Funds Still Available for FY2025 Partial Loan Repayment Program for Social Work Graduates Working in IL Schools and Municipalities

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is still accepting applications for their School and Municipal Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program, but the deadline is fast approaching. This program provides critical student loan repayment assistance to licensed social workers who are currently serving in Illinois public schools and municipal governments (excluding police departments)*.

* Work for an Illinois county, are employed by municipal police departments, or have received this grant already and therefore are not eligible to apply again? Good News! NASW-IL is working with IL State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, LSW, and Sen. Karina Villa, MSW, to remove these restrictions and to increase the amount of the grant via HB3511. Help our efforts by taking action here today.

For those eligible, the program provides an award of up to $6,500 to assist in paying eligible loans, particularly for those of minority applicants who are underrepresented in the field as as school and municipal social workers. This program was an NASW-Illinois Chapter initiative and was funded thanks to major advocacy from Illinois State Senator Karina Villa.

To qualify, applicants must:

• be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen (FSA Handbook Volume 1, Chapter 2)

• be an Illinois resident

• have an outstanding balance due on an eligible educational loan related to obtaining a degree in social work (includes Stafford Loans, Perkins Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, consolidation loans, Supplemental Loans for Students, alternative loans, and other types of government and institutional loans used for education expenses)

• be an individual who is currently employed as a social worker, and was so employed, for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the date of application (for example: "August 7, 2023 – August 6, 2024”) by:

  • an Illinois public elementary school,

  • an Illinois public secondary school, or

  • a city, village, or incorporated town in the state of Illinois, excluding social workers employed by police departments.

• not be in default on any federal guaranteed educational loan, nor owe a refund on any scholarship or grant program administered by ISAC

This is a concrete step the state is taking to retain and support professionals in high-need roles.

For more details on eligibility and how to apply, click the links below.

• Program Information: https://www.isac.org/students/after-college/forgiveness-programs/SMSWSLRP.html

• Program Application: https://www.isac.org/students/during-college/applying-for-financial-aid/applications/index.html

• Application Period: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025