How To Apply For Financial Aid

The two primary financial aid applications are the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Illinois Alternative Application. Both applications are available on-line beginning October 1 for the upcoming award year.

• Your admission application to the University must include your social security number and date of birth in order to match receipt of and eligibility for the FAFSA.
• If you have completed the FAFSA or the Alternative Application and need to add NEIU as a school to receive your information, enter the Title IV school code of 001693 in the online application.
• Using FAFSA on the web to file, students can select to sign electronically using a Federal Student Aid Identification Number or FSA ID. Students can apply for a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) on the FAFSA site. Dependent students will also need at least one FSA ID from one parent.
• For priority consideration for all institutional financial aid, your financial aid application should be received at NEIU by February 15.
• The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Data Retrieval is available to streamline the FAFSA completion and verification process. If the federal tax return is 'Already Completed' for the appropriate tax year, the student and/or spouse/parent can retrieve data directly from the IRS into the FAFSA.  Note that once IRS data is transferred, all amounts will be masked. Click Here for the IRS Data Retrieval tutorial video.

You will receive a Student Aid Report or SAR through the email address provided on the FAFSA. If any of the information on the SAR is incorrect, make the necessary corrections through the FAFSA site. If all the information is correct, save a copy for your records. To have Northeastern Illinois University receive the data from the FAFSA, add the University to the listing of schools by name search or by Title IV School Code (001693).  Once received, the University will update the NEIUport student portal with the most current status.

Applicants and their parents should be prepared to furnish any information verifying data on the application. This may include documents from the Internal Revenue Service for the verification process.

Special or Unusual circumstances

The Financial Aid Office has flexibility under US Department of Education in adjusting eligibility for federal student aid - known as professional judgment - due to special or unusual circumstances. These circumstances include: loss of income, change in housing status, loss of family member and no parental contact. Students who have special or unusual circumstances should contact the Financial Aid Office in person, by email or by telephone.

Applications will be processed and awards will be made on a first come, first served basis for campus-based funds (Federal Work Study, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants). Federal Pell Grant, Monetary Award Program Grant (ISAC), AIM HIGH/Golden Opportunity Scholarship (ISAC) and Direct Loan applications are also reviewed in date order. Although the amounts of these awards are not determined by the date priority, early applicants will receive their award offers first.

You will receive an award offer detailing the financial aid for which you qualify reflected in NEIUport, My Financial Aid tab. All financial aid funds will be credited to your NEIU billing account. If the total credited funds exceed your NEIU bill, you will be notified of the credit balance refund distribution process from Student Payment Services. Students can register for direct deposit using NEIUport, Registration Tools in the Student tab.  Students choosing to pick up a paper check must provide two documents of identification, one of which must be the University ID.

Additional information concerning financial assistance and filing deadlines can be obtained by checking the student portal, the website, email at Financial-Aid@neiu.edu or fax at (773) 442-5040.

Steps to Apply for Federal Student Assistance

1. Create a Federal Student Aid ID.  A FSA ID gives you access to Federal Student Aid’s online systems and can serve as your legal signature.
2. Use your FSA ID log into the FAFSA site and complete the FREE Application for Federal Student Aid using the household income for two years prior to the year you plan to enroll.  For example, if you plan to enroll in 2022-2023, the income required for the FAFSA is 2020.  
   1. Transfer income using the IRS Data Retrieval:  Secured file transfer based on address information from the actual tax return.  Check the appropriate box to transfer the data from IRS into the FAFSA.  Due to security all income information transferred will be 'masked.'
   2. Manually enter income without using the IRS Data Retrieval:  First, the benefit for using the IRS Data Retrieval is that - if selected for the verification process - Financial Aid will waive the request for tax transcripts and W-2 forms.
3. Most information on the FAFSA - with exception of the income - is based on the day on which you are submitting the application.  An example of this is marital status.  
4. Submit the FAFSA using the Title IV School Code for Northeastern Illinois University (001693) and monitor your email for your Student Aid Report.

Federal Student Aid Programs

Federal Pell Grant
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
Federal TEACH Grant
Federal Direct Subsidized Loan
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan

Steps to apply for State of Illinois Assistance

1. Complete and submit the FREE Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Illinois Alternative Application (RISE Act).
2. Based on the date in which you submit your FAFSA, eligibility for the Illinois Monetary Award Program Grant will be determined by Northeastern Illinois University.  If you are in a suspense status based on the date the FAFSA is submitted and have a cumulative academic grade point average of 3.0 or above, eligibility will be determined for Eagle Performance Awards.
3. Teacher-Based scholarship applications are available through the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC). These scholarships include:
   1. Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver
   2. Minority Teacher Scholarship
   3. Golden Apple
4. Veteran-Based scholarship applications are available through ISAC. These scholarships include:
   1. Illinois Veteran's Grant
   2. Illinois National Guard
   3. MIA/POW Scholarships

Steps to Apply for Institutional Assistance:  Don't Stop at the FAFSA!

Once your FREE Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is submitted each October 1st, do not stop there. Your next stop is to complete an online Northeastern Illinois University scholarship application using AcademicWorks!  Students are able to search and apply for NEIU Foundation and Tuition Scholarships using the AcademicWorks online scholarship system.  

Accessing AcademicWorks

• Go to AcademicWorks. 
• Sign in using your NEIUport login information

Institutional Payment Plan Option

Students and families may pay online or in person at Student Payment Services. For a $10 Deferment Fee, the following payment plan is available for balances remaining after grants, scholarships and/or loans are applied:

FALL SEMESTER

• August – ¼ balance
• September – ¼ balance
• October – ¼ balance
• November  – remaining balance

SPRING SEMESTER

• January  – ¼ balance
• February  – ¼ balance
• March  – ¼ balance
• April  – remaining balance

Balances remaining after the end of a semester are subject to a $50 outstanding balance fee and an Accounts Receivable hold on future registration.

Steps to Apply for Private Assistance

Seek FREE money options first

1. If you have not already, sign up for at least three scholarship searches by creating a profile and a personal statement that can be used as a template for all applications. It is recommended to use one of the following search engines:
    
   • My Scholly (one-time charge for mobile app)
   • Scholarship360
   • FastWeb
   • Sallie Mae
   • Scholarship Owl
2. If you have not already completed the ‘household inventory’ of restaurants, entertainment venues, social media and retailers to inquire about scholarships, apply for at least 2 per week.  

NEIU and Private Loan Borrowing

The University policy on alternative or private loans is that they be limited to those students who: 1) have student-at-large academic status, 2) are not eligible for financial assistance under Title IV Financial Aid Programs and 3) have exhausted all Direct Loan eligibility. The maximum certification for borrowers not studying abroad is $12,500.

The process for approval, certification and disbursement of Alternative/Private Loans may be delayed with the new requirement to complete a Private Education Loan Self-Certification Form. Before a borrower can be approved, the student must complete an Alternative/Private Loan Self-Certification and have the form mailed or faxed to the lender. The Self-Certification requires the Cost of Attendance for the loan period. A private loan borrower has a 90-day right of refusal to either reject or reduce the loan. For more information on private loans, view the Private Student Loan Comparison Chart. Students are also encouraged to earn badges using the GRADReady financial literacy tool. Students earning the most badges at the end of the semester are eligible for $500 in institutional scholarships.