HB4343 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 16928 LNS 30342 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4343

Introduced 1/14/2026, by Rep. Dave Vella

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

See Index

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act, various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois, and the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Requires the Board of Higher Education to establish a pathway program in which any public high school student in this State who graduates in the top 10% of the student's graduating class or meets other standardized thresholds is guaranteed admission to at least one public university. Requires the Board to submit an annual report to the General Assembly (and make the report publicly available) that includes, with respect to public universities: (1) how many in-state residents were admitted in the prior academic year compared to the number of out-of-state residents that were admitted; (2) the tuition trends for students who are residents of this State; and (3) how many university graduates continue to reside within this State following graduation. With respect to each academic program of a public university that has a limited capacity to admit students due to a high demand for admission to the program, provides that at least 70% of the students admitted to the program must be residents of this State. Beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year, prohibits the governing board of each public university from increasing its in-state tuition rate for a given academic year by a percentage that exceeds the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor for the 12 months ending on the previous December 31. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to establish a workforce incentive program in which a student who enrolls in a high-need field at an institution of higher learning may receive a grant to reduce tuition costs or loan forgiveness if the student commits to working in this State for at least 3 after graduation. Provides that under the program, a student from an underserved region of this State may also receive additional admission and tuition support from the Commission.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Board of Higher Education Act is amended by adding Sections 9.47 and 9.48 as follows:

(110 ILCS 205/9.47 new)

Sec. 9.47. Guaranteed admission pathway program.

(a) The Board shall establish a pathway program in which any public high school student in this State who graduates in the top 10% of the student's high school graduating class or meets other standardized thresholds, as determined by the Board, is guaranteed admission to at least one public university.

(b) The Board shall adopt all rules necessary to carry out its responsibilities under this Section.

(110 ILCS 205/9.48 new)

Sec. 9.48. Admission, tuition, and retention report. The Board shall submit an annual report to the General Assembly that includes all of the following information with respect to public universities:

(1) How many in-state residents were admitted in the prior academic year compared to the number of out-of-state residents that were admitted.

(2) The tuition trends for students who are residents of this State.

(3) How many university graduates continue to reside within this State following graduation.

The Board shall make this report publicly available.

Section 10. The University of Illinois Act is amended by changing Sections 8 and 25 as follows:

(110 ILCS 305/8) (from Ch. 144, par. 29)

Sec. 8. Admissions.

(a) (Blank).

(b) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any of the departments or colleges of the University unless such student also has satisfactorily completed:

(1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from the following 5 categories:

(A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and oral communications and literature), of which up to 2 years may be collegiate level instruction;

(B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history and government);

(C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or fundamentals of computer programming);

(D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or agricultural sciences); and

(E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which may be deemed to include American Sign Language), music, career and technical education, agricultural education, or art;

(2) except that institutions may admit individual applicants if the institution determines through assessment or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the coursework taken, including career and technical education courses and courses taken in a charter school established under Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the high school courses required for admission. The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois shall not discriminate in the University's admissions process against an applicant for admission because of the applicant's enrollment in a charter school established under Article 27A of the School Code. Institutions may also admit 1) applicants who did not have an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory curriculum in high school, and 2) educationally disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal organized special assistance programs that are tailored to the needs of such students, providing that in either case, the institution incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and

(3) except that up to 3 of the 15 units of coursework required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).

(c) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall recognize their obligation to their students to offer the coursework required by subsection (b).

(d) A student who has graduated from high school and has scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as a prerequisite to admission.

(e) The Board of Trustees shall establish an admissions process in which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an application for admission to the University as a freshman student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on active duty during the fall semester. The University may request that the Department of Veterans Affairs confirm the status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who was on active duty during the fall semester.

(f) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the University shall provide all Illinois students transferring from a public community college in this State with the University's undergraduate transfer admissions application fee waiver policy and, if such a policy exists, any application or forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as part of the University's transfer admissions process. The University is encouraged to develop a policy to automatically waive the undergraduate transfer admissions application fee for low-income Illinois students transferring from a public community college in this State. The University shall post this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's Internet website.

