Next Steps for First-year Huskies
Congratulations on being admitted to NIU. From the day you're admitted to your first day of classes, use the steps below to guide you. Each phase builds on the one before it, and completing earlier steps unlocks what comes next.
Track your progress in your Next Steps Portal. Log in at go.niu.edu/NIUNextSteps with your NIU email address and password to view your personalized checklist.
Start Here
Take these steps as soon as possible. Once you pay your enrollment fee, you can register for orientation.
Confirm Your Intent to Enroll and Pay Your Enrollment Fee
Log in to your Next Steps Portal and select "Confirm Intent to Enroll" to pay your nonrefundable enrollment fee. Once you pay the fee in full, you can register for orientation.
We sent your Z-ID information to the personal email address you used when you applied. Learn how to activate your NIU Account ID so you can log in to your Next Steps Portal.
Apply for Financial Aid
Complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible. If you've already submitted it, confirm that NIU is on your list (school code 001737). If not, log back in to add us. After you file, check your NIU email and MyNIU to-do list regularly for any outstanding financial aid requirements.
Students from Illinois who are ineligible for federal aid should visit go.niu.edu/rise-act for information from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission about the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid.
Register for Orientation
Your orientation date is mandatory: you must attend to stay enrolled in your first-semester courses. It's the day you'll meet other new Huskies, learn about campus resources and start building the connections that carry you through your first year. Register through your Next Steps Portal.
Dates fill up quickly, and you'll choose your format when you register. In person (recommended) is a full day on campus, with up to two guests welcome at no charge. Virtual offers select dates online via Microsoft Teams for students who can't travel to campus.
Thinking about changing your major? Do that first.
After Registering for Orientation
Once you have an orientation date, you can sign your housing contract and complete the remaining preparation steps. After you complete Part 1 of your Orientation Preparation (Academic Prep), you can also schedule your academic advising appointment.
Submit Your Housing Contract and Prepayment
As a first-year student, you're required to live on campus or request a residency requirement exemption. Submit your housing contract after you register for orientation. The earlier you submit, the earlier you can select your room when that process begins.
Take Your Required Placement Tests
You may need to complete online placement tests so we can place you in the right courses. Review the Testing Services website to find out which tests apply to you, then register and complete them before your advising appointment.
Complete Part 1 of Your Orientation Preparation (Academic Prep)
Your Orientation Preparation is a guided, two-part series you'll find in your Next Steps Portal. Part 1, Academic Prep, takes about eight minutes. The short videos walk you through what to expect at your advising appointment, the academic policies you'll need to know and how to find and sign up for classes. A brief quiz at the end confirms what you learned.
Schedule Your Academic Advising Appointment
After you finish Part 1 (Academic Prep), log in to your Next Steps Portal to schedule your advising appointment. Appointments and course availability fill quickly, so schedule as soon as possible.
During your 45- to 60-minute virtual appointment, your advisor will review your degree requirements, placement results and prior credits, then guide you through registering for your first-semester classes. Join from a quiet, uninterrupted space.
Complete Part 2 of Your Orientation Preparation (POP)
Part 2 of your Orientation Preparation is your Pre-Orientation Program (POP), about 15 minutes total. POP gets you ready for your orientation day and your first semester. The short videos cover housing, financial planning, tech tools, support services and a final checklist for your orientation date. You can find POP in your Next Steps Portal.
Upload Your Photo for Your OneCard ID
Your OneCard is your official NIU ID. It gives you access to your residence hall, meal plans, the Recreation Center, the Huskie Line bus and more. After you register for orientation, the OneCard office will email you instructions for submitting your photo.
Before Your First Day of Classes
Almost there. Complete these final steps and get ready to celebrate Week of Welcome.
Submit Your Immunization Records
If you enroll in on-campus classes, the Illinois College Student Immunization Act requires proof of immunity to measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), tetanus and diphtheria (Td/Tdap) and meningitis.
Manage Your Student Health Insurance
If you enroll in nine or more on-campus credit hours, NIU automatically bills you for student health insurance unless you're fully online. If you have other coverage and want to opt out, you can waive or cancel coverage during the waiver period. Email studentinsurance@niu.edu with questions.
Submit Your Final High School Transcript
Your official final high school transcript must include your final grades and graduation date. Check with your high school about how to send your official transcript to NIU. Deadlines for final documents are posted on our document deadlines page. Review your Next Steps Portal for any other outstanding items needed to complete your admission file.
Join Us for Week of Welcome
Week of Welcome (WOW) kicks off your first semester with events, tours and activities to help you find your community before classes begin. WOW is part of your full orientation experience. Download the NIU Guidebook app to personalize your WOW schedule as the semester approaches.