Next Steps for First-year Huskies

Congratulations on being admitted to NIU as a first-year student! From the day you're admitted to your first day of classes, use the checklist below to guide you step by step.

By completing the steps below, you’ll be ready for a strong start at NIU. Start here: 

• 1

  Step 1: Confirm your intent to enroll and pay your enrollment fee.

  

  Declare yourself an official Huskie. Log in to MyNIU to pay your nonrefundable enrollment fee ($155). You can even spread out your payments so you can pay what you can, when you can. Please note, you must pay the fee in full before you can register for Orientation. 

  We sent information about your Z-ID to the personal email address you used when you applied to NIU. Learn how to activate your NIU account ID and access MyNIU.

  NIU has a later decision priority deadline than most schools, and this remains true for the Fall 2024 semester. Admitted students have until July 15 to confirm their intent to enroll. 

• 2

  Step 2: Get in the habit of checking your NIU email account regularly.

  

  Your NIU student email address is your Z-ID followed by @students.niu.edu. Your Z-ID was sent to the personal email account you used when you applied to NIU. Learn more about accessing your NIU email.

   

• 3

  Step 3: Apply for financial aid and/or send NIU your FAFSA.

  

  If you haven't already, fill out the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible. It's your official application for financial aid. Make sure to add NIU to your list of colleges on your FAFSA form (School Code 001737). 

  If you’re an Illinois resident but are ineligible for federal aid as an undocumented student, you can still apply for state assistance. Find out whether you should complete the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid instead of the FAFSA.

  Once we receive your FAFSA, we'll send you an email letting you know we have it. If we need additional information to complete your application, we'll add it to your MyNIU To-Do List.

  Learn more about when we'll start sending out financial aid offers >

• 4

  Step 4: Register for Orientation.

  

  Important: If you want to change your major, you must do so before registering for Orientation. 

  Orientation is required for all admitted students. It’s where you’ll meet other students, and learn about campus offices and resources and more. These dates fill up fast, so we recommend that you register for Orientation as soon as you pay your enrollment fee in full.

• 5

  Step 5: Submit your housing contract and prepayment ($150).

  

  As a first-year student, you’re required to live on campus or request a residency requirement exemption. Once you submit your housing contract and make your prepayment, you’ll be able to make your room selection. We've extended our deadline to cancel your housing contract without penalty to June 1, 2024.

  Learn more about housing

  • Compare halls and rates.
  • Select or change meal plans.
  • Am I required to live on campus?

• 6

  Step 6: Take your required placement tests.

  You may need to take online placement tests to help your advisor make appropriate course recommendations that correspond to your levels of achievement. Review the information on the Testing Services website to determine which placement tests you need to take, and then register for and take the test(s), at least six weeks, prior to your Orientation date.

• 7

  Step 7: Complete your required Pre-Orientation Program (POP).

  POP is a self-guided module introducing many of the topics you’ll explore during your Orientation. You can find POP in your Next Steps Portal. We’ll send an email to your NIU email account when it’s time to complete it.

• 8

  Step 8: Upload your photo for your OneCard ID.

  Your OneCard ID is your official NIU identification card. It’s your key to accessing your residence hall and meal plans, the Recreation Center, the Huskie Bus Line and more. Within 3 business days of registering for Orientation, you'll receive an email with instructions on uploading a photo to be used on your ID. Check your NIU email account for a message from the OneCard Office with the subject line “NIU OneCard Photo Submission.” 

• 9

  Step 9: Submit your vaccination records.

  Students enrolled in on-campus classes are required by the Illinois College Student Immunization Act to provide proof of immunity to measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), tetanus/diphtheria (Td/Tdap) and meningitis.

• 10

  Step 10: Submit your final high school transcript.

  Your official high school transcript is required as part of our admissions process. Check with your high school to find out their required process for requesting and sending your official transcripts. Check your to-do list in MyNIU for any missing items needed to complete your admission file.

• 11

  Step 11: Complete POP 2.0.

  POP 2.0 is your post-orientation program. You’ll complete it online at your own pace after you attend Orientation and prior to the start of the semester. We’ll email you a link to POP 2.0 after you attend Orientation.

• 12

  Step 12: Opt out of student health insurance (optional).

  Students who are enrolled in nine or more credit hours in DeKalb are automatically billed for the NIU student health insurance plan. If you have other health insurance that meets our requirements, you can waive, or cancel, our insurance during the waiver period.