(g) With respect to each academic program of the University that has a limited capacity to admit students due to a high demand for admission to the program, at least 70% of the students admitted to the program must be residents of this State.

(Source: P.A. 103-936, eff. 8-9-24; 104-234, eff. 8-15-25.)

(110 ILCS 305/25)

Sec. 25. Tuition increase limitations Limitation on tuition increase.

(a) This subsection (a) Section applies only to those students who first enroll after the 2003-2004 academic year. For 4 continuous academic years following initial enrollment (or for undergraduate programs that require more than 4 years to complete, for the normal time to complete the program, as determined by the University), the tuition charged an undergraduate student who is an Illinois resident shall not exceed the amount that the student was charged at the time he or she first enrolled in the University. However, if the student changes majors during this time period, the tuition charged the student shall equal the amount the student would have been charged had he or she been admitted to the changed major when he or she first enrolled. An undergraduate student who is an Illinois resident and who has for 4 continuous academic years been charged no more than the tuition amount that he or she was charged at the time he or she first enrolled in the University shall be charged tuition not to exceed the amount the University charged students who first enrolled in the University for the academic year following the academic year the student first enrolled in the University for a maximum of 2 additional continuous academic years.

(b) Beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year, the Board of Trustees may not increase the in-state tuition rate for a given academic year by a percentage that exceeds the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor for the 12 months ending on the previous December 31.

(Source: P.A. 96-1293, eff. 7-26-10.)

Section 15. The Southern Illinois University Management Act is amended by changing Sections 8e and 15 as follows:

(110 ILCS 520/8e) (from Ch. 144, par. 658e)

Sec. 8e. Admissions.

(a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any of the departments or colleges of the University unless such student also has satisfactorily completed:

(1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from the following 5 categories:

(A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and oral communications and literature), of which up to 2 years may be collegiate level instruction;

(B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history and government);

(C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or fundamentals of computer programming);

(D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or agricultural sciences); and

(E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which may be deemed to include American Sign Language), music, career and technical education, agricultural education, or art;

(2) except that institutions may admit individual applicants if the institution determines through assessment or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the coursework taken, including career and technical education courses and courses taken in a charter school established under Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the high school courses required for admission. The Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University shall not discriminate in the University's admissions process against an applicant for admission because of the applicant's enrollment in a charter school established under Article 27A of the School Code. Institutions may also admit 1) applicants who did not have an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory curriculum in high school, and 2) educationally disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal organized special assistance programs that are tailored to the needs of such students, providing that in either case, the institution incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and

(3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).

(b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall recognize their obligation to their students to offer the coursework required by subsection (a).

(c) A student who has graduated from high school and has scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as a prerequisite to admission.

(d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an application for admission to the University as a freshman student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on active duty during the fall semester. The University may request that the Department of Veterans Affairs confirm the status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who was on active duty during the fall semester.

(e) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the University shall provide all Illinois students transferring from a public community college in this State with the University's undergraduate transfer admissions application fee waiver policy and, if such a policy exists, any application or forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as part of the University's transfer admissions process. The University is encouraged to develop a policy to automatically waive the undergraduate transfer admissions application fee for low-income Illinois students transferring from a public community college in this State. The University shall post this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's Internet website.

(f) With respect to each academic program of the University that has a limited capacity to admit students due to a high demand for admission to the program, at least 70% of the students admitted to the program must be residents of this State.

(Source: P.A. 103-936, eff. 8-9-24; 104-234, eff. 8-15-25.)

(110 ILCS 520/15)

Sec. 15. Tuition increase limitations Limitation on tuition increase.

