ISU Rising Sophomore: College Affordability Would Change Everything
This spring, the Illinois Senate Executive Committee convened a subject matter hearing on the historic legislative proposal for Adequate and Equitable Public University Funding (SB13). For more than 20 years, declines in state funding for Illinois’ 12 public universities combined with an arbitrary approach to distributing those resources among the institutions has resulted in a system woefully out of balance with what is actually needed to serve college students and do so affordably. To varying degrees are our public 4-years equipped by our state to support student persistence and success, and none of them have adequate support—as shown by years of research—to begin with.
Hassan Hillard is a rising sophomore at Illinois State University (ISU). Currently funded at only 55 percent of what it needs to fulfill its mission and serve students effectively, ISU would stand to receive an additional $143 million in new state funds over the next 10 years were SB13/HB1581 to pass.
Hillard, a student advocate, gave testimony during the April 30 hearing.
Says Hillard on the importance of his advocacy: "Change never waits— it moves through those bold enough to act. Leadership isn’t about holding a title; it’s about holding the line when it’s hard, and lifting others when it counts. I don’t just want to be in the room— I want to reshape it. I want to build, to serve, to speak when silence is easier, and to leave every space more just, more compassionate, and more human than I found it."
Read Hillard’s full testimony—
“Hello leaders, thank you for allowing the opportunity to speak to you today in this committee on behalf of myself and other students like me.
I am Hassan Hilliard and I am an undergraduate student in my first year at Illinois State University studying legal studies.
Currently I am participating in the Young Invincibles Youth Advocacy Program that has allowed me the opportunity to learn more about this legislation and how it can support me as a student on my campus.
Young Invincibles is a policy advocacy organization working with 18-34 year olds, like myself, to inform and uplift our voices into the political process impacting issues important to us in higher education, workforce development, and healthcare.
Starting college felt like a dream—a fresh start filled with possibilities, new experiences, and the promise of a better future. But for me, that dream came with a harsh reality: the cost of tuition. Some days, it’s overwhelming to realize that my education isn’t just about attending classes and studying—it’s also about constantly figuring out how to afford it all.
There are moments when the weight of tuition feels heavier than my textbooks. Balancing coursework, part-time jobs, and extracurricular commitments, I constantly remind myself why I’m here—to build a better future and make an impact. Yet, the financial strain often overshadows that vision. Instead of focusing on my legal studies major or dedicating more time to advocacy work, I worry about how to cover my next tuition payment.
Being able to afford college without this constant burden would change everything. It would mean immersing myself in my education, seizing every opportunity without hesitation. It would mean not choosing between work and studying or between leadership opportunities and extra shifts.
An adequate funding formula for public higher education institutions would be transformative. It would allow students like me—the ones doing everything right yet still struggling—to succeed without financial roadblocks.
Public colleges should be places for learning and growth, not survival. With adequate funding, we could see lower tuition costs, more scholarships, and expanded support services—all of which would allow students to thrive rather than merely try to get by
Higher education should be a gateway to opportunity, not a financial burden that limits potential. With a more equitable system, students like me wouldn’t have to carry the stress of tuition payments on our shoulders every day no matter the public university they decide to attend.
Instead, we could dedicate ourselves fully to our studies, passions, and future careers—because when students are supported, they make a difference in the world.
I urge you to consider students like myself, and future students like my younger siblings, to transform the way we make public universities available to them.
With an adequate funding formula the future student will not have to stress about the financial burden of college in their decision to attend a certain university but on merit and educational interest.
Through this model the future student can also be offered the same type of support system at any public university and not just the universities that receive the most financial support. The future student; whether rural or urban, downstate or upstate, deserves an educational experience that is affordable and has support systems to ensure success.”