How It Works: AIM HIGH Huskie Pledge Program

For eligible students, the AIM HIGH Huskie Pledge guarantees that tuition and general fee costs will be met by gift aid (grants and/or scholarships) for the first year at NIU and potentially beyond. (Note: This does not include your housing costs.) In cases where initial grants and scholarships do not cover the full amount, a AIM HIGH Huskie Pledge Grant will be issued to ensure all gift aid equals or exceeds NIU’s annual tuition and general fees. If initial grants and scholarships already cover your entire tuition and fees, no additional award titled "Huskie Pledge" will appear on your financial aid offer.

The following are examples that help show how the AIM HIGH Huskie Pledge Program works.

Freshman Student One

This student meets AIM HIGH Huskie Pledge eligibility requirements. The student receives various types of aid, but it’s not enough to meet the full expense of first-year tuition and general fees. An AIM HIGH Huskie Pledge Grant is issued to ensure that all gift aid equals or exceeds NIU’s annual tuition and general-fee costs. The AIM HIGH Huskie Pledge Grant amount is potentially renewable annually if the student continues to meet program requirements.

Example Amount
Annual Tuition and General Fees ($12,288)
NIU Merit Scholarship $3,000
MAP Grant $4,272
NIU Advantage Need Grant $1,000
AIM HIGH Huskie Pledge Grant $4,100
Remaining Tuition and General Fees Balance $0

Freshman Student Two

This student meets AIM HIGH Huskie Pledge eligibility requirements. However, other traditional types of gift aid already cover the full expense of tuition and general fees, so an additional AIM HIGH Huskie Pledge Grant will not be applied to the financial aid offer.

Example Amount
Annual Tuition and General Fees ($12,288)
NIU Merit Scholarship $4,000
Pell Grant $4,095
MAP Grant $5,340
AIM HIGH Huskie Pledge Grant $0
Remaining Tuition and General Fees Balance $0

Freshman Student Three

This student meets AIM HIGH Huskie Pledge eligibility requirements. The student receives various types of gift aid, but it’s not enough to meet the full expense of first-year tuition and general fees. An AIM HIGH Huskie Pledge Grant is issued to ensure that all gift aid equals or exceeds NIU’s annual tuition and general-fee costs. The AIM HIGH Huskie Pledge Grant amount is potentially renewable annually if the student continues to meet program requirements.

Example Amount
Annual Tuition and General Fees ($12,288)
Pell Grant $6,495
MAP Grant $5,340
AIM HIGH Huskie Pledge Grant $500
Remaining Tuition and General Fees Balance $0

Contact Us

Financial Aid and Scholarship Office
Swen Parson Hall 245
815-753-1395
finaid@niu.edu

For scholarship-specific questions

scholarships@niu.edu

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