(a) This subsection (a) Section applies only to those students who first enroll after the 2003-2004 academic year. For 4 continuous academic years following initial enrollment (or for undergraduate programs that require more than 4 years to complete, for the normal time to complete the program, as determined by the University), the tuition charged an undergraduate student who is an Illinois resident shall not exceed the amount that the student was charged at the time he or she first enrolled in the University. However, if the student changes majors during this time period, the tuition charged the student shall equal the amount the student would have been charged had he or she been admitted to the changed major when he or she first enrolled. An undergraduate student who is an Illinois resident and who has for 4 continuous academic years been charged no more than the tuition amount that he or she was charged at the time he or she first enrolled in the University shall be charged tuition not to exceed the amount the University charged students who first enrolled in the University for the academic year following the academic year the student first enrolled in the University for a maximum of 2 additional continuous academic years.

(b) Beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year, the Board may not increase the in-state tuition rate for a given academic year by a percentage that exceeds the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor for the 12 months ending on the previous December 31.

(Source: P.A. 96-1293, eff. 7-26-10.)

Section 20. The Chicago State University Law is amended by changing Sections 5-85 and 5-120 as follows:

(110 ILCS 660/5-85)

Sec. 5-85. Admissions.

(a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any of the departments or colleges of the Chicago State University unless such student also has satisfactorily completed:

(1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from the following 5 categories:

(A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and oral communications and literature), of which up to 2 years may be collegiate level instruction;

(B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history and government);

(C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or fundamentals of computer programming);

(D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or agricultural sciences); and

(E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which may be deemed to include American Sign Language), music, career and technical education, agricultural education, or art;

(2) except that Chicago State University may admit individual applicants if it determines through assessment or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the coursework taken, including career and technical education courses and courses taken in a charter school established under Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the high school courses required for admission. The Board of Trustees of Chicago State University shall not discriminate in the University's admissions process against an applicant for admission because of the applicant's enrollment in a charter school established under Article 27A of the School Code. Chicago State University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal organized special assistance programs that are tailored to the needs of such students, providing that in either case, the institution incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and

(3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).

(b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall recognize their obligation to their students to offer the coursework required by subsection (a).

(c) A student who has graduated from high school and has scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as a prerequisite to admission.

(d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an application for admission to the University as a freshman student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on active duty during the fall semester. The University may request that the Department of Veterans Affairs confirm the status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who was on active duty during the fall semester.

(e) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the University shall provide all Illinois students transferring from a public community college in this State with the University's undergraduate transfer admissions application fee waiver policy and, if such a policy exists, any application or forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as part of the University's transfer admissions process. The University is encouraged to develop a policy to automatically waive the undergraduate transfer admissions application fee for low-income Illinois students transferring from a public community college in this State. The University shall post this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's Internet website.

(f) With respect to each academic program of the University that has a limited capacity to admit students due to a high demand for admission to the program, at least 70% of the students admitted to the program must be residents of this State.

(Source: P.A. 103-936, eff. 8-9-24; 104-234, eff. 8-15-25.)

(110 ILCS 660/5-120)

Sec. 5-120. Tuition increase limitations Limitation on tuition increase.

(a) This subsection (a) Section applies only to those students who first enroll after the 2003-2004 academic year. For 4 continuous academic years following initial enrollment (or for undergraduate programs that require more than 4 years to complete, for the normal time to complete the program, as determined by the University), the tuition charged an undergraduate student who is an Illinois resident shall not exceed the amount that the student was charged at the time he or she first enrolled in the University. However, if the student changes majors during this time period, the tuition charged the student shall equal the amount the student would have been charged had he or she been admitted to the changed major when he or she first enrolled. An undergraduate student who is an Illinois resident and who has for 4 continuous academic years been charged no more than the tuition amount that he or she was charged at the time he or she first enrolled in the University shall be charged tuition not to exceed the amount the University charged students who first enrolled in the University for the academic year following the academic year the student first enrolled in the University for a maximum of 2 additional continuous academic years.

(b) Beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year, the Board may not increase the in-state tuition rate for a given academic year by a percentage that exceeds the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor for the 12 months ending on the previous December 31.

