A U.S. Department of Education system update on Sunday, April 26, 2026 will prevent colleges and universities from loading new FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Financial Aid) records until a software fix is in place. NIU’s Financial Aid and Scholarship Office estimates it will resume loading FAFSA records in June.
To receive a financial aid offer from NIU for the 2026-27 academic year, students must have a completed FAFSA on file. Students who submit their FAFSA by Saturday, April 25 will have their applications loaded on a rolling basis and will receive their financial aid offer as their application is completed. Students who submit on or after Sunday, April 26 may not receive a financial aid offer until July.
