NIU Bursar Checklist

The Office of the Bursar has a financial checklist to prepare students for the upcoming semester and year. We have listed the most important items at NIU to aid in your understanding of your MyNIU finances. This will allow you to focus on what's most important - your education at NIU!

If at any point you have a question about a checklist item, feel free to contact our office or schedule an appointment to speak with a counselor. We are here to help!

Printable Spring 2026 Checklist Flyer

[Spanish version available here.]

Be financially prepared for your spring 2026 semester by completing this checklist:

   Review your student account on MyNIU to view your amount due.

• First bill will be available
  • Spring 2026: February 2
• Generally, your account with financial aid is based on a full-time enrollment unless you have requested a part-time award or have a history of attending part time. Contact our Financial Aid and Scholarship Office for more information.
  
  What Amount Should I Pay?

   Know when tuition and fees are due.

• Payments are due the 28th of each month in which a billing statement has been produced. To view statement dates and due dates, see our Payment Due Dates.  
• First payment will be due
  • Spring 2026: February 28
• View our withdrawal policy for information due to physical or financial hardship.

   Understand types of payments and payment options.

• Accepted payments: online credit card, electronic check and mailed check. View Make a Payment for full details.
• Our Huskie Installment Plan (HIP) is a payment option for fall and spring semsters creating installments you can pay over three or four months. First spring 2026 bill will be available January 7. First payment will be due January 28.

   Set up Shared Access for your parent or guardian.

• To provide MyNIU access for your parent(s), guardian or a third party to view your charges and payments online, statements, financial aid, 1098-T tax information, etc., as well as receive billing notifications via email, visit the shared access page.
• Your can share your information with up to two delegates.
• Delegates can view your account statements and other shared information; view our How-to Guide: View Account Statements.
  
  Sign Up For Shared Access

   Complete your Title IV authorization.

• Consenting to Title IV authorizes NIU to apply Title IV federal aid such as Pell, SEOG and Direct Loans toward allowable charges (e.g., student insurance, parking permit, child care and graduation fee) for the current financial aid year.
  
  How to Consent to Title IV

   Review your financial aid and To-Do list (if applicable).

• Review our Financial Aid Process to confirm that you've completed the necessary steps to receive aid for the year.
• Check your student campus Z-ID email often as well as your MyNIU To-Do list for important communications and required actions.
  • Student email
  • MyNIU

   Sign up for direct deposit.

• If you're expecting a refund from a credit balance, you'll receive your refund faster via direct deposit instead of waiting for a printed check to be mailed to your local or permanent address.
• Direct deposit offers a timely, reliable and safe way to deliver your refund to your checking or savings account.
  
  How to Set Up Direct Deposit

   Waive your health insurance (if applicable).

• Learn more about the requirements and instructions on how to opt out of your student health insurance for the year.
  • Fall 2025: September 30
  • Spring 2026: February 28

   Do you have your OneCard ID?

• Your OneCard is your key to accessing all functions on campus such as residence halls, dining services, textbooks and printing. Your OneCard is now mobile through the eAccounts app directly on your phone or smartwatch. Visit go.niu.edu/mobile-onecard-faq. Email onecard@niu.edu or stop by Founders Memorial Library, Room 104 for any assistance.

   Access text books and important book charge dates.

• Spring 2026 book charge dates: December 15 to January 23
• All enrolled financial aid recipients are eligible to charge books and supplies to their bursar account during the book charge period each term.
• View how to purchase and receive book. Important: You must have your OneCard ID to purchase books.

   Deposit Huskie Bucks to your OneCard.

• Huskie Bucks allow you the ease of paying for various services around campus including printing and purchasing food at designated locations on- and off our DeKalb NIU Campus. Learn more about Huskie Bucks.
• Huskie Bucks can be used through the GrubHup app to purchase food at on- and off-campus locations.
  
  Learn more about Residential Huskie Bucks

   Schedule an appointment with an account counselor if you need financial assistance.