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Additional Scholarship Resources

NLU has partnered with ScholarshipUniverse to simplify the search for outside scholarships. You can access ScholarshipUniverse to see both institutional and external scholarships by visiting your student portal. 

Students can apply for a variety of school and donor funded scholarships and explore thousands of external scholarships based on program, GPA, etc. Students can log in to the student portal, navigate to the student service tab, and then scroll over to the financial aid section and clicking the scholarship link. You will need your student portal information to log in

Students can also explore the websites listed below for additional funding options.

Tips for Using Online Scholarship Search Services

  • Find out when their list of aid sources was last updated and how often the list is revised. Out-of-date information will not be helpful to you.
  • Read the fine print and find out what guarantees they make. Some companies guarantee they can find financial aid for you because self-help aid, such as a loan, is considered financial aid. Watch out for false promises—finding a scholarship is not the same as guaranteeing you’ll receive it.
  • Some of the services will charge you for using their resources. Cautiously view any service that requires you to pay more than a nominal fee to gain scholarship information.
  • Be cautious if a program requests unusual personal information, such as a bank account, credit card or Social Security number.
  • If the search service does not offer a phone number or street address, or if you’re leery about one's qualifications, it's probably not a good idea to use their services.
  • Obtaining a scholarship does not have to cost you money, should not require you to attend a seminar, and can never be guaranteed.

When looking for scholarships online, remember to watch out for financial aid scams. Some organizations imitate different types of college providers, using government- or professional-sounding names. These scams usually ask you for money, or ask you to attend seminars to learn more about their programs. Others tell you you’re guaranteed to win their scholarships or claim an outrageous success rate, such as “everyone wins.” This claim could be due to the fact that they can find you financial aid in the form of loans.

Learn more about financial aid scams at The Federal Trade Commission's Scholarship Scam Website.

Announcements

IMPORTANT NEWS FROM THE ILLNOIS STUDENT ASSISTANCE COMMISSION REGARDING THE IL MAP GRANT FOR FINANCIAL AID FOR UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS:
On July 24, 2026, a federal district court ruled that undocumented students are no longer eligible to receive financial assistance from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) for the 2026-2027 school year. The court’s ruling is the result of the Trump Administration suing the State of Illinois to deny college access to undocumented students who have graduated from Illinois high schools. We know this court decision brings tremendous uncertainty and financial challenges for Illinois undocumented students. This is a developing situation as the state explores options and students and families should check back for updates from ISAC as they become available.

 

Financial Aid Applications

2026-2027 FAFSA: is now available. Complete ASAP if you plan to take classes during Summer 2026 - Spring 2027.

2026-2027 MAP Alternative Application: is now available. Complete ASAP if you plan to take classes during Summer 2026 - Spring 2027.

 

Scholarship Spotlight

Donor-Funded Scholarships: We are now accepting applications for 2026-2027. Each scholarship has specific requirements.  Learn more.  Deadline 9/13/26.

Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Scholarship: Designed to reward the accomplishments of members by providing financial support to high-achieving community college students to pursue their education. Learn more.

Banyan Scholarship: Offers $1,000 to support students in healthcare fields (including medical, mental health, addiction treatment, clinical, and social care). Deadline 12/8/26.  Learn more: https://www.banyantreatmentcenter.com/resources/student-scholarship/

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