New student loan repayment program offered for IDOT engineers

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - A new student loan repayment program is being offered for IDOT engineers to address a nationwide shortage of people entering the profession.

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced a hiring initiative that will pay $15,000 of eligible student loan debt annually for up to 50 new civil engineers who graduated from Illinois schools.

Payments will be capped at a total of $60,000 and start once the engineer has worked for IDOT for at least four years.

The Higher Education Student Loan Repayment Assistance for Engineers Pilot Program will provide student loan repayment assistance of the form of an annual bonus after taxes of $15,000 a year for no more than four years. It will be available for titles and areas with the greatest staffing needs.

To be eligible, the engineer must be hired by the department on or after July 1, 2024, and work at IDOT for four continuous years. Upcoming positions qualifying for the program will be identified in job postings.

For more information, contact DOT.Recruitment@illinois.gov.