110 ILCS 930/7

(110 ILCS 930/7) (from Ch. 144, par. 2307)

Sec. 7. Eligibility for DFI grants. Institutions of higher education shall verify that student applicants meet the eligibility requirements for DFI grants. An individual is eligible for an award under the provisions of this Act if the Program Board finds:

(a) that the individual is an Illinois resident and a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States;

(b) (blank);

(c) that the individual is an Illinois resident for no less than 3 years prior to applying for the grant and the individual holds a baccalaureate degree from an institution of higher education authorized to operate in this State;

(d) that the individual's financial resources are such that, in the absence of a DFI grant, the individual will be prevented from pursuing a graduate or professional degree at a qualified institution of higher education of his or her choice;

(e) that the individual has above average academic ability to pursue a graduate or professional degree, as evidenced by the following:

(1) a minimum grade point average of a C+ (2.75 on a grade scale of 4.00 = A) in the last 60 hours of undergraduate work; and

(2) admission to a post-baccalaureate degree program at a qualified institution of higher education;

(f) that the individual meets other qualifications, which shall be established by the Program Board;

(g) that the individual was a federal Pell Grant recipient at any point while earning a baccalaureate degree;

(h) that the individual is admitted as a full-time student, as defined by the institution of higher education, for at least 9 months of the year pursuing a doctoral, master's, or post-baccalaureate professional degree program at a qualified institution of higher education;

(i) that the individual has signed an agreement to meet this Act's employment conditions if a DFI award is accepted; and

(j) in order to maintain eligibility in the DFI and in order to be considered for subsequent DFI grants, that the individual meets the scholastic requirements and eligibility for financial assistance required by the institution of higher education in which he or she is enrolled as a DFI participant.

(Source: P.A. 104-437, eff. 11-21-25.)