ILLINOIS – On May 29, 2024, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget that supports Illinois’ only 4-year Predominantly Black Institution, Chicago State University. The HBCU Campaign Fund (HCF) joins Chicago State University in applauding the State Legislature’s continued commitment to intentional investing in higher education. The General Assembly supported and built upon Governor JB Pritzker’s recommendations for higher education.

The passed budget includes:

• 2% overall increases to General Operating funds for higher education, equaling an additional $786,900 for CSU;

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

• $6 million for Illinois Veterans’ Grants and Illinois National Guard Grants provided at state public universities;

• A $10 million increase to Monetary Award Program (MAP funding), a scholarship for low-income students, that is projected to benefit 146,000 students in Illinois in FY25;

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

• $13 million for Mental Health Early Action on Campus; and

• $5 million for Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equality; replacing funding previously provided by the Federal Government.

“Illinois is stronger because of the investments in higher education made by our state legislators and Governor Pritzker,” said Zaldwaynaka (“Z”) Scott, President of Chicago State University. “At a time when our state has experienced a 37% decline in Illinois Black student enrollment in higher education over the last 10 years, our role as Illinois’ 4-year Predominantly Black Institution could not be more important. The funding will help our institution continue strategies focused on improved access to higher education, the closure of opportunity gaps and increased retention and graduation rates.”

“Governor JB Pritzker’s investment in higher education and the state’s public universities has continued to be a long-time endeavor that is much appreciated. We thank him for his significant support to Chicago State University, the state’s only four-year Predominantly Black Institution,” said Demetrius Johnson, Jr., Founder, President and CEO of HBCU Campaign Fund. “CSU is tremendously blessed to be under the leadership of President Scott and continue to steer as a strong pillar in advancing and improving access to higher education. We are confident that this investment will continue to boost institutions like CSU, which will continue to be the center of making futures brighter for the students in Illinois. Job well done.”

Click here to review Illinois’ Fiscal Year 2025 Budget.

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