Financial Assistance
Financial aid opportunities are available for qualified students seeking degrees through the NIU-Community College Partnership program.
NOTE: Financial aid is awarded to qualified students by the college where students are seeking their degrees. If you are currently seeking an associate’s degree, your financial aid will come to you from the community college. If you are currently seeking a bachelor’s degree (because you already completed an associate’s degree, or completing an associate’s degree is not in your plans), you will need to apply for financial assistance through Northern Illinois University.
Please carefully follow these steps to inquire about, and to apply for, financial assistance:
Step 1: Complete or renew your Free Application for Federal Student Aid at FAFSA on the Web.
- If you are seeking your associate’s degree, please have your application information sent to the correct community college. This information is requested in Step 6 of the FAFSA application.
FAFSA School Codes
Rock Valley College: 001747
Waubonsee Community College: 006931
- If you are now pursing your bachelor’s degree, have your application information sent to NIU using the NIU FAFSA School Code: 001737
Step 2: Be sure to contact the correct Financial Aid Office to determine if you need to submit additional application materials:
- Elgin Community College Financial Aid Office
- NIU Student Financial Aid Office
- Rock Valley College Financial Aid Office
- Waubonsee Community College Financial Aid Office
Step 3: Please review the following chart for additional financial aid application guidelines:
Admissions Status |
If this describes you |
then do the following |
|---|---|---|
| I have been admitted to NIU either through the regular or dual admissions process. | A current NIU student taking classes at both NIU and the community college. |
Contact the NIU Student Financial Aid Office for concurrent enrollment information. |
| A current NIU student taking classes only at the community college. |
Contact the NIU Student Financial Aid Office for consortium agreement information. | |
| Accepted to NIU; completing an associate’s degree at the community college. | Contact the community college Financial Aid Office. |
Concurrent Enrollment
Information and Instructions
Students may receive financial aid at Northern Illinois University while concurrently enrolled at other institutions. Enrollment guidelines affecting specific programs are as follows:
- Federal Pell Grant: Awards are based on the student's total credit hour enrollment: full-time (12+ hours per term), three-quarter time (9-11 hours), half-time (6-8 hours), or less than half-time (1-5 hours).
- Illinois State Monetary Award Program (MAP): 15+ hours for a full MAP award, or pro-rated based on hours enrolled. Tuition and fees must be paid at the other school. NIU will bill the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) for the total MAP award based on hours and charges from both schools. When NIU receives the MAP payment from ISAC, the appropriate funds will be forwarded to the partner school, if the award is more than the tuition and fees at NIU.
- Federal SEOG and Federal Perkins Loan: Award recipients must be enrolled for at least 12 hours at NIU.
- Federal Family Education Loan Program (Stafford Loan and PLUS): Award recipients must be enrolled for at least 6 hours at NIU.
In order to process a request for concurrent enrollment, the following documents are required:
- A paid registration receipt from the partner school itemizing classes and tuition paid.
- A form from NIU's Office of Registration and Records that the classes from the other school will transfer towards your degree at NIU.
Scholarships
Visit the NIU Financial Aid - Scholarships webpage for information on scholarships and other financial aid resources.