(UI/EIU)-Backed Program Designed to Help Schools Keep the Best and Brightest Students in Illinois

What began as a statewide pilot program, designed to keep the best and brightest students in Illinois, will now be permanent, due to legislation sponsored by State Senator Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet), that was recently signed into law by the governor. 

“AIM HIGH has been a great success, and it is an honor to have been part of the bicameral, bipartisan group that conceived of the program,” said Rose. “For too long, Illinois universities have been playing a losing game against out-of-state schools that could offer better financial incentives to students. AIM HIGH helps to level the playing field so that our schools can fight to keep the best and brightest here in state.” 

The name, “AIM HIGH,” was inspired by a Senator Rose’s Charleston High School principal, Dean Tucker, whose license plate was “Aim High.”

The original AIM HIGH program was based on idea proposed by Rose, but was set to expire in 2024.

House Bill 301 makes the program permanent, expands opportunities by increasing matching levels for universities, and updates rules to help improve and grow the program.

“AIM HIGH is another tool to let our world-class universities compete for students. We know that once students leave the state, they are significantly less likely to come back, which has created a serious brain drain. I hope this program can help to reverse that trend and keep more students in the Land of Lincoln,” Rose concluded.

House Bill 301 was signed by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker this past weekend.