Eligibility

Who is eligible to apply for Federal and State financial aid?

• Citizens of the United States.
• U.S. permanent residents who have an Alien Registration Receipt Card (I-551).
• Conditional permanent residents (I-551C).
• Other eligible noncitizens with an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the Department of Homeland Security showing any one of the following designations: "Refugee," Asylum Granted," "Parole," (I-94 confirms paroled for a minimum of one year and status has not expired) or "Cuban-Haitian Entrant."

Who is not eligible to apply for Federal and State financial aid?

• Students who are in the U.S. on an F1 or F2 student visa, or on a J1 or J2 exchange visitor visa, or a G series visa (pertaining to international organizations).
• Students enrolled at NIU who are currently under the "visiting student" status.
• Students who are not U.S. citizens nor eligible noncitizens.
• Students who are in default of a student loan.
• Students incarcerated in a prison facility.
• Students convicted for the possession or sale of illegal drugs for an offense that occured while you were receiving federal student aid (such as grants, loans, or work-study).