The Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP), unlike a loan, has never had to be repaid. Grants such as the MAP are similar to scholarships, but with one defining factor: they are based more upon financial need than GPA or other scholastic factors. The MAP Grant has always been a successful method of aiding students who might not be able to attend college otherwise.

However, a recent measure introduced in the Illinois legislature would change that. If passed, the measure would make students pay back the grants if they leave Illinois within five years of graduation. On top of being required to stay within Illinois, recipients would also have to graduate within four years and retain a higher-than-average GPA.

With roughly 140,000 low-income and at-risk students granted funds through the MAP Grant, placing these restrictions might just be enough to increase the number of college dropouts. As it stands, many students are hesitant enough about the prospects of attaining and retaining a job after graduation that a lack of funds might be enough for them to quit and attempt to jump right into the job force, sans degree.

“People who are financially dependent on the grants will not have the capacity to pay them back if they are penalized under the new measure,” junior Mark Gehlbach said. “If people are moving out of Illinois for financial reasons anyway, the bill will do nothing to retain them.”

With Illinois ranking second in the nation for outbound migration, losing residents at a rate of one person every ten minutes, and only 40% of students in Illinois colleges graduating in four years, it is likely that this  measure aims to increase both graduation rate and retention. However, it could prove to be the state’s downfall. Instead of remaining in Illinois for longer than planned, students who aim to move out of state eventually may find themselves attending college in a state other than Illinois.

Overall, the measure, if put into place, is likely to have a major impact on all involved, be it student, legislature, or the average Illinois citizen.