SPRINGFIELD — Colleges and universities are again deciding whether to front grant money to low-income students who are supposed to be receiving state aid, as Illinois’ state budget remains uncertain.

A survey recently released by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission suggests some schools that covered grants in the fall aren’t guaranteeing to this spring, The Southern Illinoisan newspaper reported. The commission administers the grants through the Monetary Award Program.

“It is important to note that institutions that are crediting student accounts for MAP or listing the award as pending are doing so with the expectation that they will receive payment for MAP from the state,” the commission said.

Of the 96 colleges and universities that responded to the survey, 53 percent said they’d guarantee money for the spring semester, down from 60 percent in the fall.

More than 35 schools eligible to receive the grants didn’t respond to the survey.

And just two-thirds of the public universities that covered grants in the fall are committed to covering them in the spring, according to the survey.

Illinois State, Southern Illinois, Eastern Illinois and Western Illinois universities are among the schools that have made the guarantee, school officials said.