Best College & Education in Illinois — 15 resources

About College & Education for Women

Education resources for women include FAFSA-based federal aid (Pell Grants up to ~$7,000/year), the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Title IX protections against sex discrimination on campus, and dedicated single-mother scholarships through the Jeannette Rankin Foundation, Soroptimist Live Your Dream Awards, and Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation. Community colleges offer low-cost two-year degrees and trade certificates, often with CCAMPIS-grant subsidized on-campus childcare. AAUW funds career development grants and fellowships for women. GED and HiSET programs run through state adult education offices, usually free. This directory covers FAFSA offices, community colleges, adult education, and women's scholarships.

College & Education in Illinois

Illinois handles family law through circuit courts in each of its 23 judicial circuits, with Cook County running its own Domestic Relations Division. The Division of Child Support Services handles enforcement. Chicago dominates the state; Aurora, Rockford, Joliet, Naperville, and Peoria follow. Legal Aid Chicago, Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, and the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence support women.

15 Resources

1. Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) — Free

ISAC at 1755 Lake Cook Rd in Deerfield administers the Monetary Award Program (MAP) — Illinois's largest need-based grant for in-state college students — plus Minority Teachers of Illinois, Illinois Veteran Grant, and the AIM HIGH scholarship. Mothers returning to school file FAFSA and then ISAC accesses their data. Call (800) 899-4722 weekdays 8am-5pm; ISACorps mentors offer free college planning at high schools and community sites statewide.

(800) 899-4722 · 1755 Lake Cook Rd, Deerfield, IL 60015 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

2. FAFSA — Illinois — Free

Federal Student Aid's call center at (800) 433-3243 helps Illinois mothers complete the FAFSA, the gateway to Pell Grants, Direct Loans, work-study, and Illinois MAP grants. Illinois priority deadline for MAP is typically early (the state runs out of funds quickly), so Illinois students should file as soon as the FAFSA opens each fall. Free help is also available through Illinois community colleges and ISACorps mentors.

(800) 433-3243 · Online application · 24/7 online · Visit Website

3. City Colleges of Chicago

City Colleges of Chicago is the seven-college community-college district covering Chicago: Daley, Harold Washington, Kennedy-King, Malcolm X, Olive-Harvey, Truman, and Wright. The Star Scholarship covers tuition and fees for qualifying Chicago Public Schools graduates with a 3.0 GPA. Adult-ed and GED programs are free or low-cost. Reach the central office at 226 W Jackson, (773) 265-5343 weekdays 8am-5pm.

(773) 265-5343 · 226 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60606 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

4. Illinois Community College System

ICCB coordinates Illinois's 48 community colleges including College of DuPage, Harper College, Joliet Junior, College of Lake County, Triton, and downstate flagships at Parkland and John A. Logan. Community-college tuition averages $4,000/year before financial aid. Mothers can call ICCB at (217) 785-0123 weekdays 8am-5pm or browse iccb.org for the college serving their county and current adult-education offerings.

(217) 785-0123 · Statewide system · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

5. University of Illinois System

U of I System spans Urbana-Champaign, Chicago (UIC), and Springfield (UIS) campuses serving 95,000 students. Need-based Illinois Commitment covers full tuition and fees for in-state families earning under $75,000. UI Online offers full degrees. Call the system office at (217) 333-1000 weekdays 8am-5pm; each campus has its own financial-aid office and transfer-credit policy that mothers returning to college should research individually.

(217) 333-1000 · Urbana, Chicago, Springfield · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

6. FAFSA — studentaid.gov — Free

Studentaid.gov is the U.S. Department of Education's free portal for the FAFSA — required for Pell Grants, Direct Loans, work-study, and Illinois MAP grants. Illinois mothers should complete FAFSA as early as October 1 each year to maximize MAP eligibility, which is awarded first-come-first-served. The site also explains income-driven repayment, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and the new SAVE plan affecting Illinois borrowers.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

7. Federal Pell Grant — Free

The Federal Pell Grant pays up to $7,395/year (2024-25 maximum) to undergraduate students with the lowest Expected Family Contribution — and never has to be repaid. Illinois mothers qualifying for Pell typically also qualify for state MAP grants and federal SEOG, which can together cover tuition and fees at any Illinois community college or many four-year schools when stacked correctly. Apply via FAFSA each year.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

8. AAUW Educational Funding — Free

AAUW offers competitive fellowships and grants for women, including American Fellowships for women pursuing doctoral or master's degrees and Career Development Grants for women age 18+ returning to higher education. Illinois winners are recognized at AAUW Illinois branch events. Awards range from ,000 to $50,000. Applications typically open in August with December deadlines; current dollar amounts and eligibility are posted annually online.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