(Source: P.A. 96-1293, eff. 7-26-10.)

Section 25. The Eastern Illinois University Law is amended by changing Sections 10-85 and 10-120 as follows:

(110 ILCS 665/10-85)

Sec. 10-85. Admissions.

(a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any of the departments or colleges of the Eastern Illinois University unless such student also has satisfactorily completed:

(1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from the following 5 categories:

(A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and oral communications and literature), of which up to 2 years may be collegiate level instruction;

(B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history and government);

(C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or fundamentals of computer programming);

(D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or agricultural sciences); and

(E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which may be deemed to include American Sign Language), music, career and technical education, agricultural education, or art;

(2) except that Eastern Illinois University may admit individual applicants if it determines through assessment or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the coursework taken, including career and technical education courses and courses taken in a charter school established under Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the high school courses required for admission. The Board of Trustees of Eastern Illinois University shall not discriminate in the University's admissions process against an applicant for admission because of the applicant's enrollment in a charter school established under Article 27A of the School Code. Eastern Illinois University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal organized special assistance programs that are tailored to the needs of such students, providing that in either case, the institution incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and

(3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).

(b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall recognize their obligation to their students to offer the coursework required by subsection (a).

(c) A student who has graduated from high school and has scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as a prerequisite to admission.

(d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an application for admission to the University as a freshman student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on active duty during the fall semester. The University may request that the Department of Veterans Affairs confirm the status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who was on active duty during the fall semester.

(e) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the University shall provide all Illinois students transferring from a public community college in this State with the University's undergraduate transfer admissions application fee waiver policy and, if such a policy exists, any application or forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as part of the University's transfer admissions process. The University is encouraged to develop a policy to automatically waive the undergraduate transfer admissions application fee for low-income Illinois students transferring from a public community college in this State. The University shall post this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's Internet website.

(f) With respect to each academic program of the University that has a limited capacity to admit students due to a high demand for admission to the program, at least 70% of the students admitted to the program must be residents of this State.

(Source: P.A. 103-936, eff. 8-9-24; 104-234, eff. 8-15-25.)

(110 ILCS 665/10-120)

Sec. 10-120. Tuition increase limitations Limitation on tuition increase.

(a) This subsection (a) Section applies only to those students who first enroll after the 2003-2004 academic year. For 4 continuous academic years following initial enrollment (or for undergraduate programs that require more than 4 years to complete, for the normal time to complete the program, as determined by the University), the tuition charged an undergraduate student who is an Illinois resident shall not exceed the amount that the student was charged at the time he or she first enrolled in the University. However, if the student changes majors during this time period, the tuition charged the student shall equal the amount the student would have been charged had he or she been admitted to the changed major when he or she first enrolled. An undergraduate student who is an Illinois resident and who has for 4 continuous academic years been charged no more than the tuition amount that he or she was charged at the time he or she first enrolled in the University shall be charged tuition not to exceed the amount the University charged students who first enrolled in the University for the academic year following the academic year the student first enrolled in the University for a maximum of 2 additional continuous academic years.

(b) Beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year, the Board may not increase the in-state tuition rate for a given academic year by a percentage that exceeds the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor for the 12 months ending on the previous December 31.

(Source: P.A. 96-1293, eff. 7-26-10.)

Section 30. The Governors State University Law is amended by changing Sections 15-85 and 15-120 as follows:

(110 ILCS 670/15-85)

Sec. 15-85. Admissions.

(a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any of the departments or colleges of the Governors State University unless such student also has satisfactorily completed:

(1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from the following 5 categories:

(A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and oral communications and literature), of which up to 2 years may be collegiate level instruction;

(B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history and government);

(C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or fundamentals of computer programming);

(D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or agricultural sciences); and

(E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which may be deemed to include American Sign Language), music, career and technical education, agricultural education, or art;

(2) except that Governors State University may admit individual applicants if it determines through assessment or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the coursework taken, including career and technical education courses and courses taken in a charter school established under Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the high school courses required for admission. The Board of Trustees of Governors State University shall not discriminate in the University's admissions process against an applicant for admission because of the applicant's enrollment in a charter school established under Article 27A of the School Code. Governors State University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal organized special assistance programs that are tailored to the needs of such students, providing that in either case, the institution incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and

(3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).

