'NEIU For You' scholarship covers first-year tuition costs

There's still time to get into college with financial aid this fall.

Northeastern Illinois University's new "NEIU For You" scholarship covers tuition and mandatory fees for a full year for incoming first-year, full-time undergraduates. Northeastern will also cover the cost of a three-credit hour course for all new undergraduate transfer students that register for six credit hours or more for fall 2021.

Registration was recently extended through Aug. 15. All the details and how to get started are at www.neiu.edu/foryou.

"Access to education has become even more critical for our students at this unprecedented moment in history," said Gloria J. Gibson, president of Northeastern Illinois University.

"It's also a critical moment for education institutions to do better at providing that access. Students need the opportunities education can offer, and the world needs their gifts, their skills, their passion, and their voice - now more than ever."

The "NEIU For You" scholarship will cover the costs of 12 credit hours of tuition and mandatory fees for a student's first year after all federal, state, institutional, internal/external scholarships and grants have been applied, which means a student can earn a four-year degree for the cost of three years.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for consideration, students must complete and submit a free application for Federal Student Aid at fafsa.gov. Undocumented students must complete the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid instead of FAFSA. First-year students must also enroll and register for 12 credit hours per semester for the 2021-22 school year.

This program is particularly well suited to the student body at NEIU, a school whose diversity reflects the urban environment of Chicago. Nearly 70% of the 7,000 students are people of color (37% Latinx, 14% unknown/other, 10% Black, 8% Asian).

"The past year has been beyond difficult for all of us," said Terry Mena, vice president for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Northeastern Illinois University.

"This initiative is designed to help open the door a bit wider, which can make all the difference for first-generation students and other students and families working to make ends meet."

Mena says he is excited about serving a substantial number of incoming first-time students through the program. The number of students who will benefit from the program depends on the number of applicants and their eligibility for other grants and scholarships. With assistance from the NEIU Foundation, Northeastern has set aside almost $3 million for the initiative.

Other initiatives

"NEIU For You" is one of several initiatives Northeastern Illinois University has begun or expanded to support students during the pandemic. They include:

• Come Home to NEIU: Select students who previously attended Northeastern Illinois University, and who meet specific re-enrollment and outstanding debt criteria, have been directly contacted about re-enrolling at NEIU for the fall 2021 semester. NEIU is excited to welcome back these former students and help them complete their bachelor's degrees.

• George Floyd Social Justice Scholarship: In January, the first winners of $5,000 George Floyd Social Justice Scholarships - Kaleb Bakari Autman, Timothy Jefferson and Donovan McKinley - were announced. All three have worked in nonprofit work and activism and will continue a focus on the common good in their studies.

• Social Justice Leadership Housing Award: The Social Justice Leadership Program (SJLP) is for incoming freshmen and transfer students who want to spend their first two semesters at NEIU in a program that emphasizes social justice. The program covers the cost of housing in The Nest, Northeastern Illinois University's on-campus residential center.

For the Fall 2021-Spring 2022 academic year, the Social Justice Leadership Program is able to accept 25 freshmen and up to 15 transfer students. There is a two-step application process: Completing an application form and participating in a 20-minute virtual interview.

Find more at www.neiu.edu.