IllinoisHB3522104th General Assembly (2025–2026)HouseWALLET

UNI DIRECT ADMISSION PROGRAM

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

Summary

Creates the Public University Direct Admission Program Act. Provides that, beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year, the Board of Higher Education, in collaboration with the Illinois Community College Board, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, and the State Board of Education, shall establish and administer a direct admission program. Requires each public university in the direct admission program to identify and provide its grade point average standards for general admission for first time admission and for transfer students to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission by March 1 of each year. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2026 and each July 1 thereafter, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall use data collected from school districts to determine which students meet the standards for general admission and provide the data to the Board of Higher Education. Provides that, beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year, the Board of Higher Education, in collaboration with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission and the State Board of Education, shall develop, in consultation with the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a preselection outreach campaign to encourage qualifying State high school juniors and seniors to apply to the University of Illinois at Chicago or the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Requires the Board of Higher Education to submit a report on the direct admission program and the preselection outreach campaign to the Governor and General Assembly by August 1, 2029 and each August 1 thereafter. Amends the School Code. Requires a school board to provide access to high school student directory information and each student's email address and grade point average to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, and each public institution of higher education for the purpose of informing students of educational and career opportunities.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Automatic college offers without application fees

The law creates automatic general admission offers for Illinois high school seniors who meet participating public universities’ GPA standards. Transfer students must attend an Illinois public community college, earn at least 30 graded, transferable semester hours, and meet university GPA standards. Universities must publish their GPA standards and report them to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission by March 1 each year. Community colleges must offer admission to residents of their district. Public universities and community colleges cannot charge application fees for students applying through the program.

Limits protect students’ shared admissions information

With informed consent, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission can share admissions data as needed to run the program. Allowed recipients include specified state education agencies, qualifying public universities, the student’s community college district, and a statewide application portal operator. Sharing beyond the allowed program recipients requires informed consent. Recipients can use student information only to present education and career opportunities. They cannot release it to people outside the authorized recruiting and education networks.

More college outreach for qualifying seniors

State education agencies must inform qualifying seniors about applying to the University of Illinois Chicago or Urbana-Champaign. Each university must provide its qualifying criteria by February 1 each year. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission sends qualifying students’ admissions information and application-request messages to those universities. Available student profile information from the state’s admissions-related assessment must also reach Illinois public colleges promptly. These information and outreach steps do not guarantee admission.

Students choose whether admissions data gets shared

Admissions-data sharing requires signed written or electronic consent from students 18 or older, or parents or guardians of younger students. The data includes name, address, birth date, phone number, email, cumulative GPA, and high school. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission must publish template opt-in language by June 30, 2025. High schools must notify families and offer the choice before junior year ends. Beginning July 1, 2026, districts must make consenting students’ data securely accessible each July 1 for the next year’s graduates. Community colleges must obtain consent and provide data for students with at least 30 graded, transferable semester hours by July 1 annually. The Illinois Community College Board sends that transfer data to the Commission.

Colleges can withdraw unqualified students’ offers

Public universities and community colleges can check applicants’ transcripts, Illinois residency, and high school graduation. They can withdraw a direct admission offer before enrollment if the applicant does not meet the program’s admission criteria.

More student outreach with privacy choices

Districts serving grades 10–12 must give state student-aid officials and public colleges equal campus and directory-data access when other opportunity groups receive it. Directory data includes names, home addresses, birth dates, and phone numbers. Beginning July 1, 2026, covered districts must provide secure electronic directory access each July 1 to authorized military recruiters, student-aid officials, and public colleges. Schools must explain the opt-out right: students or families can submit a signed written request before sophomore year ends. Transfer students follow school-set deadlines, and federal and state student privacy laws still apply.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

There is no primary sponsor on record.

