Co-terminal degree programs allow currently enrolled IIT undergraduate students to complete both a bachelor's and master's degree in as few as five years. Currently enrolled undergraduate students can seek admission to a co-terminal degree program as soon as they have 60 academic program hours.
Students in this program are considered undergraduate students by IIT throughout the duration of their program (i.e. through the completion of both degrees). This provision entitles the student to retain their undergraduate scholarships as awarded by IIT even in semesters where they may enroll in graduate courses only. Tuition will be billed at the undergraduate rate through the completion of their program, including semesters in which they may be enrolled less than full-time or semesters in which students are enrolled in graduate coursework only. As students are considered undergraduate through the duration of their program, their cost of attendance will remain consistent with their undergraduate budget group, with adjustments made to individual budget components as necessary.
All tuition and fees are subject to revision by Illinois Tech’s Board of Trustees.
Undergraduate Federal/State Aid
Undergraduate federal/state aid eligibility is based on the number of credit hours that count towards a student’s undergraduate degree; if a course only counts towards a student’s graduate degree the course will not count towards federal/state aid monies. A breakdown of the impact of undergraduate enrollment on federal/state undergraduate awards is listed below. If an award is not listed in a section, it is not impacted:
12-14 Hours of UG Enrollment:
- IL MAP Grant (est.) is reduced by 1-3 hours of funding
9-11 Hours of UG Enrollment:
- Federal Pell Grant is reduced by 25% for most students; for students with higher Pell-eligible EFCs (approx.. 6,000 and above), the award is zeroed out
- Federal SEOG is reduced to $500
- Federal Student Loans are prorated based on a student’s enrollment and eligibility if it is a fall term and the student is graduating
- IL MAP Grant (est.) is reduced by 4-6 hours of funding
6-8 Hours of UG Enrollment:
- Federal Pell Grant is reduced by 50% for most students; for students with higher Pell-eligible EFCs (approx.. 5,500 and above), the award is zeroed out
- Federal SEOG is reduced to $500
- Federal Student Loans are prorated based on a student’s enrollment and eligibility if it is a fall term and the student is graduating
- IL MAP Grant (est.) is reduced by 7-9 hours of funding
3-5 Hours of UG Enrollment:
- Federal Pell Grant is reduced by 75% for most students; for students with higher Pell-eligible EFCs (approx.. 4,100 and above), the award is zeroed out
- Federal SEOG is zeroed out
- Federal Student and Parent Loans are zeroed out
- Federal Work-Study is zeroed out
- IL MAP Grant (est.) is reduced by 10-12 hours of funding
1-2 Hours of UG Enrollment:
- Federal Pell Grant is reduced by 75% for most students; for students with higher Pell-eligible EFCs (approx.. 4,100 and above), the award is zeroed out
- Federal SEOG is zeroed out
- Federal Student and Parent Loans are zeroed out
- Federal Work-Study is zeroed out
- IL MAP Grant (est.) is zeroed out
Graduate Federal Aid
If a student has finished all undergraduate degree requirements, they may utilize graduate federal loans and any previously accepted federal work-study awards. Staff will offer $10,250 per semester in Stafford Unsubsidized Graduate Loans. Graduate PLUS Loans are available upon request.
Determining Undergraduate Enrollment
A student’s undergraduate enrollment is determined by reviewing their approved co-terminal shared coursework eForm and comparing this form against the number of 100-499 level credit hours of enrollment. Any 500+-level courses shared between degrees can be added to the number of 100-499 level credit hours. Conversely, any 400-level courses exclusive to a student’s graduate degree should be removed from the number of 100-499 level credit hours. Kent Law courses are always considered a 500+ level course, even if the course number is below 500.
More information about the eForm.
As an example of how this may play out, please review the following scenarios:
- Kalani enrolls in six 100-499 level credit hours and six 500+/Kent Law credit hours. Her co-terminal shared coursework eForm indicates that CS 450, a 3-credit hour course, is exclusive to her graduate degree. She is also enrolled in CS 500 and CS 550; these courses are not shared. Kalani’s federal and state aid will be adjusted to reflect enrollment in three undergraduate credit hours.
- Arjun enrolls in three 100-499 level credit hours and nine 500+/Kent Law credit hours. His co-terminal shared coursework eForm indicates that BIOL 500 and BIOL 550, both of which are 3-credit hour courses, are shared between both of his degrees. Arjun is enrolled in both BIOL 500 and BIOL 550 this semester. Arjun’s federal and state aid will be adjusted to reflect enrollment in nine undergraduate credit hours.
- Mykenna enrolls in nine 100-499 level credit hours and three 500+/Kent Law credit hours. Her co-terminal shared coursework eForm indicates that her shared courses are all at the 400 level, and none of her 100-499 level courses are exclusive to her graduate degree. Mykenna’s federal and state aid will be adjusted to reflect enrollment in nine undergraduate credit hours.
Once a student has an approved eForm on file, complete the Co-terminal Planning Worksheet. This worksheet is intended for planning purposes only.
Determining the Completion of UG Requirements
A student’s undergraduate degree is considered complete when all undergraduate requirements are satisfied on DegreeWorks or when a staff member from Academic Affairs can attest that the student’s undergraduate degree requirements are satisfied in full.
Institutional Aid
Most IIT Scholarships will automatically be extended to the end of the program. Any exceptions or caveats are listed below:
- Camras Scholars who matriculated during/after Fall 2021 are eligible for four years of Camras funding (five years for Architecture students). After a student’s fourth year of study (fifth for Architecture students), their Camras Scholarship will be replaced with the scholarships they were initially offered by the Office of Undergraduate Admission for the length of the program.
- Recipients of the Crown or Duchossois Scholarship must file an appeal with the Assistant Vice President of the OFA prior to their fifth year of study for a scholarship extension review.
- Recipients of the Leadership Academy Scholarship are only eligible for coverage through their fourth year. Fifth-year students will receive the scholarships they were originally offered by the Office of Undergraduate Admission.
- The Collens Scholarship will cover the loss of federal/state grants when applicable.
Institutional scholarships will be prorated if a student is enrolled in fewer than 12 hours. Co-terminal students’ scholarships will be prorated in any term in which they are enrolled in fewer than 12 credit hours.
Packaging and Processing
When completing an annual FAFSA, students should indicate they are seeking an undergraduate degree. Because co-terminal students have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree, enrollment in a co-terminal program has no bearing on dependency status as determined by the FAFSA unless all undergraduate requirements are complete. If this is the case and a student qualifies for graduate federal aid, the Office of Financial Aid will update the student’s FAFSA accordingly.
Financial aid packages of co-terminal students processing federal financial aid will be reviewed every semester for the duration of a student’s enrollment in the co-terminal program. This review will begin after the late add/drop period for the term has passed.
Co-terminal students who are processing federal student aid are encouraged to meet with a financial aid staff member after being admitted to a program to determine the estimated impact on their federal/state financial aid. Ideally, this meeting will take place prior to the term in which the student initially matriculates into the program so students concerned about the financial feasibility of the program can withdraw accordingly.
The university does not consider enrollment in a co-terminal program a financial hardship; financial aid hardship appeals based solely on enrollment in a co-terminal program will not be considered.