NIU Financial Aid

Northern Illinois University, or NIU, is located in the small city of DeKalb, Illinois, about 65 miles west of Chicago. While DeKalb itself is by all accounts pretty boring, NIU adds some life to the place. Over 18,000 undergrads study on its campus that is home to 7 degree-granting colleges, which grant over 60 undergraduate majors. Over 300 student-run organizations spice up life at NIU, and offer a lively alternative to the research-heavy academic environment of the school.

Budgeting when on financial aid is extremely important: you’re already tight on cash, and you don’t want to spend a dollar more than you can afford to. Don’t get distracted by the big-ticket items like room and board, textbooks, and travel to forget to leave room in your budget for smaller college-related expenses such as student tickets for events, eating off-campus, and other incidentals. You don’t want to overextend yourself financially when receiving NIU financial aid, so be sure you get smart and craft a good budget.

Applying for NIU Financial Aid

More standard fare here: NIU is a public university, meaning they require the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and nothing else. Easy, right? Well, before you file the FAFSA, go talk to your aid counselor at the NIU financial aid office, and ask him or her about any forms of ‘free money’ aid you might be eligible for (grants, scholarships, etc.). It also could be a good idea to ask them about whether or not you might need to borrow to cover the cost of attendance at NIU. From there, file your FAFSA, and you’re good: you’ll receive your aid package with your next tuition bill.

NIU Financial Aid Packages

At NIU, you’ll encounter the standard financial aid fare that you might receive at any institution. First of all, it’s a state school, meaning that in-state students receive a tidy subsidy to attend school there, meaning the costs are already nicely reduced before any aid comes in. If you do qualify for financial aid, you’ll receive an aid package made up of the typical ingredients: grants, scholarships, a work-study program, and student loans. For most students receiving NIU financial aid packages, these four ingredients will be plenty to help them cover the costs of attending NIU. For some, however, there will be a gap between their NIU financial aid award and the total cost of attending NIU. If you fall into this boat, be sure you exhaust every last form of financial aid out there, and if you still need more money for NIU, consider taking out a private student loan.