You've already put meaningful time and effort into your education. If you're thinking about returning, Illinois colleges and universities may offer support that helps you finish with a clearer path and fewer barriers — including scholarships, debt relief programs, and flexible options designed with your life in mind.

Find your school below, connect with the right person, and see what support may already be waiting for you.

Jump to section:

• Who to contact when you're ready to enroll
• Schools offering pre-admission degree audits
• Resources for learners with a high number of credits
• What to do next

Who to contact when you're ready to enroll

Black Hawk College Contact Admissions to get started.

Carl Sandburg College Angela Snow, Director of Advising/Registrar asnow@sandburg.edu

Chicago State University Melissa Hill, Associate Director of Admissions mhill46@csu.edu

College of DuPage Contact your designated Enrollment Coach based on your last name — details are in your next steps email.

Eastern Illinois University Kenia Gonzalez, EIU Degree Completion Coordinator (217) 581-5027 | kigonzalez@eiu.edu

Heartland Community College Admissions Office (309) 268-8010 | admissions@heartland.edu

Illinois State University University College (309) 438-3217 | UniversityCollege@IllinoisState.edu

Kishwaukee College Academic Advising (815) 825-9375 | advising@kish.edu

McHenry County College Academic Advising (815) 479-7565 | advising@mchenry.edu

Northeastern Illinois University Contact Admissions to get started.

Northern Illinois University NIU Re-Enrollment Coordinator Submit the Returning Students Contact Form or email btp@niu.edu — a re-enrollment advisor will reach out within five business days.

Oakton College Contact Admissions to get started.

Parkland College Admissions and Records Office (217) 351-2482 | admissions@parkland.edu

Rend Lake College RL-Cares Office (618) 437-5321 | rl-cares@rlc.edu

Rock Valley College Academic and Transfer Advising (815) 921-4100 | RVC-ATA@RockValleyCollege.edu

Sauk Valley Community College Academic Advising (815) 835-6354 | advising@svcc.edu

South Suburban College College and Career Success Center (708) 210-5724 | Use QLESS to wait in a virtual line for an in-person or virtual appointment.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville On-campus programs: Effie Hortis, Director of Academic Advising (618) 650-3701 | ehortis@siue.edu

Online programs: Michelle Black, Coordinator of Online Lead Engagement (618) 650-5833 | michbla@siue.edu

Triton College Ana Patino Perez, Readmission Advisor (708) 456-0300 ext. 3690 | anapatinoperez@triton.edu

Western Illinois University Contact Admissions to get started.

Schools offering pre-admission degree audits

These schools may be able to review your credits before you formally re-enroll. Reach out to the contact listed for your school to ask about availability and eligibility.

• Carl Sandburg College — contact Angela Snow at asnow@sandburg.edu; returning learners do not need to reapply
• Chicago State University — contact the Office of the Registrar at (773) 995-2517 or registrar@csu.edu
• Eastern Illinois University — contact Kenia Gonzalez at (217) 581-5027 or kigonzalez@eiu.edu
• Heartland Community College — contact Admissions at (309) 268-8010 or admissions@heartland.edu
• Illinois State University — contact University College at (309) 438-3217 or UniversityCollege@IllinoisState.edu
• Kishwaukee College — contact Academic Advising at (815) 825-9375 or advising@kish.edu
• McHenry County College — contact Academic Advising at (815) 479-7565 or advising@mchenry.edu
• Parkland College — contact Admissions and Records at (217) 351-2482 or admissions@parkland.edu
• Rend Lake College — no application required; contact RL-Cares at (618) 437-5321 or rl-cares@rlc.edu
• Rock Valley College — contact Academic and Transfer Advising at (815) 921-4100 or RVC-ATA@RockValleyCollege.edu
• Sauk Valley Community College — contact Academic Advising at (815) 835-6354 or advising@svcc.edu
• South Suburban College — contact the College and Career Success Center at (708) 210-5724 or use QLESS for a virtual appointment
• Southern Illinois University Edwardsville — contact Effie Hortis for on-campus programs or Michelle Black for online programs
• Triton College — unofficial transcript evaluations available through an advising appointment; contact Ana Patino Perez at (708) 456-0300 ext. 3690

Resources for learners with a high number of credits

Black Hawk College

Online classes are available — roughly 30% of students take fully online classes each semester. One fully online degree program is offered: Associate in Arts.

Help with what you owe: Payment plans are available for current tuition.

How to apply or come back: There is a $20 application fee. If it's been two years or more since you last attended, submit the readmission application.

