Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW) Program
Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC)
Waives tuition and mandatory fees at Illinois public universities for up to 4 years for students seeking a first special education teaching license.
- How much
- tuition and mandatory fees waived (up to 4 years)
- Who qualifies
- Illinois resident; a high school graduate, a high school senior in the upper half of the class, or a licensed teacher not in special education; enrolled at an eligible Illinois public university in a program for initial special education licensure; no special education license yet; must teach special education in Illinois afterward.
- For high school seniors, students starting college, undergrads, grad students
- For special education students
- U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
- When to apply
- Opens later Annual priority date March 1 before the academic year; notices of eligibility by July 1. Later applications considered only if waivers remain.
- How to apply
- Submit the SETTW Application/Teaching Agreement/Master Promissory Note through the ISAC Student Portal by March 1 before the academic year
- What you'll need
- state application
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (isac.org)
The details
250 waivers a year: up to 40 for licensed teachers outside special education (lottery), at least 105 for high school graduates (lottery), and at least 105 for high school seniors in the top half of their class (picked by ACT/SAT score). Covers tuition and mandatory fees at the 12 public universities that offer special education, for up to four calendar years, until you get your first special education license. Recipients must teach special education in Illinois or the waived amount turns into a loan with interest. Once you receive a waiver, it renews without reapplying. Can't be combined in the same term with Teachers of Illinois or Golden Apple tuition aid.
More money from Illinois
- Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grantup to $8,400 per year (tuition and mandatory fees only)
- AIM HIGH Grant Programvaries by university
- Higher Education License Plate (HELP) Programvaries; tuition and mandatory fees only
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Wisconsin
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
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