(b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall recognize their obligation to their students to offer the coursework required by subsection (a).

(c) A student who has graduated from high school and has scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as a prerequisite to admission.

(d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an application for admission to the University as a freshman student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on active duty during the fall semester. The University may request that the Department of Veterans Affairs confirm the status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who was on active duty during the fall semester.

(e) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the University shall provide all Illinois students transferring from a public community college in this State with the University's undergraduate transfer admissions application fee waiver policy and, if such a policy exists, any application or forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as part of the University's transfer admissions process. The University is encouraged to develop a policy to automatically waive the undergraduate transfer admissions application fee for low-income Illinois students transferring from a public community college in this State. The University shall post this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's Internet website.

(f) With respect to each academic program of the University that has a limited capacity to admit students due to a high demand for admission to the program, at least 70% of the students admitted to the program must be residents of this State.

(Source: P.A. 103-936, eff. 8-9-24; 104-234, eff. 8-15-25.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-120)

Sec. 15-120. Tuition increase limitations Limitation on tuition increase.

(a) This subsection (a) Section applies only to those students who first enroll after the 2003-2004 academic year. For 4 continuous academic years following initial enrollment (or for undergraduate programs that require more than 4 years to complete, for the normal time to complete the program, as determined by the University), the tuition charged an undergraduate student who is an Illinois resident shall not exceed the amount that the student was charged at the time he or she first enrolled in the University. However, if the student changes majors during this time period, the tuition charged the student shall equal the amount the student would have been charged had he or she been admitted to the changed major when he or she first enrolled. An undergraduate student who is an Illinois resident and who has for 4 continuous academic years been charged no more than the tuition amount that he or she was charged at the time he or she first enrolled in the University shall be charged tuition not to exceed the amount the University charged students who first enrolled in the University for the academic year following the academic year the student first enrolled in the University for a maximum of 2 additional continuous academic years.

(b) Beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year, the Board may not increase the in-state tuition rate for a given academic year by a percentage that exceeds the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor for the 12 months ending on the previous December 31.

(Source: P.A. 96-1293, eff. 7-26-10.)

Section 35. The Illinois State University Law is amended by changing Sections 20-85 and 20-125 as follows:

(110 ILCS 675/20-85)

Sec. 20-85. Admissions.

(a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any of the departments or colleges of the Illinois State University unless such student also has satisfactorily completed:

(1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from the following 5 categories:

(A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and oral communications and literature), of which up to 2 years may be collegiate level instruction;

(B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history and government);

(C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or fundamentals of computer programming);

(D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or agricultural sciences); and

(E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which may be deemed to include American Sign Language), music, career and technical education, agricultural education, or art;

(2) except that Illinois State University may admit individual applicants if it determines through assessment or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the coursework taken, including career and technical education courses and courses taken in a charter school established under Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the high school courses required for admission. The Board of Trustees of Illinois State University shall not discriminate in the University's admissions process against an applicant for admission because of the applicant's enrollment in a charter school established under Article 27A of the School Code. Illinois State University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal organized special assistance programs that are tailored to the needs of such students, providing that in either case, the institution incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and

(3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).

(b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall recognize their obligation to their students to offer the coursework required by subsection (a).

(c) A student who has graduated from high school and has scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as a prerequisite to admission.

(d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an application for admission to the University as a freshman student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on active duty during the fall semester. The University may request that the Department of Veterans Affairs confirm the status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who was on active duty during the fall semester.

