Rockford Promise at NIU

Are you a student in Rockford Public School District 205? You could earn a bachelor’s degree at Northern Illinois University with all tuition costs and general fees covered by scholarships and grant aid.

The Rockford Promise Program at NIU offers scholarships and/or grants to help meet tuition and general fees to eligible graduates of Rockford Public School District 205 (RPS 205) whose families reside within the City of Rockford limits. The program represents a university partnership with the Rockford Promise organization, Rockford Public Schools and the City of Rockford.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for Rockford Promise at NIU, you must:

How It Works

The Rockford Promise Program at NIU covers tuition and general fee expenses that aren't met by other financial aid. (Note: This program does not cover housing and dining expenses.) To determine if you need a scholarship or grant to meet tuition and general fee expenses, we'll look at your initial NIU, federal and state aid. This includes:

  • Federal Pell and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants.
  • Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants.
  • Merit scholarships.
  • Advantage Grant (our traditional need-based grant).
  • Huskie Pledge grant.*

*If you are eligible for both the Huskie Pledge and Rockford Promise Program at NIU, you cannot receive aid through both. In that event, only the Huskie Pledge Program will be used to help meet any unmet tuition or general fee expenses.

See examples.

Renewal Criteria

  • Once admitted to NIU, students must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester and maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA at NIU to remain eligible for the scholarship.
  • A parent or guardian needs to continue to live within the City of Rockford while the student is in college.
  • Any financial support through the Rockford Promise Program at NIU ends after four years of enrollment or upon graduation, whichever comes first.

Frequently Asked Questions

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