Tuition and Fees

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Tuition and fees are subject to change at any time. The official charges are those billed by the Bursar’s Office for each term. For the most recent tuition and fee rates, see the Bursar website at www.niu.edu/bursar.

Graduate student tuition includes the cost of instruction and operation of the university. The operation of the university portion provides access to support services and privileges such as the use of the University Health Service; use of recreational facilities and participation in intramural activities; admission to the Huskie Bus service, athletic events, concerts, dramatic productions, lectures, and speeches; and subscriptions to certain student publications.

Degree seeking application fee U.S. citizens (nonrefundable): $60.00
Application fee international (nonrefundable): $60.00
Non-degree seeking [student-at-large] (nonrefundable): $10.00
Enrollment certification fee: $5.00
Examination fees

Foreign language translation examinations

Average proficiency: $50.00
High proficiency: $70.00

Graduation fee (nonrefundable): $35.00

(If a student fails to graduate at the close of the term for which the application for graduation has been submitted and the fee paid, the application can be transferred to a subsequent term. See section entitled “Graduation” elsewhere in this catalog.)

New international student fee: $125.00
Replacement identification card (after the first is issued): $25.00
Transcript fee: $8.00

Class material fees, where applicable, will be billed as part of the total billing.

Residence hall room and board rates for the 2020-2021 academic year range from $4,954 per semester for a double occupancy room to $6,969 per semester for a single mini-suite. All residence hall rates include the Huskie Block 12 option (12 meals and 100 dining dollars).  Students can optionally upgrade plans with larger meal counts and additional dining dollars.

Specific questions about NIU’s room and board rates can be found at niu.edu/housing or by calling Housing and Residential Services during regular business hours Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 815-753-1525.

The Senior Citizen Courses Act (110 ILCS 990) permits senior citizens, 65 years of age or older, to enroll in regularly scheduled credit courses at public institutions of higher education without the payment of tuition. This benefit does not include payment of fees.
This consideration is limited to persons whose annual household income is at or below 200% of the 2019 federal poverty level:
• $24,980 for a household of one
• $33.820 for a household of two
• $42,660 for a household of three
Applicants must meet the state requirements as stated in the Senior Citizen and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief Act and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act (see http://www.cbrx.il.gov for more information). Interested senior citizens should contact the Student Financial Aid Office.

Payment of all charges on the student’s account is due by the established due date for each term. Any additional expenses incurred after this initial payment due date for the term will be due by the due date indicated on the student’s MyNIU account. Any student who pays less than the total amount due on the payment due date will be assessed a late payment fee on the unpaid balance. The late payment fee rate can be found by visiting https://www.niu.edu/bursar/payments/payment-policy.shtml.  This late payment fee will be assessed monthly on the unpaid balance that continues to be past due.

Any student with a balance will have a hold placed on the student’s account records. This hold will prohibit the student from registering for classes and/or obtaining official transcripts until the account balance is paid in-full.

Financial Responsibility: By registering for courses at Northern Illinois University the student is accepting financial responsibility for the costs of and related to the student’s registration at the university including choosing to reside in the university’s residence halls, selecting a meal plan, or other university services. In the event a student’s account is past due, late payment fees will be assessed on past-due amount. Continued failure to pay a past due debt may result in the debt being listed with credit bureaus, the State Comptroller’s Offset Program and, if necessary, referred to a collection agency and/or authorize legal action for the collection of this debt. The student is then responsible for all fees and costs incurred by the University in the collection of the past due debt, including collection fees and/or attorney’s fees. To view the Student Financial Responsibility Agreement visit https://www.niu.edu/bursar/payments/student-financial-agreement.shtml. 

In the following discussion of policies governing refunds of tuition and fees it should be understood that “refund” refers to “refund of monies paid” only in cases in which a student has already paid the full balance due. Where payment in full has not yet been made, an equivalent adjustment may be made on the total amount due. If only a partial reduction in tuition or fee liability occurs, a student who had a balance due may still owe an additional amount beyond that already paid. If no reduction in liability occurs, not only will funds paid not be refunded, but the student will be liable for the unpaid balance.

Tuition and fees, due at the time of registration, include tuition, material fees, and health insurance fees. The following provisions govern refunds of tuition and fees.

A student who has registered and officially withdraws from the university may receive a refund of tuition and fees including any advance deposit thereon, according to the following schedule.

