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Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student media since 1899

 

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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

A college notebook with the word "FAFSA" with a graduation cap written inside. The U.S. Department of Education announced new regulations to make financial aid more accessible to students. (Courtesy of Getty Images)

Department of Education issues protective regulations for student aid

By Kaitlyn Lee-Gordon, News Reporter | October 25, 2023

DeKALB – The U.S. Department of Education has issued new rules and regulations that looks to protect students from unaffordable college debt and keep colleges accountable for providing financial aid. From 2013 through 2022, the Department of Education...

It can be difficult to understand and fight against inflation. Here's a breakdown of the issue as well as resources for NIU students.

College students vs. inflation: What to know, steps to take

By Joey Trella, Marketing Team Coordinator | August 20, 2022

Editor's note: This story has been adjusted to reflect the fact that tuition at NIU has not increased. The previous version of this article was ambiguous about NIU's tuition rate, which might have been misleading. DeKALB — Inflation has been affecting...

NIU is working to help those students who need it most, with its support of the DoublePell campaign.

Editorial: Doubling Pell Grant creates opportunity for success

By Northern Star Editorial Board | January 25, 2022
Doubling the Pell Grant would allow students a better opportunity for future success.
Continuously leaving classes can have a number of impacts on a college student's career.

Point/Counterpoint: Leaving class in the middle of a lecture

By Summer Fitzgerald and Zulfiqar Ahmed | January 19, 2022
The college experience consists of having total freedom, especially when it comes to attending classes.
Governor-elect J.B. Pritzker, (center) talks Dec. 13 with President Donald Trump during a meeting with newly elected governors in the Cabinet Room of the White House. 

Pritzker plans to allocate additional $50M to MAP grant funding

By Kierra Frazier | March 31, 2019

Governor-elect J.B. Pritzker, (center) talks Dec. 13 with President Donald Trump during a meeting with newly elected governors in the Cabinet Room of the White House. 

Pritzker plans to conquer higher education struggle by targeting enrollment

By Sophia Mullowney | January 28, 2019

DeKALB — Gov. J.B. Pritzker has plans for addressing enrollment in higher education, and students can anticipate an increase in financial aid opportunities.The governor announced a threefold plan for Illinois education reform, targeting increasing college...

Four Stages of Filling out FASFA Told by Gifs

By Lauren Clohessy | October 11, 2017

Filling out FASFA every year seems like a burdening task, but we all go through it. Here are four gifs that describe emotions and confusion throughout the process. Don’t forget, FASFA applications for the 2018-2019 school year opened Sunday, October...

Offices merge in hope of increasing efficiency

By Nancy Galan | October 27, 2016

DeKALB | For the past seven years, the Scholarship and Financial Aid Offices have worked together to help students find financial resources, and this semester, the two combined because of a Program Prioritization recommendation.Program Prioritization...

InFocus: What should change in the SA?

By Perspective Staff | March 23, 2014

Jeremiah CaterinaThe next Student Association leaders need to communicate more with the student body. I think this should be accomplished in two ways.First, our student leaders need to utilize more technology to reach out to students. Each executive position...

Correct approach can aid freshmen retention

By Northern Star Editorial Board | March 18, 2014

Keeping freshmen enrolled for a full year — and past their first year — has proven difficult for NIU.NIU should focus on three issues that plague incoming freshmen: Tailoring general education requirements to majors, implementing effective financial...

MyNIU eases stress from keeping track of classes

By AJ Edwards | December 1, 2013

Our college careers can be difficult to keep track of, but luckily we have our MyNIU Student Center page to guide us through the struggle.It’s important for college students to keep track of credits, grades and finances, and this resource helps us do...

College debt can be a pain for parents

By Annastazia Camarena | February 25, 2013

Money doesn’t grow on trees, but if it did students would still need a forest to cover their college tuition. As college tuition steadily increases, many are finding out that student loans and financial aid aren’t covering the cost of their tuition....