It is interesting to note that, every year, around 96% of students at UIS receive some kind of financial aid, while the total amount of assistance/loans provided is $8,871,075. At UIS, the total percentage of applicants who receive the Federal Grant stands at 41%. On the other hand, 91% of the candidates get the Student Grant, 85% receive the Institution Grant, and 41% get the Pell Grant. Moreover, the average aid amount for Federal Grant awardees stands at $5,447, while the same comes to $4,916 for State Grant receivers and $9,263 for Institution Grant awardees. As far as the Pell Grant beneficiaries are concerned, the average aid received stands at $4,355. The annual family income of a candidate is one of the key factors in determining their total eligibility for financial aid. Apart from financial grants and scholarships, candidates can also avail of monetary benefits like student loans to fund their education. But, they should understand that student loans are borrowed at a certain rate of interest, unlike grants and scholarships. While grants and scholarship schemes do not require repayment, student loans should be repaid by the applicants within a given period. At UIS, an estimated number of 53% of the applicants choose to go for student loans.