What's New in Financial Aid
The 2025-2026 New FAFSA: 'Tis the Season
The Application is open for all!
Students are encouraged to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) or the Alternative Application for Illinois (RISE Act Application) as soon as possible after the applications become available prior to the scheduled December 1 launch.
Prior to submitting the 2025-2026 FAFSA students will need to be familiar with three new terms:
- FTI - Federal Tax Information (direct data exchange from the Internal Revenue Service)
- FTI Consent - Permission for the U.S. Department of Education to use direct tax information from the Internal Revenue Service
- FTI Contributors - All contributors need an FSA ID to provide FTI Consent. FTI Contributors include:
- Applicant or student
- Applicant parent(s) - only for dependent students
- Applicant spouse - only if taxes are not filed jointly
In preparation for the FAFSA, make sure all FTI Contributors have an FSA ID.
Paths to Financial Aid Success
Step 1: FAFSA
Your path to financial aid begins with filling out the Free Application for Student Financial Aid (FAFSA). It takes about 30 minutes to complete online. Upon submission of the application, eligibility will be determined for federal and state assistance (grants, loans, and work study funds).
Step 2: Apply for Institutional Scholarships
Step 3: Apply for Private Scholarships
Illinois AIM HIGH Grant: Your Future Starts at Northeastern
Northeastern Illinois University is launching the Golden Opportunity Scholarship in partnership with Illinois' AIM HIGH Grant Program. This State program started in the 2019-2020 award year. Northeastern is bringing excellence to our students; with AIM HIGH, students can significantly reduce and possibly offset tuition and fees costs. The AIM HIGH Grant will be available to incoming freshmen who attended an Illinois high school, are Illinois residents and have a GPA of at least a 3.0. AIM HIGH will be available for eligible students throughout their time at Northeastern for a maximum time frame of four award years; students must also continuously meet the eligibility requirements.
City Treasurer's Hispanic Heritage Month Scholarship
Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin is proud to announce the 2020 Hispanic Heritage Month Essay Contest. This scholarship recognizes a senior in high school who has displayed outstanding academic achievement or community involvement and writes a thoughtful and impactful essay (500 words) on a topic related to Hispanic Heritage Month. Participating students must also provide a description of their college plans. Winners will receive a $1,500 and $1,000 award, respectively. This opportunity is open to DREAMers as well.
Students can apply at the CPS Academic Works website or submit their essay and other required materials to citytreasurerevents@cityofchicago.org. Submit applications by Oct. 15.
State of Illinois RISE Act
Unable to complete the #EARLYFAFSA?
The RISE Act opens opportunities for students who are ineligible for federal financial aid. Instead of completing a FAFSA to determine MAP grant eligibility, students would complete an Illinois-specific online, interactive application patterned after the FREE application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The online application is available each year, the same date of the FAFSA launch. Students must provide Northeastern Illinois University with an affidavit stating that the application will be filed to become a permanent resident of the United States at the earliest opportunity the student is eligible to do so.
The RISE Act extends eligibility for Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) gift assistance programs. These programs include the Monetary Award Program (MAP), the Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program and the Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW) Program. Students are not exempted from meeting existing program eligibility criteria. Read more.