DeKALB – On Nov. 20, NIU announced a new grant that will provide up to $10,000 over four years to incoming freshmen college students who are high school graduates from low-income households who had at least a 3.0 GPA in high school.

The AIM High Campus Housing Grant awards up to $2,500 per year to freshmen living on campus starting in the fall 2025 semester.

Incoming NIU students must apply for admission and submit a completed free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by Feb. 1 to be considered for the housing grant, according to the NIU website.

In addition to applying for admission and submitting a completed FAFSA, freshmen must meet the following requirements to be considered for the housing grant: Be an Illinois resident, be a graduate of an Illinois high school during the 2024-2025 school year and have a household income at or below eight times the poverty level, which is based on people’s income from 2023.

The grant can be combined with NIU’s other financial aid and scholarship opportunities such as merit scholarships, the Rockford Promise program and the AIM High Huskie Pledge, which now requires students to come from households that earn less than $115,000 per year, according to a news release.

For answers to frequently asked questions about the AIM High Campus Housing Grant, students can visit the NIU website.