Illinois Extends Free Test Prep Program, Aiming to Boost College and Career Access (Chicago, IL) – Illinois is continuing its pioneering free test preparation program, the Prepare for Illinois’ Future Program, with funding proposed through the FY27 budget as part of Governor JB Pritzker’s Affordability Agenda. The initiative, managed by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) in partnership with global education company Kaplan, provides no-cost prep courses for professional licensing exams, graduate school admissions tests, and workforce credentialing.
Since launching 13 months ago, the program has registered over 12,000 students, saving participants more than $30 million in prep costs. Illinois has invested $9.9 million to date, and Governor Pritzker is recommending a $7 million appropriation for FY27 to continue the program through June 2027.
“As Governor, I am committed to making Illinois the best state in the nation to obtain an affordable education and pursue postsecondary opportunities,” Pritzker said. “Thanks to our continued investments in career advancement tools like our first-in-the-nation free test prep program, we are making life more affordable for thousands of students by helping them prepare for their careers now and earn more in the future.”
The program has achieved measurable outcomes across equity and workforce development goals:
More than 60% of participants are students of color, with low-income students accessing prep courses at five times the pre-program rate.
Nursing students using Kaplan NCLEX-RN prep have a 97% predicted pass rate, exceeding both Illinois and national averages, helping address the state’s nursing shortage.
Students preparing for the MCAT are on track to increase medical school admissions for Black and Hispanic students, targeting historic gaps in Illinois’ physician pipeline.
Graduates are accelerated into high-demand professions including engineering, IT, project management, and healthcare, helping maintain a credentialed and licensed workforce.
The program is available to students at all 12 Illinois public universities and has been piloted at five community colleges — Joliet Junior College, Carl Sandburg College, Southwestern Illinois College, Malcolm X College, and Morton College — selected to reflect geographic and demographic diversity. Courses include preparation for exams such as the GRE®, GMAT®, LSAT®, MCAT®, NCLEX-RN®, USMLE®, Illinois State Bar, real estate, and securities licensing exams, among others.
“Even during a challenging budget year, Governor Pritzker’s recommendation to fund this program for FY27 reflects his ongoing commitment to improving educational access for Illinois students,” said ISAC Executive Director Eric Zarnikow. “Prepare for Illinois’ Future has not only offered a tremendous opportunity for our school partners and their students but has also proved to be a good investment for the state. The value of the courses offered thus far is about three times the initial appropriation, and the long-term benefits of investing in our students’ futures is incalculable.”
Kaplan North America CEO Gregory Marino praised the program as a “game-changing workforce development solution,” saying it opens career pathways for Illinois students and helps them enter high-demand fields immediately after graduation.
Students can register for the program and access free test preparation at Go.Kaplan.com/Illinois.
The initiative reflects Illinois’ commitment to reducing financial barriers to postsecondary education while addressing critical workforce needs across the state.
Illinois Extends Free Test Prep Program, Aiming to Boost College and Career Access
