PEORIA HEIGHTS, Ill. (25 News) – More students in the Peoria area now have access to additional financial aid to help them get a college education.
Peoria Promise reimburses tuition payments for local eligible students who attend Illinois Central College.
For the last 18 years, only students who live in Peoria or attend its public and private high schools have been eligible. Now, the non-profit’s program is expanding into Peoria Heights.
Executive Director MJ Schettler tells 25 News that some students live in Peoria Heights but attend school in Peoria, or vice versa. She says expanding to Peoria Heights makes the scholarship money more accessible.
“We ultimately want to ensure that as many high school graduates receive the post-secondary education that they need to further their careers [as they can],” Schettler says. “The boundaries of Peoria Heights are a little more expansive, and we felt it was time to offer the program to those students.”
Students enrolled in the Peoria Promise program must maintain a C or better in their coursework at ICC to continue receiving tuition reimbursements each semester.
ICC offers many career options in secondary and post-secondary education. The average semester’s tuition is around $2,500.
“The trades are as big as anything right now. We really push the trades with our students as an option, and I think it’s a strong avenue for all those students. There has to be some sort of secondary training of some sort for every kid,” Superintendent Eric Heath says.
Since Peoria Promise’s inception, it’s provided over $7 million in tuition support to nearly 6,000 local students.
The non-profit pays off the remaining tuition after FAFSA and any other scholarships, but on a financial need basis.
“It’s based on need, so students will receive between 50 to 100% of that balance from Peoria Promise. I will tell you that close to 80% of our students are receiving 100% of that balance,” Schettler says.
Peoria Heights students can start applying for Peoria Promise on February 1, 2026. Eligible students are those who attend Peoria Heights High School or have lived in Peoria Heights for four or more years.
Superintendent Heath says he expects graduating Peoria Heights Patriots to take advantage of the opportunity.
“We graduate about 50 kids a year; we’re a very small school district, but a majority of those students attend ICC, so it’ll be a big help for our families here in Peoria Heights,” Heath says.
Peoria Promise will be visiting Peoria Heights High School over the next few weeks to help them apply for the program.
Learn more about eligibility and applying on Peoria Promise’s website.
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