CHICAGO – The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) and the global education company Kaplan announced that the nation’s first-of-its-kind free test preparation program—Prepare for Illinois’ Future—will continue through the end of the academic year. Furthermore, Governor JB Pritzker has proposed funding the program in the Fiscal Year 2027 budget as part of his Affordability Agenda and his commitment to improving access to higher education opportunities.

Since its launch thirteen months ago, the State has invested $9.9 million to date, and more than 12,000 students have enrolled in Kaplan’s free courses, collectively saving over $30 million. The Governor recommends an allocation of $7 million for the program in Fiscal Year 2027.

“As Governor, I am committed to making Illinois the best state in the country for accessing affordable education and higher education opportunities,” said JB Pritzker. “Thanks to our continued investments in professional development tools—such as our pioneering free test preparation program—we are making life more affordable for thousands of students, helping them prepare for their careers and boost their future earnings.”

The program has demonstrated outstanding results regarding equity and workforce needs across the state:

• It facilitates graduates’ transition into high-demand professions—such as engineering, project management, and information technology—ensuring a highly skilled and certified workforce.
• More than 60% of participants identify as students of color, and low-income students are accessing test preparation courses at a rate five times higher than before the program began. 
• Nursing students who completed Kaplan’s NCLEX-RN preparation achieved a projected pass rate of 97%, significantly exceeding both state and national averages, thereby helping to alleviate the critical nursing shortage in Illinois.
• Students currently enrolled in MCAT preparation courses are on track to significantly boost medical school admission rates for Black and Hispanic students, thereby addressing historical gaps in physician training within the state.

The program offers test preparation courses, professional licensing, and certification programs from Kaplan to all students enrolled at Illinois’ 12 public universities. Additionally, it has been piloted at five selected community colleges chosen to reflect the state’s geographic and demographic diversity. Students have free access to top-tier preparation for professional licensing exams, graduate school admissions tests, and certifications—including the GRE®, GMAT®, LSAT®, MCAT®, NCLEX-RN®, USMLE®, Illinois Bar Exam, real estate and securities exams, and more. The goal is to increase earning potential, expand the state’s tax base, and assist employers in filling critical workforce vacancies.

“Even in a challenging budget year, Governor Pritzker’s recommendation to fund this program for Fiscal Year 2027 reflects his ongoing commitment to improving educational access for Illinois students,” said Eric Zarnikow, Executive Director of ISAC. “Prepare for Illinois’ Future has not only provided a tremendous opportunity for our educational partners and their students, but it has also proven to be a cost-effective investment for the state. The value of the courses provided to date is approximately three times the initial allocation, and the long-term benefit of investing in our students’ future—improving access and eliminating economic barriers—is incalculable.”

“The Prepare for Illinois’ Future program is a transformative solution for workforce development, unlocking opportunities and making higher education more accessible and affordable for hundreds of thousands of students across Illinois. It is already changing the landscape by opening up new career pathways, ensuring that students not only graduate but are also prepared to immediately enter high-demand professions and secure their future,” said Gregory Marino, CEO of Kaplan North America. Students enrolled at all public universities in Illinois, as well as at Joliet Junior College, Carl Sandburg College, Southwestern Illinois College, Malcolm X College, and Morton College, can register for the Prepare for Illinois’ Future program to access free test preparation at Go.Kaplan.com/Illinois.

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