DeKALB —  The 2026 to 2027 free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) deadline for early aid offers is on April 25. 

NIU has offered several on-campus resources, such as FAFSA Fridays during the fall semester and virtual meeting options for students who require help with filing. NIU also offers drop-in hours to answer questions about filing to help students with filing, answer commonly asked questions and offer a space for students to get the application filled out.

Sophomore nursing major Igil Mohamed said she was able to get her questions answered during a FAFSA Friday event hosted in the first semester.

“The distance made things complicated with getting the information I needed from my mom,” Mohamed said. “During one of the FAFSA Fridays, she was able to make it to the virtual option and ended up being able to complete it right then.”

In addition to the university’s virtual financial advising appointments, students can attend drop-in hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday in Swen Parson Hall, Room 245. 

Joseph Luistro, a senior electrical engineering major, found filing for FAFSA as early as possible was especially beneficial. 

“File as early as possible, on the first day it comes out if you can,” Luistro said.

If distance isn’t a factor while filing for FAFSA, first-year sociology major Cymone Merriweather offers advice to students filing for the first time.

“If you can, make sure you and your parent are able to do FAFSA in person at the same time, so if you don’t know any legal/personal questions that need to be answered, it can be done efficiently,” Merriweather said. 

Understanding FAFSA by researching before filing will also help the process go more smoothly for everyone involved.

For additional help or information about FAFSA and filing with NIU, visit the NIU Financial Aid and Scholarship Office website.