Let's get right to the bottom line.
You CAN afford an NLU Education.

Is an NLU education affordable?  You bet it is—and it’s also a good investment. In fact, more than $75 million in financial assistance from all sources was awarded to NLU students last year.

Do you want to begin exploring your financial aid options and get an early start on the financial aid process? Then FAFSA4caster is for you! By using FAFSA4caster (button on bottom right), you can receive an early estimate of eligibility for federal student aid. Check it out today!

The financial myths and realities of paying for a college education.

MYTH:	Because NLU is a private university, it is more expensive than a public university.
REALITY:	NLU is as affordable as many public universities - and actually offers you more for your hard-earned money than many state schools.

More than 75 percent of our degree-seeking students receive some type of financial assistance, ranging from scholarships and loans to tuition reimbursement. And we offer degree programs online, four fast-track bachelor's programs. Nearly all of our classes have fewer than 20 students-and you can take courses on campus or on-site at a location near your work or home.

And don't forget the dividends. According to studies of career earnings, your bachelor's or master's degree pays you back big-time over the course of your lifetime. At NLU, we work with you to simplify the process. You don't have to do it alone.

MYTH:	Applying for financial aid is difficult and the forms are confusing.
REALITY:	At first the forms may seem to be overwhelming, but the process Is actually getting easier. And we are here to help.

We will go the extra mile to help you wade through all of the paperwork so that you can apply for financial aid, scholarships, loans and any other type of assistance to help you manage the cost of your college education.

To be considered for federal, state, and institutional need-based programs, the first step is submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), a need-analysis form. The Department of Education (DOE) then evaluates the information you have provided, calculates your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), and determines your eligibility for student aid. The federal government has a new FREE tool to make the process easier and give you and your family an early estimate of eligibility for federal student aid.

MYTH:	I'll be paying a lot of money for things I don't need or want at NLU.
REALITY:	At NLU, our emphasis is on teaching and learning- not athletics. Our classes are taught by our Faculty, not graduate assistants.

At NLU, your tuition and fees give you access to faculty who know what it takes to teach students like you who have jobs, families and full-time responsibilities. NLU faculty are teacher-practitioners who spend most of their time working with students rather than working in research labs. And our students would rather spend their free time rooting for the champion Chicago Bears and Bulls rather than see their dollars go to support a university football or basketball team.

MYTH:	I can earn a four-year degree in the same amount of time by taking certain classes at a community college, and paying less money, than taking the same classes at NLU.
REALITY:	With good advising, this may actually be true, depending upon your course of study.

You can take advantage of our strong, educational partnerships to get your associate degree at a community college and then complete your bachelor's degree at NLU. Or you can transfer to NLU after taking certain courses at other colleges and universities.

Today, you have options when it comes to completing your undergraduate degree-and you can take courses at multiple colleges and universities in your academic career. Cost is certainly one of the many factors to be considered. You should also look beyond the price tag to see if there are advantages to taking most of your courses at NLU. Such advantages as small class size, if classes are taught by faculty or graduate students, the amount of time faculty members spend mentoring students, the student services available to you, the flexibility of class schedules-and how well faculty understand what it takes for someone with a family, job and other responsibilities to go to college to get a degree.

MYTH:	I'd never qualify for scholarships.
REALITY:	Many scholarships, grants and fellowships go unclaimed because students don't apply for them.

NLU currently offers a wide variety of scholarships and the criteria for eligibility range from earning a certain grade point average to being a single mother who wants to complete her education. Talk to your NLU FINANCIAL ADVISOR to see if you may indeed qualify for one of the university's many scholarships.