NIU Campus Housing Grant recipients who maintain an NIU cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 and meet all other eligibility criteria and continue to live on campus in an NIU residence hall will be eligible for renewal. The grant will be renewable until they have earned 135 credit hours or a degree.
Be sure to apply for admission to NIU and submit a completed FAFSA or Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid by our priority deadline of February 1, 2026, to be considered for our Campus Housing Grant.
NEW! NIU Campus Housing Grant
Our NIU Campus Housing Grant awards up to $10,000 over four years ($2,500 per year) to eligible new freshmen living on campus beginning in fall 2026.
This is a stackable award for first-year students who graduate from an Illinois high school with a 3.0 cumulative high school GPA and meet all other criteria.
Our NIU Campus Housing Grant is renewable for three additional years for students who continue to live on campus in an NIU residence hall.
Eligibility Requirements
Qualifying Illinois high school students who graduate with an overall GPA of 3.0 or above will be considered for the NIU Campus Housing Grant. The award is only available to full-time incoming freshmen who live on campus and is based on the criteria listed below.
- Be an Illinois resident who will graduate from an Illinois high school.
- Be a first-time incoming freshman.
- Be seeking your first undergraduate four-year degree.
- Complete the NIU admission application including submission of all required documents by February 1, 2026.
- Be a citizen or eligible non-citizen (be eligible for federal and/or state student aid).
- File a FAFSA or Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid by the February 1, 2026 priority deadline.
- Not have received a bachelor’s degree or earned the equivalent of 135 semester credit hours.
- Not be incarcerated.
- Not be in default on any student loan.
- Not owe a refund or repayment on any state or federal grant or scholarship.
- Have a household income at or below eight times the poverty level. This information will be collected on the FAFSA. 2024 income will be used to determine 2026-2027 eligibility based on the chart below. The household income at the time of initial application will be the income used throughout the duration of the program (even if the income changes in subsequent FAFSAs submitted by the applicant).
| Number of People in Household | Maximum Income* |
|---|---|
| One | $120,480 |
| Two | $163,520 |
| Three | $206,560 |
| Four | $249,600 |
| Five | $292,640 |
| Six | $335,680 |
| Seven | $378,720 |
| Eight ** | $421,760 |
*Maximum household limits may vary from year to year.
**For more than eight people in the household, add $43,040 for each person.
Our Campus Housing Grant is a “stackable award,” meaning that eligible students will be offered the grant on top of other financial aid that is offered, such as the State of Illinois MAP grant, the Federal Pell grant, NIU merit scholarships, and others. However, students can receive financial aid only up to the cost of attendance and/or eligible charges, so in some cases, certain financial aid may have to be reduced. The grant is not refundable under any circumstance.
How to Apply
Eligible students who indicate that they plan to live on campus will be offered our NIU Campus Housing Grant on their financial aid notification. Students must apply for admission to NIU and file a FAFSA or the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid by our priority deadline of February 1, 2026. Grants will continue to be offered on a rolling basis after the priority deadline as funding remains available.
Living on Campus
More than 4,000 Huskies call our residence halls home. If you receive our Campus Housing Grant you can live in any of NIU’s residence halls or our Northern View Community. Compare our halls and rates.
Our residence halls are as close as you can get to classes, food, fun and activities on campus. They offer connections to friends, resources and everything that makes Huskie life so special.
With floors on campus tied to academics, identities and interests, our unique residential communities allow students to connect even more with fellow Huskies and faculty. This added level of engagement contributes to academic success, personal and professional development.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the NIU Campus Housing Grant is based upon the calculations in your initial application for financial aid. Family income is not re-evaluated for renewals.
Yes, students who receive the NIU Campus Housing Grant can live in any of NIU’s residence halls or the Northern View Community.
Visit Housing and Residential Services to learn more about residence hall options, rates and policies.
No, the NIU Campus Housing Grant is only available to students who live in one of NIU’s residence halls. Students who live off campus or at their permanent home address are not eligible to receive the grant
No. Students who serve as a Community Advisor in a residence hall receive a scholarship that covers housing already, so they will not be eligible to receive the NIU Campus Housing Grant.
No, housing grants are not stackable. Students can only receive one housing grant during any given semester, even if they qualify for awards from multiple programs.
If you receive an athletic scholarship from NIU or are a non-scholarship roster athlete, your eligibility for all institutional aid must be determined by NCAA rules that supersede other NIU grants and scholarships.
Yes. The NIU Campus Housing Grant is a “stackable award,” meaning that eligible students will be offered the grant on top of other financial aid that is offered, such as the State of Illinois MAP grant, the Federal Pell grant, NIU merit scholarships, and others. However, students can receive financial aid only up to the cost of attendance and/or eligible charges, so in some cases, certain financial aid may have to be reduced. The NIU Campus Housing Grant is not refundable under any circumstance.
No, the NIU Campus Housing Grant will only be applied towards NIU housing charges and is not refundable under any circumstance.
No, the NIU Campus Housing Grant will only be applied towards NIU housing charges.
No, this financial aid program is only available to first-time, incoming freshmen beginning in the fall 2026 semester.
Yes. The NIU Campus Housing Grant is only available to students who live on campus their first year, and in consecutive following years.
Residence halls are as close as you can get to classes, food, fun and activities on campus. They offer connection to friends, resources and everything that makes Huskie life so special.
With floors on campus tied to academics, identities and interests, our unique residential communities allow students to connect even more with fellow Huskies and faculty. This added level of engagement contributes to academic success, personal and professional development.
Grants and Scholarships exceeding tuition and qualifying expenses may be taxable. NIU is not permitted to offer tax advice, but we are required by the IRS to provide every student with an annual 1098T tuition statement. This form provides information regarding qualified tuition and related expenses that will assist with individual tax preparation.
Contact the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office at 815-753-1395 or finaid@niu.edu with questions about the NIU Campus Housing Grant.
Contact Us
Financial Aid and Scholarship OfficeSwen Parson Hall 245
815-753-1395
finaid@niu.edu
For scholarship-specific questions
scholarships@niu.edu