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Northern Illinois University

College of Business - NIU

Student Financial Aid

If you are enrolled in the CPA Review for Credit you may be eligible for Student Financial Aid only if you are enrolled in a degree-seeking program at NIU. You must be enrolled at least half-time at NIU to qualify. Eligibility will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the Student Financial Aid Office (SFAO). Aid is limited to student loan programs only for graduate students. Act now to have your loan eligibility considered for future sessions.

  • Non-degree-seeking candidates are generally limited to private loan programs, which support certification- seeking candidates by providing low-interest loans. Qualification is determined by credit history.
  • Degree-Seeking candidates may qualify for Federal subsidy programs that provide low-interest loans, with deferred repayment until after graduation.

    A "Degree-Seeking Candidate" is:

    1. A NIU graduate (or undergraduate) student (students-at-large may also qualify although not technically considered "degree-seeking". (Refer to http://www.fa.niu.edu/ARN_06_07/IVF_Summer.pdf).
    2. Enrolled in at least 4.5 credit hours for Fall/Spring sessions or 3 credit hours for Summer session (6.0 credit hours for undergraduates).

The start date of the CPA Review session you are registered for determines the applicable semester for financial aid. Student loans are generally limited to tuition and fees for the credit course (approximately $850 for 3 hours, $1,700 for 6 hours), which is billed by the NIU Bursar's office.

To apply for aid, you must meet the following qualifications:

  1. Plan to enroll in CPA Review for Credit. (Auditing and/or Financial Accounting Review ACCY 475/ACCY 476). Other courses may be included to meet the half-time requirement.
  2. Complete the appropriate academic year Free Application for Federal Student Aid form (FAFSA) on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov or the paper form and mail-in.

Several student loan programs are available and eligibility for each varies. In general, a distinction will be made for degree-seeking candidates vs. non-degree candidates:

If you are currently an enrolled student you may defer graduation (especially if still an undergraduate) while you take the courses, or you can graduate and be re-admitted as a student-at-large.

Click on the following websites for additional information:

NIU Student Financial Aid General Information and Contacts: NIU Financial Aid General Info
How to Apply: NIU Financial Aid
Student Financial Aid Brochure: The Guide to Federal Student Aid 2007-08
Student Loan Information: NIU Financial Aid Loans