SPRINGFIELD, IL – Last month, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker outlined his Fiscal Year (FY25) budget proposal, including the Illinois plan for advancing funding for higher education. The Governor’s budget will increase college affordability and expand economic opportunity for students, and HCF commends the Governor for his continued investment in the state’s minority-serving institutions such as Chicago State University (CSU). CSU is the state’s only four-year Predominantly Black Institution.

The proposed budget includes:

• 2% overall increase to General Operating funds for higher education, equaling an additional $786,900 for Chicago State University.

• A $10 million increase to Monetary Award Program (MAP), a need based grant that is projected to benefit 146,000 students in FY25.

• Sustained funding for Aspirational Institutional Match Helping Illinois Grown Higher Education (AIM HIGH) grants which specifically helps to support undergraduate students in Illinois’ public universities.

• $450 million in capital funds through Rebuild Illinois to support general deferred maintenance and inflationary increases on public university projects.

The Illinois MAP is a grant funded by the state to provide need-based grants for undergraduate students pursuing their first baccalaureate degree.

“As one of Illinois’ 12 public institutions, and the state’s only 4-year Predominately Black Institution, we commend Governor Pritzker’s FY25 budget recognizing higher education’s economic benefit to the state,” said Zaldwaynaka “Z” Scott, President of Chicago State University. “The proposed funding comes at a time when data from the Illinois Board of Higher Education shows a 37% decline in Illinois Black student enrollment in higher education over the last 10 years. At CSU, the funding will assist us in continuing our mission to advance and improve access to higher education for Illinois families support equity in education with a focus on financial support as well as the academic and wrap-around services all student deserve.”

“We thank Illinois Governor Pritzker for his continued investment in the crucial impact and value of higher education in the state of Illinois; we join others in commending him on the FY25 budget to support education despite a budget deficit,” said Demetrius Johnson Jr., Founder, President & CEO of the HBCU Campaign Fund. “Chicago State University, the state’s only four-year Predominately Black Institution, continues to be a strong pillar in advancing and improving access to higher education for Illinois families, and we commend President Scott and her team for their tremendous work. The governor proposed funding for higher education is much needed toward a brighter future for the students in Illinois.”

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