some classes may also require the purchase of workbooks,
which could be an additional cost not covered by the Textbook Rental Grant.
How do I qualify?
Be a resident of Illinois, with at least one parent (listed on your FAFSA) also an
Illinois resident
Have a minimum 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 scale
Enroll at EIU as a freshman student full-time (12 or more credit hours) at EIU
Be admitted with your financial aid packaged and completed by June 1 of the year you’re
intending to enroll at EIU.
International undergraduate students on current visas (F1, J1) are not eligible for
freshman Textbook Rental Grants.
How do I apply?
No separate application is required. When you are admitted to EIU, you will automatically
be offered the Textbook Rental Grant of $300 if you qualify.
Do current students or out-of-state students qualify?
Current students who first enrolled at EIU before Fall 2023 are not eligible for the
Textbook Rental Grant, as the program is dependent upon AIM HIGH Grant funding. Those
students do not meet the requirements associated with the state’s AIM HIGH Grant.
Current students who first enrolled at EIU Fall 2019 or later and already received
the Textbook Rental Grant (or were previously offered the AIM HIGH Bonus) will continue
to receive it as long as they meet the renewal criteria.
Out-of-state students are not eligible for the $300 Textbook Rental Grant, but renting
your textbooks instead of purchasing them will still save you $1200. In addition,
you may still qualify for $8,000 to $16,000 through our automatic merit scholarships
for undergraduates.
Will the program be available to me my whole time at EIU?
For most students, yes. You can be eligible for the grant for up to four continuous
semesters (Fall and Spring) at EIU, as long as you meet the renewal criteria. The
program is dependent upon continued state appropriation of associated funds.
What are the renewal criteria?
To remain qualified after your first year, you must:
Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0
Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress
Stay continuously enrolled (Fall and Spring) as a full-time student at EIU
Meet AIM HIGH Grant requirements
Maintain Illinois residency
Do I need to submit a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)?
Yes, to qualify for the Textbook Rental Grant, you must submit a FAFSA at fafsa.gov.
We recommend you file your FAFSA as soon as possible, and make sure to include EIU’s
school code (001674) on your FAFSA so we receive your information.