Carl Sandburg College

Two fully online programs are available: Associate in Arts (A.A.) and Associate in General Studies (A.G.S.). Many online and hybrid courses are also offered.

Money that may help you finish: The Ann Asplund Discover Scholarship is for learners over the age of 24. You must file a FAFSA and maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher. Awards are $1,500 for full-time students and prorated for part-time enrollment.

Help with what you owe: Payment plans are available for current tuition.

How to apply or come back: Returning learners do not need to reapply. Call the Academic Advising and Records Office at (309) 341-5237 to update your contact information and schedule an advising appointment.

Chicago State University

The Adult Integrated Learning (AIL) Program is a flexible, career-focused undergraduate program designed for adult learners that recognizes prior experience and offers customized academic pathways. The Individualized Curriculum Program (ICP) offers additional flexibility in how you complete your degree.

Money that may help you finish: Finish Strong Micro-Grants provide up to $500 per semester for up to three semesters to help cover modest financial gaps between what you owe and what's available to you through financial aid.

Help with what you owe: Payment plans are available for current tuition. The Cougar Return program is a debt forgiveness initiative for former CSU students who left within the past three years, owe $1,500 or less, and are within a few credits of completing their degree. Contact Melissa Hill to find out if you qualify.

How to apply or come back: The application is free. If you last attended CSU more than two years ago, submit the returning student application.

College of DuPage

Online programs are available.

Help with what you owe: Payment plans are available for current tuition. If you need to reapply, the application fee is waived.

How to apply or come back: If you initially applied to College of DuPage after 2012, you do not need to reapply — contact your designated Enrollment Coach based on your last name. If you applied before 2012 or aren't sure, contact your Enrollment Coach for guidance. Details are in your next steps email.

Eastern Illinois University

Online programs are available.

Money that may help you finish: The Pathway to Completion Scholarship is available for returning learners. Contact Kenia Gonzalez for details and eligibility.

Help with what you owe: Payment plans are available for current tuition and are automatically applied if full payment isn't received by the due date.

How to apply or come back: The application is free. If it's been more than one year since you last attended, submit the free Returning Undergraduate Student Form. Contact Kenia Gonzalez before you apply if you'd like to review your credits first.

Heartland Community College

Online and hybrid programs are available.

Money that may help you finish: The Workforce Equity Initiative (WEI) provides funding for tuition and books to eligible learners enrolled in WEI-designated programs. The Returning Hawks Program is also available for learners coming back after time away — visit the link in your next steps email for details.

Help with what you owe: Payment plans are available for current tuition. The Returning Hawks Debt Relief Program offers debt forgiveness for learners with outstanding balances who are applying for readmission.

How to apply or come back: The application is free. Submit the free readmission application. Contact Admissions if you'd like to review your credits before applying.

Illinois State University

Several fully online programs are available, including Nursing (RN to BSN), Special Education, Early Childhood Education Workforce Licensure, and Health Informatics and Management. Business Administration will launch as a fully online option in Fall 2026.

Help with what you owe: Payment plans are available for current tuition. If you have an outstanding balance preventing you from returning, you can submit a statement of need to University College for review — contact (309) 438-3217 or UniversityCollege@IllinoisState.edu.

How to apply or come back: The application is free for returning students. Submit the free readmission application. Contact University College before you apply if you'd like to review your credits first.

Kishwaukee College

Online programs are available.

Help with what you owe: Payment plans are available for current tuition. If your balance is the result of a hardship, you may submit a Tuition and Hardship Appeal Form with supporting documentation to the Student Services Office. A Debt Relief program is also available for learners who owe a balance and want to return — contact Academic Advising for details.

How to apply or come back: The application is free. If you last attended Kish more than two years ago, submit the free readmission application. Contact Academic Advising if you'd like to review your credits before applying.

McHenry County College

Online programs are available.

Money that may help you finish: The Learn It to Earn It program is designed to help learners restart their education at MCC. For every course you pass with a C or above, MCC will remove the cost of tuition per credit from your past-due bill. Visit mchenry.edu/earn for details.

Help with what you owe: Payment plans are available for both current tuition and past-due balances.

How to apply or come back: The application is free for returning students. Submit the free readmission application. Contact Academic Advising if you'd like to review your credits before applying.

Northeastern Illinois University

Two degree completion programs with flexible and online options are available through the Office of Nontraditional Degree Programs. While no programs are designated as fully online, many courses can be completed online depending on your program and remaining requirements.

Help with what you owe: Payment plans are available for current tuition and past-due balances. If a balance is a barrier to returning, contact Ryan Trout, Director of Undergraduate Admissions, at r-trout@neiu.edu to discuss your options.

