The State of Illinois has started the AIM HIGH program. This new program has given 1.9 million dollars in financial aid to assist students in paying for school by awarding scholarships to students at SIU Carbondale. The university is paying the same amount to assist more students. The school has awarded more than 4 million dollars in financial aid. The scholarship money will be presented to in state students, who are either freshman or transfer students. The scholarships are a way the university is trying to keep state residents home. The Illinois General Assembly gave out 25 million dollars to be given out to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to students, who are enrolled at any public university in the state. The scholarships will be distributed out to students in August of this year.