Apply for federal, some state and institutional aid programs by completing the FAFSA.
You are encouraged to complete the FAFSA as early as possible. Students who apply as early as possible receive priority in the awarding of limited resource funds. You must be admitted to a degree-seeking program before financial aid is awarded.
Complete the FAFSA at fafsa.gov. Students and parents (if their information is required) will need current W-2s and tax returns. Be sure to indicate NKU’s school code (009275) in order for Northern Kentucky University to receive your information electronically.
All awarded and accepted aid will post to your student bill with the exception of work study programs. Just as you are billed per semester, your financial aid will post to your account each semester—reducing the amount you owe for tuition, room and board.If the financial aid that posts to your account exceeds your student bill, the Office of Student Account Services will refund you the excess money, which can be used for educational expenses.
You can elect to sign up for direct deposit on your myNKU account’s Biller Direct tab. If you do not pay your bill by the due date, your account will be enrolled into the NKU Payment Plan.
See nku.edu/studentaccountservices for more information.
These are based on your financial need and do not need to be repaid. You can apply and find more information at fafsa.gov.
Loans must be repaid with interest after you graduate or cease attending on at least a half-time basis. We participate in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program, which allows eligible students and parents to borrow low-interest loans directly from the federal government.
Scholarships do not need to be repaid. NKU’s merit-based scholarship program is designed to recognize academically outstanding and creatively talented students.
Work-Study Employment allows you to work a part-time job and apply your wages toward college expenses.
Need-Based Aid is awarded to families who are unable to pay full educational costs from current income or savings. Aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted upon receipt of the FAFSA.
Scholarship awards are subject to availability and are not guaranteed annually.
The NKU Undergraduate Net Price Calculator is a guide to help families plan for educational costs at NKU.
This calculator will estimate your Student Aid Index (SAI) and serve as a resource for early financial planning based on cost of attendance figures and student aid eligibility requirements.
You must complete the FAFSA and be admitted to NKU to receive an official financial aid package. The calculator will take approximately 10 minutes to complete.
| Per Semester | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| In-State Resident | $5,296 | $10,592 |
| Out-Of-State/Non-Resident | $10,424 | $20,848 |
| Indiana Rate* | $5,296 | $10,592 |
*Indiana Rate: Indiana residents of Dearborn, Franklin, Jefferson, Ohio, Ripley and Switzerland counties are eligible for the Indiana tuition rate. Students must be enrolled in undergraduate degree-seeking programs and may pursue their degree on a full- or part-time basis. This rate is renegotiated annually.
Tuition and housing rates are subject to change at any time as determined by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education and NKU.
For the 2024-2025 application, the timeline has been adjusted.
After the completion of the application, students can expect the following:
COMMUNICATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION:
COMMUNICATION FROM NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY:
For the 2024-2025 FAFSA, the parent to be included on your FAFSA may look different.
The parent is now referred to as the contributor, which is a new term for the 24-25 application.
To learn more about which parent you would include on your application as a contributor, please visit this infographic
You can view this video: https://youtu.be/ROtS0SnscMI?si=2a_aH8ylTl-6jyDS for some additional tips.
There are two separate ID's (Personal Identification). One ID is issued by the Department of Education and is specifically used for the FAFSA information. You will need to apply for a FSA ID at https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch in order to file the FAFSA electronically. You will use the Department of Education ID to sign your FAFSA, review your student aid report, and to make corrections on your FAFSA. This ID will also be used to sign a Master Promissory Note if the student decides to borrow a student loan. Parents may also apply for an ID in order to sign the FAFSA electronically.
The second PIN is issued through Northern Kentucky University by the Office of the Registrar. This PIN is used to access the students Norse Express account. Initially this PIN is the student's date of birth in mmddyy order. After initial login to Norse Express the student is encouraged to change the PIN.
If you have misplaced your Department of Education FSA ID you can receive it through your verified e-mail address or by successfully answering your challenge questions online. To request your Department of Education ID go to https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch.
If you have misplaced or forgotten your Norse Express PIN please contact the Office of the Registrar at (859) 572-5556.
Students are considered dependent and must submit parent income information unless they are:
Failure to provide parental income will cause the FAFSA to be incomplete unless one of the above conditions is true.
The FAFSA results determine Federal student employment awards, depending on your financial need and the availability of funds. Students who do not qualify for Federal student employment or those who do not file for financial aid can still obtain employment through the Institutional student employment program.
On campus jobs are posted on the Office of Student Financial Assistance webpage and on the student employment job boards. One employment job board is located in the UC Center on the 3rd floor next to the Career Development Center.
The second job board is located in the Lucas Administrative Center on the 4th floor outside the Office of Student Financial Assistance.
More information is available at our Student Employment section.
Subsidized loans are awarded based on financial need. You will not be charged any interest before you begin repayment or during authorized periods of deferment. The federal government pays the interest during these periods. You must be enrolled for a minimum of six credit hours in order to qualify for an in-school deferment.
Unsubsidized loans are not awarded based on the basis of need. You will be charged interest from the time the loan is disbursed until it is paid in full. If you allow the interest to accumulate while you are in school or during periods of nonpayment, it will be capitalized-that is it will be added to the principal amount of your loan and additional interest will be based upon the higher amount.
If a student wishes to drop or withdraw from class they should refer to two policies that explain the consequences of withdrawing.
Yes, the institution does have a payment plan. The tuition installment plan is also administered through the Office of Student Account Services.
Please review our payment information on the Student Account Services site.
Northern Kentucky University
Lucas Administrative Center, Room 301
Highland Heights, KY 41099
Phone: +1 (859) 572-5143
Fax: (859) 572-6997
Toll-Free: 1-888-225-4499
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:15am - 4:30pm Virtual appointments available upon request.
