Concurrent Enrollment and Financial Aid
Students can receive financial aid at NIU while concurrently enrolled at other institutions. Financial aid will not cover audit hours.
Enrollment guidelines affecting specific programs
- Federal Pell Grant: Semester awards based on full-time (12 or more hours), three-quarter time (9-11 hours), half-time (6-8 hours) or less than half-time (1-5) enrollment.
- Illinois State Monetary Award Program (MAP): Awards based on total hours enrolled per semester, 15 hours for full 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 MAP based on hours and charges from both schools. When NIU receives the MAP payment from ISAC, the appropriate funds will be forwarded to the other school if the award is more than tuition and fees at NIU.
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) and Federal Perkins Loans: Must be enrolled for at least 12 hours per semester at NIU.
- Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG): Must be enrolled at least 12 hours per semester.
- National SMART Grant: Must be enrolled at least 12 hours per semester.
- Direct Loan Program (Stafford Loan): Concurrent enrollment documents are not needed. You must be enrolled for 6 hours per semester at NIU to receive a Stafford loan. Credit hours from other schools cannot be combined with NIU hours for Stafford loans.
Download Concurrent Enrollment Information Sheet
Required documents
- Receipt for registration paid at the other school itemizing classes and tuition paid
- Form from NIU's Office of Registration and Records confirming that the classes from the other school will transfer towards your degree at NIU.
- Send required documents to: Northern Illinois University, Student Financial Aid Office, 245 Swen Parson Hall, DeKalb, IL 60115.
