A survey of Illinois colleges shows nearly half of those responding say they won't front income-based state grants for students this spring.
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission heard from 84 of 133 colleges and universities approved for the Monetary Award Program.
MAP provided $373-million last school year but nothing since summer because of the stalemate over a government budget.
Many schools credited students' accounts for MAP grants last fall, the state typically reimburses the grants by December. But many schools say they can't pay that money upfront again.
Among respondents, 41 schools say they won't provide money this spring. Another dozen have yet to decide.
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and majority Democrats in the state Legislature have been deadlocked over a budget that should have taken effect July 1.
