Diane Dombek, assistant director of the student financial aid office, said about 72 percent of students receive some form of financial aid each year, including grants, loans and scholarships.

All U.S. citizens, permanent residents and non-citizens are eligible for financial aid, with few exceptions. Some exceptions include students on certain visas and students who have been convicted of drug possession or sale who have not completed an approved rehabilitation program. The exact qualifications can be found on the financial aid Web site at www.fa.niu.edu.

All NIU students who want loans must reapply every year, even if a student did not file a federal tax return.

“Need is based on income, number in household, number in college, untaxed income and assets,” Dombek said.

If a student misses the March 1 filing date, applications are usually accepted until June 30, Dombek said. However, some funds run out quickly so it is best to apply as soon as possible.

The two forms a student must complete are the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and NIU’s Institutional Verification Form (IVF).

Both forms can be obtained from NIU’s financial aid Web site or at the financial aid office located at 245 Swen Parson Hall.

To complete the financial aid forms, students must have a driver’s license, copies of Federal Tax Returns and W2’s and verification of any untaxed income such as worker’s compensation, welfare or social security.

“Students should be filing their taxes early and making sure their parents are doing this also,” Dombek said. “For students needing help filing their tax returns, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) will be available at the Founder’s Memorial Library student lounge,” Dombek said.

VITA will be available Feb. 8 through March 4 and March 22 through April 13 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Completed paper FAFSA forms must be sent to the address on the envelope provided with the form. If it is completed online, students should use their pin numbers or follow the directions as to where to send the signature pages or pin numbers. The IVF must be sent to NIU’s Student Financial Aid Office along with signed copies of acceptable tax returns.

Dombek said the acceptable tax forms are listed on Page 2 of the IVF forms.

Once a student’s financial aid has been processed, the student will receive notification from the financial aid office confirming eligibility or alert them that additional information is needed.

If a student wishes to cancel their financial aid and they are enrolled, they must formally withdraw from the college and all of their classes. They must then write to the Student Financial Aid Office to cancel their financial aid. If they are not enrolled, they must write to the office and indicate they will not be attending and request a cancellation of their aid.