Finances and Campus Employment

Available at financial-advising@niu.edu or by virtual appointment, Student Financial Advising Services (SFAS) will work one-on-one with you to help you understand your finances. The SFAS team includes financial advisors that can advise all NIU students (undergraduate, graduate, law and international) and their family members on a variety of topics. SFAS also offers presentations on financial topics and can connect you to other campus support services to help you navigate your college journey, including the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office, Office of the Bursar, Center for Student Assistance, Housing and Residential Services, Student Health Services and Undocumented Student Support.

Available at financial-advising@niu.edu or by virtual appointment, the SFAS team can help students with financial aid, tuition and fees and general financial literacy. Among the many services offered, the team will help you interpret financial aid offers, understand how financial aid applies to costs, identify scholarship opportunities and identify the process for accepting, tracking and repaying student loans. Other services include completing cost estimates, developing multi-year financial plans and helping you understand the billing process, financial aid disbursement, credit balance refunds, payment plans and more. Please see our SFAS FAQs for answers to other questions about the services we offer.

Student Financial Advising Services are offered at no charge to students.

Student on-campus employment opportunities are advertised through Career Services at Huskies Get Hired. Create a free account on Huskies Get Hired to search and apply for hundreds of internships and part-time and full-time jobs, including on-campus positions. Almost every department on campus has student employment opportunities, with many—like our Housing and Dining services and our Northern Ambassadors —regularly hiring.

The Office of the Bursar processes student payments and refunds, as well as offers payment plans and advice regarding your financial situation with NIU. Reach out with questions at 815-753-1885 or through the Bursar Email Form. You can also schedule an appointment.

FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It is your application for federal financial aid such as grants, work-study and student loans. You must complete a new FAFSA for each academic year to be considered for financial aid. Please see our Financial Aid and Scholarship FAQs for more information about the FAFSA and answers to other financial aid and scholarship questions.

Just log on to your MyNIU and check your status. Please see our Financial Aid and Scholarship FAQs for answers to other questions about financial aid and your student account. If you have financial aid questions, you can always reach out to the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office at 815-753-1395 or toll free at 800-892-3050 during university business hours.

Contact the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office to talk through your options. You can call them at 815-753-1395 or toll free at 800-892-3050. Or feel free to stop by Swen Parson Hall, Room 245 to speak with a counselor.