On Sunday, June 1, 2025, the Illinois General Assembly approved the $55.1 billion state FY26 budget. This marks the seventh consecutive balanced budget under Governor JB Pritzker. The budget prioritizes investing in the state’s financial growth while simultaneously fostering economic development, education, and healthcare initiatives. Notably, it provides substantial support to Illinois’ only four-year predominantly Black institution, Chicago State University (CSU). The HBCU Campaign Fund (HCF) joins in commending the state legislators’ unwavering commitment to investing in the future of students and higher education through the passage of the FY26 budget.

The approved budget reflects the state’s sustained investment in academic institutions and student success, including:

• A 1% increase in operational funding for Chicago State University, totaling an additional $401,300. The legislation also authorize a potential increase of up to 2% based on future state revenue availability.

• Reaching historic levels of scholarship and grant funding with an additional 10 million for Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants – bringing total funding to $771.6 million annually across MAP and AIM HIGH – supporting 162,700 students across the state.

• $7 million in funding for the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act, maintaining support for mental health initiatives at four-year institutions, including CSU.

“Increased investment in Illinois’ students today ensures our state’s competitiveness and economic strength in the years to come,” said President Zaldwaynaka (“Z”) Scott, JD. “We are deeply grateful to Governor Pritzker and the General Assembly for their leadership and vision. The budget is especially critical for CSU, as we navigate the impact of recent federal funding policy decisions.”

President Scott emphasized that state funding plays a vital role in enabling the university to fulfill its mission of providing access, equity, and excellence in education—particularly for historically underserved communities.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Governor JB Pritzker and the General Assembly for their unwavering commitment to investing in higher education and Illinois’ esteemed public universities, including Chicago State University. The transformative work underway at CSU is of paramount importance, as it ensures that every student has access to the necessary opportunities for success,” said Demetrius Johnson, Jr., Founder, President & CEO, HCF. “CSU has recently faced several challenges due to federal funding changes, but President Scott and her administration are determined to navigate through these unprecedented times. We are confident that this investment will continue to support CSU’s mission of creating brighter futures for students and the state of Illinois.”

Click here to read the official press release.

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About the HBCU Campaign Fund
The HBCU Campaign Fund (HCF) was founded in 2012 and is one of the nation’s minority educational organizations. HCF remains a strong advocate for students and higher education. The mission of HCF is to support the significance and raise funds for scholarships, programs, and for private and public HBCUs and MSIs. For more information, visit www.hbcucampaignfund.org.