(e) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the University shall provide all Illinois students transferring from a public community college in this State with the University's undergraduate transfer admissions application fee waiver policy and, if such a policy exists, any application or forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as part of the University's transfer admissions process. The University is encouraged to develop a policy to automatically waive the undergraduate transfer admissions application fee for low-income Illinois students transferring from a public community college in this State. The University shall post this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's Internet website.

(f) With respect to each academic program of the University that has a limited capacity to admit students due to a high demand for admission to the program, at least 70% of the students admitted to the program must be residents of this State.

(Source: P.A. 103-936, eff. 8-9-24; 104-234, eff. 8-15-25.)

(110 ILCS 675/20-125)

Sec. 20-125. Tuition increase limitations Limitation on tuition increase.

(a) This subsection (a) Section applies only to those students who first enroll after the 2003-2004 academic year. For 4 continuous academic years following initial enrollment (or for undergraduate programs that require more than 4 years to complete, for the normal time to complete the program, as determined by the University), the tuition charged an undergraduate student who is an Illinois resident shall not exceed the amount that the student was charged at the time he or she first enrolled in the University. However, if the student changes majors during this time period, the tuition charged the student shall equal the amount the student would have been charged had he or she been admitted to the changed major when he or she first enrolled. An undergraduate student who is an Illinois resident and who has for 4 continuous academic years been charged no more than the tuition amount that he or she was charged at the time he or she first enrolled in the University shall be charged tuition not to exceed the amount the University charged students who first enrolled in the University for the academic year following the academic year the student first enrolled in the University for a maximum of 2 additional continuous academic years.

(b) Beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year, the Board may not increase the in-state tuition rate for a given academic year by a percentage that exceeds the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor for the 12 months ending on the previous December 31.

(Source: P.A. 96-1293, eff. 7-26-10.)

Section 40. The Northeastern Illinois University Law is amended by changing Sections 25-85 and 25-120 as follows:

(110 ILCS 680/25-85)

Sec. 25-85. Admissions.

(a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any of the departments or colleges of the Northeastern Illinois University unless such student also has satisfactorily completed:

(1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from the following 5 categories:

(A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and oral communications and literature), of which up to 2 years may be collegiate level instruction;

(B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history and government);

(C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or fundamentals of computer programming);

(D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or agricultural sciences); and

(E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which may be deemed to include American Sign Language), music, career and technical education, agricultural education, or art;

(2) except that Northeastern Illinois University may admit individual applicants if it determines through assessment or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the coursework taken, including career and technical education courses and courses taken in a charter school established under Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the high school courses required for admission. The Board of Trustees of Northeastern Illinois University shall not discriminate in the University's admissions process against an applicant for admission because of the applicant's enrollment in a charter school established under Article 27A of the School Code. Northeastern Illinois University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal organized special assistance programs that are tailored to the needs of such students, providing that in either case, the institution incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and

(3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).

(b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall recognize their obligation to their students to offer the coursework required by subsection (a).

(c) A student who has graduated from high school and has scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as a prerequisite to admission.

(d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an application for admission to the University as a freshman student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on active duty during the fall semester. The University may request that the Department of Veterans Affairs confirm the status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who was on active duty during the fall semester.

(e) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the University shall provide all Illinois students transferring from a public community college in this State with the University's undergraduate transfer admissions application fee waiver policy and, if such a policy exists, any application or forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as part of the University's transfer admissions process. The University is encouraged to develop a policy to automatically waive the undergraduate transfer admissions application fee for low-income Illinois students transferring from a public community college in this State. The University shall post this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's Internet website.

(f) With respect to each academic program of the University that has a limited capacity to admit students due to a high demand for admission to the program, at least 70% of the students admitted to the program must be residents of this State.

(Source: P.A. 103-936, eff. 8-9-24; 104-234, eff. 8-15-25.)

(110 ILCS 680/25-120)

Sec. 25-120. Tuition increase limitations Limitation on tuition increase.

