Prospective Students
We built our Opportunity ISA funds out of a belief that all students doing the hard work of getting an education should have the financial support they need to succeed in school.
To be eligible, students must:
Be at least 17 years old
Be enrolled full-time (i.e 12 or more credits) in a degree-seeking program as a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior by the time you would be receiving financing
Have completed a Free Application Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or undocumented student (active DACA status is required for students in Minnesota and Wisconsin but not for students in Illinois.)
Be seeking a bachelor’s degree program at an eligible institution (linked below) OR enrolled at a City College of Chicago with plans to transfer to a four-year institution to earn a bachelor’s degree.
Be pursuing your first bachelor’s degree
Be in good academic standing, meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Be participating in or an alumna/us of a BFF Partner:
Bottom Line
College Possible
Noble Schools (alumni)
OneGoal
One Million Degrees (alumni)
Have no significant adverse credit events (though credit score is not a consideration)
You can apply for ISA funding to help you cover:
Tuition
Living Expenses
Books and Supplies
Account Balances
What is BFF’s Opportunity ISA Fund?
An Income Share Agreement (ISA) is a financial product where, after receiving funds to help cover your education, you agree to make a fixed number of income-determined monthly payments after you leave school (and following a Transition Period). You will only have an obligation to make payments in months where you are earning above a minimum amount.
An ISA is a financial obligation you pay after your undergraduate education.
The total amount you pay for your ISA is calculated based on your income after you graduate or withdraw, not simply your funding amount. Some students will pay more than their funded amount. Students who don’t do well financially may pay less than their funded amount.
“I wish I had known about BFF [sooner]. If I could tell someone who’s a freshman and they’re a part of CollegePossible: “Hey, this is a great avenue. It can help you with a lot. It can help you make your educational dream a reality.” I would tell them to apply for BFF.”
The ISA Process
Students who are a part of BFF’s program are given personalized support and access to resources throughout the entire process. Learn more about each step below.
+ 1. Apply for and receive Funding
If eligible, you can apply for funding. If accepted, BFF staff will personally walk you through the process to receive an ISA, your financial aid, and your specific ISA terms.
+ 2. Attend School
While in school, you won’t need to do anything but you’ll have access to help, either through more funding for future semesters or support around navigating financial aid, whenever you need it.
+ 3. Graduate or Withdraw
After graduating or withdrawing, you’ll enter what’s called a 6 month Transition Period. You’ll need to set up an account with our 3rd-party Tech Platform to manage your ISA and submit your income.
+ 4. Start Payments
At the end of the Transition Period, your Income-Determined Payments will begin. Throughout the entire process, BFF staff will be available to help answer any questions you have.
+ 5. Complete Your ISA
When you reach any of the 3 different Finish Points, you’ll have completed your ISA and your financial obligation will be satisfied! Learn more about them here.
Want to Learn More?
The Opportunity ISA
Frequently Asked Questions
About Better Future Forward