Officials at DeKalb’s Northern Illinois University have dramatically expanded a program that ensures qualifying students will have their tuition and general fees covered for their first year of school.
The “AIM HIGH Program” has helped nearly 3,500 students, according to university officials, and now NIU is going to step up the availability of the funding for new students.
“At NIU, we’re committed to reducing barriers, creating opportunities and investing where we can make a difference,” Sol Jensen, NIU’s VP of enrollment management, marketing and communications said in a statement. “We’re excited to announce that we’ve expanded our AIM HIGH Huskie pledge program to make NIU an affordable choice for even more students.”
According to a press release, students who have an overall GPA of 3.0 or above, and whose families have an adjusted gross income of $100,000 or less qualify for the program.
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Previously, the income cutoff was $75,000, according to the press release.
Students who qualify for the program would see their tuition and general fee costs met by grants and scholarships for their first year in school. There is also the potential for those fees and tuition to be covered in additional years if they meet specific qualifying criteria, which are listed on the school’s website.
Since 2020, the school says nearly 3,500 students have qualified and enrolled at the school.
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Students interested in the program are asked to complete their application for admission to NIU. They will also need to their FAFSA forms, or the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid, according to officials.