Cosponsors

  • Aarón M. Ortíz

    Democratic • House

  • Barbara Hernandez

    Democratic • House

  • Celina Villanueva

    Democratic • Senate

  • Chapin Rose

    Republican • Senate

  • Christopher Belt

    Democratic • Senate

  • Dale Fowler

    Republican • Senate

  • Dan Swanson

    Republican • House

  • Doris Turner

    Democratic • Senate

  • Emanuel "Chris" Welch

    Democratic • House

  • Erica Harriss

    Republican • Senate

  • Graciela Guzmán

    Democratic • Senate

  • Joyce Mason

    Democratic • House

  • Katie Stuart

    Democratic • House

  • Martha Deuter

    Democratic • House

  • Mary Edly-Allen

    Democratic • Senate

  • Maura Hirschauer

    Democratic • House

  • Maurice A. West, II

    Democratic • House

  • Meg Loughran Cappel

    Democratic • Senate

  • Michael Crawford

    Democratic • House

  • Michael J. Kelly

    Democratic • House

  • Mike Simmons

    Democratic • Senate

  • Napoleon Harris III

    Democratic • Senate

  • Nicolle Grasse

    Democratic • House

  • Norine K. Hammond

    Republican • House

  • Rachel Ventura

    Democratic • Senate

  • Rick Ryan

    Democratic • House

  • Sharon Chung

    Democratic • House

  • Steve McClure

    Republican • Senate

  • Steve Stadelman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Sue Rezin

    Republican • Senate

  • Sue Scherer

    Democratic • House

  • Terra Costa Howard

    Democratic • House

  • Wayne A. Rosenthal

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 415 • No: 22

House vote • 5/30/2025

Senate Floor Amendment No. 4 House Concurs

Yes: 103 • No: 10

House vote • 5/30/2025

Senate Committee Amendment No. 3 House Concurs

Yes: 103 • No: 10

House vote • 5/30/2025

Senate Floor Amendment No. 4 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Higher Education Committee;

Yes: 9 • No: 0

House vote • 5/29/2025

Senate Committee Amendment No. 3 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Higher Education Committee;

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/22/2025

Third Reading - Passed;

Yes: 57 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/14/2025

Senate Floor Amendment No. 4 Recommend Do Adopt Higher Education;

Yes: 11 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/7/2025

Do Pass as Amended Higher Education;

Yes: 12 • No: 0

House vote • 4/7/2025

Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed

Yes: 100 • No: 2

House vote • 3/19/2025

Do Pass / Short Debate Higher Education Committee;

Yes: 11 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0015

    6/30/2025House
  2. Effective Date June 30, 2025

    6/30/2025House
  3. Governor Approved

    6/30/2025House
  4. Sent to the Governor

    6/24/2025House
  5. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel

    6/4/2025Senate
  6. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Steve Stadelman

    5/31/2025Senate
  7. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Doris Turner

    5/31/2025Senate
  8. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Napoleon Harris III

    5/31/2025Senate
  9. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mike Simmons

    5/31/2025Senate
  10. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mary Edly-Allen

    5/31/2025Senate
  11. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Celina Villanueva

    5/31/2025Senate
  12. Passed Both Houses

    5/30/2025House
  13. House Concurs

    5/30/2025House
  14. Senate Floor Amendment No. 4 House Concurs 103-010-000

    5/30/2025House
  15. Senate Committee Amendment No. 3 House Concurs 103-010-000

    5/30/2025House
  16. Senate Floor Amendment No. 4 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Higher Education Committee; 009-000-000

    5/30/2025House
  17. Senate Committee Amendment No. 3 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Higher Education Committee; 009-000-000

    5/29/2025House
  18. Senate Floor Amendment No. 4 Motion to Concur Rules Referred to Higher Education Committee

    5/28/2025House
  19. Senate Committee Amendment No. 3 Motion to Concur Rules Referred to Higher Education Committee

    5/28/2025House
  20. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Rachel Ventura

    5/26/2025Senate
  21. Senate Floor Amendment No. 4 Motion to Concur Referred to Rules Committee

    5/23/2025House
  22. Senate Committee Amendment No. 3 Motion to Concur Referred to Rules Committee

    5/23/2025House
  23. Senate Floor Amendment No. 4 Motion Filed Concur Rep. Katie Stuart

    5/23/2025House
  24. Senate Committee Amendment No. 3 Motion Filed Concur Rep. Katie Stuart

    5/23/2025House
  25. Placed on Calendar Order of Concurrence Senate Amendment(s) 3, 4

    5/23/2025House

Bill Text

  • Engrossed

  • Enrolled

  • Introduced

  • Senate Amendment 1

  • Senate Amendment 2

  • Senate Amendment 3

  • Senate Amendment 4

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