Gift Aid & Grants

Federal Pell Grant:

A federally funded grant program that is awarded based on federally determined financial need. Must be a degree-seeking undergraduate student. Maximum annual award is two (2) full-time semesters.

Pell Lifetime Limits: Students may receive the Federal Pell Grant for a maximum of 12 semesters (or its equivalent). The calculation of the duration of a student's eligibility will include all years of the student's receipt of Pell Grant funding. As students are completing FAFSAs for the upcoming school year, the Department of Education is sending out email notices to students advising them if they are nearing or have crossed over the duration threshold. Additionally, as part of the financial aid review process, students will receive a communication from their financial aid advisor at Triton College with this information as it becomes available.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG):

A federally funded program awarded based on exceptional financial need (priority is given to Pell Grant recipients).

State of IL MAP Grant:

By applying for financial aid and agreeing to share that information with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) you have been considered for the State of Illinois (IL) Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant. All MAP-approved institutions are required by the State of Illinois to announce MAP Grant awards to students who are enrolled or intending to enroll at their institution. An award amount is included on this letter if you have met the eligibility criteria.

The MAP Grant award amount is an estimate made by the financial aid office and is identified as a "State of IL MAP Grant (Est)." Please be aware that the number of available MAP Grants is limited by funding levels approved by the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor, and reductions to estimated or actual MAP Grants are possible.

There are also limitations to how long you can continue to receive a MAP Grant. Usage is tracked by the number of credit hours for which you’ve received MAP benefits and is referred to as MAP Paid Credit Hours (MPCHs). The maximum number of MPCHs that can be received is 135, and you must be at the junior level or above to use more than 75 MPCHs. For your reference, and to learn more about MPCH limitations, you may access a record of your MPCHs through the ISAC Student Portal.