Low-income college students in Illinois got some good news Monday. The state's Monetary Award Program — which provides MAP grants to help pay for tuition — will be able to give more grants with more money, thanks to the largest appropriation in the fund’s history.

Illinois' MAP grants — the monetary award program for low-income college students — would be available to more students if a bill approved by the legislature this month becomes law.

James Applegate, executive director of the Illinois Board of Higher Education, says low-income students who rely on the state's Monetary Award Program (better known as MAP) are bearing the brunt of the current budget impasse.

Legislation filed Wednesday asks the state of Illinois to provide $168 million in tuition for low-income college students who were promised MAP grants last fall.