Students should keep local and permanent addresses up to date at Registration and Records (R and R). The Student Financial Aid Office (SFAO) uses addresses from R and R to contact students.

Any students who attended a school other than NIU since high school graduation must submit a Financial Aid Transcript (FAT) from that institution to NIU, even if financial aid was never received at the institution.

Financial Aid counselors are available for appointments and telephone calls with students Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Students should investigate private scholarship sources throroughly. November and December are key months for private scholarship applications for the following academic year. Check with hometown Chambers of Commerce, libraries and local newspapers for private scholarship opportunities.

Students can avoid lines at the SFAO if they arrive between 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.