(a) This subsection (a) Section applies only to those students who first enroll after the 2003-2004 academic year. For 4 continuous academic years following initial enrollment (or for undergraduate programs that require more than 4 years to complete, for the normal time to complete the program, as determined by the University), the tuition charged an undergraduate student who is an Illinois resident shall not exceed the amount that the student was charged at the time he or she first enrolled in the University. However, if the student changes majors during this time period, the tuition charged the student shall equal the amount the student would have been charged had he or she been admitted to the changed major when he or she first enrolled. An undergraduate student who is an Illinois resident and who has for 4 continuous academic years been charged no more than the tuition amount that he or she was charged at the time he or she first enrolled in the University shall be charged tuition not to exceed the amount the University charged students who first enrolled in the University for the academic year following the academic year the student first enrolled in the University for a maximum of 2 additional continuous academic years.

(b) Beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year, the Board may not increase the in-state tuition rate for a given academic year by a percentage that exceeds the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor for the 12 months ending on the previous December 31.

(Source: P.A. 96-1293, eff. 7-26-10.)

Section 45. The Northern Illinois University Law is amended by changing Sections 30-85 and 30-130 as follows:

(110 ILCS 685/30-85)

Sec. 30-85. Admissions.

(a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any of the departments or colleges of the Northern Illinois University unless such student also has satisfactorily completed:

(1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from the following 5 categories:

(A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and oral communications and literature), of which up to 2 years may be collegiate level instruction;

(B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history and government);

(C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or fundamentals of computer programming);

(D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or agricultural sciences); and

(E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which may be deemed to include American Sign Language), music, career and technical education, agricultural education, or art;

(2) except that Northern Illinois University may admit individual applicants if it determines through assessment or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the coursework taken, including career and technical education courses and courses taken in a charter school established under Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the high school courses required for admission. The Board of Trustees of Northern Illinois University shall not discriminate in the University's admissions process against an applicant for admission because of the applicant's enrollment in a charter school established under Article 27A of the School Code. Northern Illinois University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal organized special assistance programs that are tailored to the needs of such students, providing that in either case, the institution incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and

(3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).

(b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall recognize their obligation to their students to offer the coursework required by subsection (a).

(c) A student who has graduated from high school and has scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as a prerequisite to admission.

(d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an application for admission to the University as a freshman student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on active duty during the fall semester. The University may request that the Department of Veterans Affairs confirm the status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who was on active duty during the fall semester.

(e) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the University shall provide all Illinois students transferring from a public community college in this State with the University's undergraduate transfer admissions application fee waiver policy and, if such a policy exists, any application or forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as part of the University's transfer admissions process. The University is encouraged to develop a policy to automatically waive the undergraduate transfer admissions application fee for low-income Illinois students transferring from a public community college in this State. The University shall post this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's Internet website.

(f) With respect to each academic program of the University that has a limited capacity to admit students due to a high demand for admission to the program, at least 70% of the students admitted to the program must be residents of this State.

(Source: P.A. 103-936, eff. 8-9-24; 104-234, eff. 8-15-25.)

(110 ILCS 685/30-130)

Sec. 30-130. Tuition increase limitations Limitation on tuition increase.

(a) This subsection (a) Section applies only to those students who first enroll after the 2003-2004 academic year. For 4 continuous academic years following initial enrollment (or for undergraduate programs that require more than 4 years to complete, for the normal time to complete the program, as determined by the University), the tuition charged an undergraduate student who is an Illinois resident shall not exceed the amount that the student was charged at the time he or she first enrolled in the University. However, if the student changes majors during this time period, the tuition charged the student shall equal the amount the student would have been charged had he or she been admitted to the changed major when he or she first enrolled. An undergraduate student who is an Illinois resident and who has for 4 continuous academic years been charged no more than the tuition amount that he or she was charged at the time he or she first enrolled in the University shall be charged tuition not to exceed the amount the University charged students who first enrolled in the University for the academic year following the academic year the student first enrolled in the University for a maximum of 2 additional continuous academic years.

(b) Beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year, the Board may not increase the in-state tuition rate for a given academic year by a percentage that exceeds the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor for the 12 months ending on the previous December 31.