If withdrawal is prior to the first regularly scheduled class day–all tuition and fees.
If withdrawal is prior to the end of the add/drop period for the courses in which the student is registered–all tuition and fees.
If withdrawal is within the period following add/drop and before 60 percent point in time of the period of enrollment-a refund equal to the portion of the period of enrollment remaining.
If withdrawal is after the 60 percent point in time of the period of enrollment-no refund shall be made.

The university may designate shorter refund periods for special courses, short courses, and other enrollments of a limited nature.

Students may receive a refund of tuition and fees if the university declares them ineligible for enrolled status prior to the first day of regularly scheduled classes.

Students who reduce the number of semester hours carried prior to the end of the add/drop period may receive a refund of all tuition and fees excluding student medical insurance. If the number of semester hours is reduced to fewer than 6, the student medical insurance may be refunded.

Students who reduce the number of semester hours carried (but remain enrolled in some course work) after the end of the add/drop period but no later than the 30th calendar day of a 16 week term, or the equivalent of, may receive a refund of 25 percent of the difference in tuition only. If the number of semester hours is reduced to fewer than 6, the student medical insurance may be refunded.

Part or all of a student’s tuition and fees may be refunded because of a student’s death, disability, or extreme hardship. The student, or in the event of a student’s death, his or her family, must contact the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management to request an adjustment of charges for tuition and fees and to receive a partial or full refund when university withdrawal is the consequence of one of the aforementioned circumstances. The student or his or her family will be required to provide documentation supporting the request. In the event of disability (medical withdrawal), medical documentation is to be sent to the University Health Service. In the event of a student’s death or extreme hardship, documentation should accompany the request sent to the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. (Note that university withdrawal, i.e., withdrawal from courses, is an academic procedure that must be completed by the student’s college advisement office. Contact with the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management should be only for the purpose of seeking an adjustment of tuition and fees charges.)

Students who have paid tuition and fees may receive a refund if they later receive scholarships which cover tuition and fees.

Students who receive financial assistance and withdraw from the university or reduce the number of credit hours carried may be required to repay a portion of their award(s) from any university refunds which they may have been eligible to receive. The exact amount to be repaid to financial aid accounts will be determined by the amount of aid received, the educational costs incurred, and the length of time attended during the semester.

Students enrolled in foreign study programs must adhere to the refund regulations stipulated by the Division of International Affairs.

For answers to questions on tuition and fee payment refunds call 815-753-1885, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or e-mail bursar@niu.edu.

The above refund policies are subject to change.

Beginning Fall 2018 domestic students (including permanent residents, undocumented and select visa holding students) will be charged the same tuition rate, regardless of their state of U.S. residency. However, residency will still need to be determined for institutional reporting, financial aid purposes and a variety of other needs.

Students who take exception to the residence status assigned shall pay the tuition assessed, but may file a petition in writing to the Office of Registration and Records for a reconsideration of residence status.

The written claim must be filed within 30 calendar days from the date of assessment of tuition, or the first class day of the term for which tuition is payable, whichever is later, or the student loses all right to a change of status and adjustment of the tuition assessed for the term in question.

The following is based on Regulations of the Board of Trustees, a copy of which is available on the Internet at www.niu.edu/board/regs/botregtoc.shtml.

Adult students. Students 18 years of age and over are considered residents for tuition purposes, if they have been bona fide residents of the state for at least six consecutive months preceding the first class day of the term and continue to maintain that residence. An adult student whose parents are Illinois residents and who lives with them or elsewhere in the state also will be regarded as a resident.

Minor students. The residence of a student under 18 years of age is considered to be and follow that of the parents. Self-supporting minors are subject to the same regulations as adults.

Exceptions

Marriage. If a nonresident student marries a resident, the nonresident can request reclassification as a resident.

Armed forces personnel. The nonresident portion of the tuition will be waived for a person on active duty who is stationed and present in the state in connection with that service and who submits evidence of that service and station. Spouses and dependent children who live in the state are also eligible for waivers.

University staff and faculty members. Staff members of the university and faculty members of Illinois state-supported institutions of higher education, employed at least one-quarter time, and their spouses and dependent children are considered residents. The term “staff members” does not include graduate assistants or student hourly workers.

Teachers. Teachers in the public and private elementary and secondary schools of Illinois are considered residents if they are employed at least one-quarter time.

International students. To be considered a resident, a student who is not a United States citizen must have “Permanent Resident” status or “Refugee” status with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization service and must also comply with all other requirements of these regulations.