Scholarships for Students

In NIU's AcademicWorks scniu-studentsholarship application system, students can apply for multiple scholarships, including the NIU Alumni Association Merit Scholarship and the Fanny Ruth Patterson Scholarship.

The deadline to apply for the Merit Scholarship and most NIU scholarships is Jan. 31, 2018.
 

The $2,500 NIU Alumni Association Merit Scholarship is for students who will be sophomores, juniors or seniors in the 2018-2019 school year. Applicants must be enrolled full time (12 semester hours) at NIU for both the fall and spring semesters ($1,250 each semester) and have a minimum of a 3.5 grade point average. After filling out the general application at AcademicWorks, a student needs to submit a letter of recommendation.
 

African American students of Northern Illinois University in their junior or senior year are encouraged to apply for the Fanny Ruth Patterson Scholarship, which honors the first black student to graduate from Northern.

The application and all supporting documents must be submitted no later than Feb. 28, 2018.
 

The NIU Black Alumni Council, an alumni affinity group, offers this scholarship and awards a minimum of $500 to a Northern student. To qualify, students must be in at least their third year of school (minimum 70 hours); maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA; and be active in campus affairs (NIU Student Association, NIU Black Choir, African American fraternity, etc.).
 

Students need to submit the following: an application at NIU’s AcademicWorks; proof of membership in campus activities by acquiring a letter from the organization’s on-campus adviser; a 500-word essay on the importance of obtaining a college degree; and a copy of their transcripts (certified official transcripts not required).
 

To apply for an NIU scholarship, students need to sign in with their NIU ZID and password in the upper right corner of AcademicWorks and fill out the general application. AcademicWorks is accessible to students who have applied to NIU or are enrolled at Northern. For more information, visit the AcademicWorks home page.

For assistance, please email scholarships@niu.edu or call 815-753-4829.