(Source: P.A. 96-1293, eff. 7-26-10.)

Section 50. The Western Illinois University Law is amended by changing Sections 35-85 and 35-125 as follows:

(110 ILCS 690/35-85)

Sec. 35-85. Admissions.

(a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any of the departments or colleges of the Western Illinois University unless such student also has satisfactorily completed:

(1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from the following 5 categories:

(A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and oral communications and literature), of which up to 2 years may be collegiate level instruction;

(B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history and government);

(C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or fundamentals of computer programming);

(D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or agricultural sciences); and

(E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which may be deemed to include American Sign Language), music, career and technical education, agricultural education, or art;

(2) except that Western Illinois University may admit individual applicants if it determines through assessment or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the coursework taken, including career and technical education courses and courses taken in a charter school established under Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the high school courses required for admission. The Board of Trustees of Western Illinois University shall not discriminate in the University's admissions process against an applicant for admission because of the applicant's enrollment in a charter school established under Article 27A of the School Code. Western Illinois University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal organized special assistance programs that are tailored to the needs of such students, providing that in either case, the institution incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and

(3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).

(b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall recognize their obligation to their students to offer the coursework required by subsection (a).

(c) A student who has graduated from high school and has scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as a prerequisite to admission.

(d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an application for admission to the University as a freshman student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on active duty during the fall semester. The University may request that the Department of Veterans Affairs confirm the status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who was on active duty during the fall semester.

(e) Beginning with the 20245-2026 academic year, the University shall provide all Illinois students transferring from a public community college in this State with the University's undergraduate transfer admissions application fee waiver policy and, if such a policy exists, any application or forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as part of the University's transfer admissions process. The University is encouraged to develop a policy to automatically waive the undergraduate transfer admissions application fee for low-income Illinois students transferring from a public community college in this State. The University shall post this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's Internet website.

(f) With respect to each academic program of the University that has a limited capacity to admit students due to a high demand for admission to the program, at least 70% of the students admitted to the program must be residents of this State.

(Source: P.A. 103-936, eff. 8-9-24; 104-234, eff. 8-15-25.)

(110 ILCS 690/35-125)

Sec. 35-125. Tuition increase limitations Limitation on tuition increase.

(a) This subsection (a) Section applies only to those students who first enroll after the 2003-2004 academic year. For 4 continuous academic years following initial enrollment (or for undergraduate programs that require more than 4 years to complete, for the normal time to complete the program, as determined by the University), the tuition charged an undergraduate student who is an Illinois resident shall not exceed the amount that the student was charged at the time he or she first enrolled in the University. However, if the student changes majors during this time period, the tuition charged the student shall equal the amount the student would have been charged had he or she been admitted to the changed major when he or she first enrolled. An undergraduate student who is an Illinois resident and who has for 4 continuous academic years been charged no more than the tuition amount that he or she was charged at the time he or she first enrolled in the University shall be charged tuition not to exceed the amount the University charged students who first enrolled in the University for the academic year following the academic year the student first enrolled in the University for a maximum of 2 additional continuous academic years.

(b) Beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year, the Board may not increase the in-state tuition rate for a given academic year by a percentage that exceeds the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor for the 12 months ending on the previous December 31.

(Source: P.A. 96-1293, eff. 7-26-10.)

Section 55. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is amended by adding Section 65.135 as follows:

(110 ILCS 947/65.135 new)

Sec. 65.135. Illinois workforce incentive program.

(a) The Commission shall establish a workforce incentive program in which a student who enrolls in a high-need field at an institution, as designated by the Commission, may receive a grant to reduce tuition costs or loan forgiveness if the student commits to working in this State for at least 3 after graduation. Under the program, a student from an underserved region of this State may also receive additional admission and tuition support from the Commission, based on criteria developed by the Commission.

(b) The Commission shall adopt all rules necessary to carry out its responsibilities under this Section.