9. P.E.O. International — Women's Education — Free

P.E.O. Sisterhood operates seven women's-education programs including P.E.O. Educational Loan Fund (low-interest), International Peace Scholarship, Program for Continuing Education (need-based grants up to

,000), and Cottey College scholarships. Illinois P.E.O. chapters in Chicago, Naperville, Aurora, Rockford, and downstate communities sponsor local Illinois women applicants. Applications require chapter sponsorship and are submitted through a local Illinois P.E.O. member.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

10. Soroptimist Live Your Dream Awards — Free

Live Your Dream Awards from Soroptimist provide

,000-
0,000 to women heading households who are pursuing education to improve career prospects. Illinois Soroptimist clubs in Chicago, Peoria, Springfield, Rockford, Quad Cities, and Carbondale judge local awards first, then advance winners to regional and federation levels. Applications open August through November; mothers can apply directly online at soroptimist.org without club sponsorship.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

11. Jeannette Rankin Foundation — Free

Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship Fund awards ,000-

0,000 grants to low-income women age 35+ pursuing technical, associate, or undergraduate degrees. Designed for women like Illinois mothers returning to school after raising children or experiencing job loss, the application opens in November with a March deadline. The foundation also offers persistence grants for past winners, recognizing the multi-year nature of completing degrees as a non-traditional student.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

12. Patsy Mink Education Foundation — Free

Patsy T. Mink Education Foundation awards $5,000 scholarships annually to low-income mothers pursuing degrees that will improve their lives and their children's lives. Recognizing Congresswoman Mink's work as the lead author of Title IX, the foundation prioritizes mothers facing economic barriers. Illinois winners have included single mothers at U of I, UIC, and Illinois community colleges. Application opens in early summer with a fall deadline.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

13. Scholarships.com — Free

Scholarships.com is a free scholarship search engine matching Illinois students to over 3.7 million awards based on background, intended major, and demographics. Filters for Illinois residents, women, single mothers, and adult learners surface state-specific awards from organizations like Illinois Tool Works, Caterpillar Foundation, and the Chicago Bar Foundation alongside national scholarships. Account creation is free; the site does not charge to apply.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

14. College Board — BigFuture — Free

BigFuture from the College Board offers free college search, scholarship search (00M in scholarships listed), and SAT prep tools. Illinois students can filter by in-state schools, transfer-friendly programs, and need-based aid. The Illinois Big Future page highlights schools with strong financial-aid policies for Illinois residents and connects users to ISAC's MAP-eligible institutions list at no cost.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

15. Khan Academy — Free SAT Prep — Free

Khan Academy's free Official SAT Practice is co-developed with the College Board and includes adaptive practice questions, eight full-length practice tests, and personalized study plans. Illinois students preparing for the digital SAT (now used by all Illinois 11th graders as part of the state assessment) can study at their own pace with no fee. Khan Academy also offers free instruction in math, science, and humanities through high school.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many college & education resources are in Illinois?
Women's Corner tracks 15 college & education resources for women in Illinois.
Are college & education resources in Illinois free?
12 of the 15 listed college & education resources in Illinois are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Illinois have college & education resources?
Listings span cities including Deerfield, Chicago.
What are some examples of college & education resources in Illinois?
Featured entries include Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), FAFSA — Illinois, City Colleges of Chicago, Illinois Community College System, University of Illinois System.
Do these listings include phone numbers?
5 of 15 Illinois college & education listings include phone numbers.
How do I pay for college as a single mom?
Start with FAFSA at studentaid.gov — single moms typically qualify for the maximum Pell Grant (up to $7,395/year, not repaid). Add state grants, Federal Work-Study, and scholarships specifically for single mothers (Patsy Takemoto Mink Foundation, Soroptimist Live Your Dream, Jeannette Rankin Foundation). Many community colleges have Single Parent Programs with childcare, books, and emergency funds.
Can I go to college while on welfare?
Yes — TANF rules now count post-secondary education toward work requirements in most states, especially CTE/vocational programs. The CCAMPIS program funds free on-campus childcare at hundreds of colleges. SNAP students with kids under 12 qualify for SNAP E&T benefits. Tell your TANF caseworker you're enrolling — they often have hidden funds for books, transportation, and uniforms.
How do I get a GED?
GED classes are free at adult education centers, community colleges, libraries, and online through GED.com and Khan Academy. The exam costs 6–
44 depending on state, and many states waive fees for low-income test-takers. Call 211 or search 'adult education' + your state. Most centers offer free childcare during classes.
Are there scholarships specifically for women?
Yes — AAUW, P.E.O. International, Jeannette Rankin Foundation (women 35+), Society of Women Engineers, Live Your Dream Awards, and hundreds of state-specific awards target women, especially returning students and mothers. Search Fastweb and Scholarships.com filtered for 'women' and your major. Apply to many small scholarships — they're less competitive than big ones.