How to apply or come back: The application is free. If it's been two years or more since you last attended, submit the free readmission application.

Northern Illinois University

Online programs are available.

Money that may help you finish: A scholarship for returning students offers up to $500 per semester for up to three semesters. Contact the re-enrollment team at btp@niu.edu for details.

Help with what you owe: Payment plans are available for current tuition.

How to apply or come back: The application is free. Submit the Returning Students Contact Form or email btp@niu.edu — a re-enrollment advisor will reach out within five business days.

Oakton College

Online programs are available.

Help with what you owe: Payment plans are available for current tuition. If an outstanding balance is a barrier to returning, contact Admissions to discuss your situation — balance resolutions are handled on a case-by-case basis.

How to apply or come back: The application is free for returning students. If you last attended Oakton three or more years ago, submit the free application.

Parkland College

Online programs are available — look for the globe icon next to program names on the Programs page.

Money that may help you finish: The Cobra Comeback program supports returning learners. Visit parkland.edu/Main/Apply-Now/Cobra-Comeback for details.

Help with what you owe: Payment plans are available for current tuition. The Cobra Comeback Program also includes debt relief for learners who have a 2.0 GPA, are in good academic standing, have been away for at least one academic year, and have an outstanding balance of $2,000 or less.

How to apply or come back: The application is free. If you last attended Parkland two or more years ago, submit the free application for readmission. Contact Admissions if you'd like to review your credits before applying.

Rend Lake College

Online classes are available. The A.A. and A.S. degrees can each be completed approximately 90% online, though no fully online programs are offered at this time.

Money that may help you finish: The Rend Lake Foundation Scholarship is available for eligible learners. Visit rlc.edu/foundation for details.

Help with what you owe: Payment plans are available for current tuition.

How to apply or come back: No application is required for returning students. Reach out to the RL-Cares Office at (618) 437-5321 ext. 1225 or rl-cares@rlc.edu to let them know you're returning and to update your information.

Rock Valley College

One fully online program is available: Associate of Arts, a flexible degree focused on general education requirements. Learners in most other programs can complete a portion of their courses online.

Help with what you owe: Payment plans are available for current tuition.

How to apply or come back: The application is free. If it's been three or more years since you attended RVC, submit the free application. Contact Academic and Transfer Advising if you'd like to review your credits before applying.

Sauk Valley Community College

Online programs are available.

Help with what you owe: Payment plans are available for current tuition.

How to apply or come back: The application is free. If it's been two years or more since you last attended, submit the free application for readmission. Contact Academic Advising if you'd like to review your credits before applying.

South Suburban College

Online learning options are available.

Help with what you owe: Payment plans are available for current tuition. A Hardship Debt Relief program is available for learners with outstanding balances — contact the College and Career Success Center at (708) 210-5724 for details. Contact South Suburban College's College and Career Success Center to ask about eligibility. Use QLESS to schedule a virtual or in-person appointment.

How to apply or come back: The application is free. If it's been two years or more since you last attended, submit the free readmission application.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Online undergraduate programs are available — look for the red "U" marker on the programs page.

Help with what you owe: Payment plans are available for current tuition.

How to apply or come back: The application fee is waived for ReUp learners. If you plan to attend fully online, go to the applications page and scroll to find your program — each online program has a separate application. If you plan to attend on campus or in a hybrid format, submit the free returning student application.

Triton College

Online and flexible class options are available.

Help with what you owe: Payment plans are available for current tuition.

How to apply or come back: The application is free. If you've been away for two years or more, submit the returning student form. Contact Ana Patino Perez if you'd like an unofficial transcript evaluation before applying. Triton may also waive CLEP and PLA fees — contact Ana Patino Perez for details.

Western Illinois University

Online programs are available. The Bachelor of Arts in General Studies is a degree completion program for learners looking for a flexible path to finishing.

Help with what you owe: Payment plans are available for current tuition.

How to apply or come back: The application is free. Submit the free re-entry form at least two to four weeks before the term start date. If you're seeking readmission specifically to the B.A. in General Studies program, submit the BGS readmission application instead.

What to do next

If you're close to finishing, a good first move is finding out what still counts, what returning may cost, and which path fits your life now.

• Connect with the contact listed for your school
• Ask whether a degree audit is available before you commit to applying
• Check whether a scholarship, debt relief program, or payment plan may help with costs
• Look into online or flexible options that fit your schedule
• Review the readmission steps specific to your school — they vary

You've already built momentum. Returning is about picking it back up with the right support behind you.