The Financial Aid Office is encouraging students to file their FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) by the end of February or soon after. They urge that students do not wait until April or later to file for federal student aid.
Applications are available in the Financial Aid Office, although it is preferable that applicants file online (fafsa.ed.gov) as applications filed electronically are processed faster than their paper counterparts.
To be eligible to receive Federal Student Aid a student must be a permanent resident or a U.S citizen.
NEIU also provides additional and alternative aid.
The Northeastern Illinois University Foundation, headed by Michelle Morrow, is offering two new grants under the Pell grant. The Academic Competitive Grant is for first and second year students. The SMART Grant is for third and fourth year students. Both of these grants require a minimum grade point average of 3.0, and both require applicants to be U.S citizens, Pell eligible, and attending on a full-time basis.
Students must take initiative and go to the office and apply for alternative grants in the Northeastern Foundation Office. These grants have to be applied for separately from FAFSA and should not be mistaken for the Honors Program.
The Honors Program also gives separate tuition waivers and scholarships.
In addition, each college offers tuition waivers based on merit. Every program has its own criteria and qualifications when giving grants and tuition waivers. Some colleges give grants based on talent, such as music, dance, theatre, art and education. To apply students either audition or submit a portfolio with their best work in the field they tend to pursue.
For more information on college scholarships and grants please visit http://www.collegezone.com.