First-Year Textbook Rental Grant
If you are an Illinois resident and you have a minimum of a 3.3/4.0 GPA, you will receive an additional $300 per year over 4 years.
Our Textbook Rental Program already saves students an average of $1200 compared to universities that require students to buy their textbooks. If you receive the Textbook Rental Grant, your total savings will be $1500, meaning your textbooks could be completely free!
First-Year Textbook Rental Grant FAQ
What is the First-Year Textbook Rental Grant?
If you are an Illinois resident and you have a minimum of a 3.3/4.0 GPA, you will receive an additional $300 per year over 4 years. Our Textbook Rental Program already saves students an average of $1200 compared to universities that require students to buy their textbooks. If you receive the Textbook Rental Grant, your total savings will be $1500, meaning your textbooks could be completely free!*
*The standard textbook rental fee is $9.75 per hour, so the Textbook Rental Grant will only cover the full cost of textbooks for one year if you take 15 credit hours or fewer for two semesters. Some classes may also require the purchase of workbooks, which could be an additional cost not covered by the Textbook Rental Grant.
How do I qualify?
- Be a resident of Illinois, with at least one parent (listed on your FAFSA) also an Illinois resident
- Have a minimum 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Enroll at EIU as a first-year student full-time (12 or more credit hours) at EIU
- Meet AIM HIGH Grant requirements
- Be admitted with your financial aid packaged and completed by June 1 of the year you’re intending to enroll at EIU.
- International undergraduate students on current visas (F1, J1) are not eligible for first-year Textbook Rental Grants.
How do I apply?
Do transfer students qualify?
Do current students or out-of-state students qualify?
Current students who first enrolled at EIU before Fall 2023 are not eligible for the Textbook Rental Grant, as the program is dependent upon AIM HIGH Grant funding. Those students do not meet the requirements associated with the state’s AIM HIGH Grant. Current students who first enrolled at EIU Fall 2019 or later and already received the Textbook Rental Grant (or were previously offered the AIM HIGH Bonus) will continue to receive it as long as they meet the renewal criteria.
Out-of-state students are not eligible for the $300 Textbook Rental Grant, but renting your textbooks instead of purchasing them will still save you an average $1200. In addition, you may still qualify for $8,000 to $16,000 through our automatic merit scholarships for undergraduates.
Will the program be available to me my whole time at EIU?
What are the renewal criteria?
To remain qualified after your first year, you must:
- Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress
- Stay continuously enrolled (Fall and Spring) as a full-time student at EIU
- Meet AIM HIGH Grant requirements
- Maintain Illinois residency
Do I need to submit a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)?
Yes, to qualify for the Textbook Rental Grant, you must submit a FAFSA. We recommend you file your FAFSA as soon as possible, and make sure to include EIU’s school code (001674) on your FAFSA so we receive your information.