Student Scholarships As a public university, NIU is dedicated to making a college education accessible to all qualified students, including those with limited financial means. As the cost of higher education increases and state funding decreases, the university relies on the generous support of Northern's alumni and friends to continue making higher education accessible to all deserving students. Today's students are tomorrow's leaders, and your investment in them through scholarships will pay the highest of dividends. Scholarships can be merit- or need-based and can be offered university-wide or designated to provide support through a specific program, department or college. Endowed scholarships provide perpetual funds that are invested by the NIU Foundation. Every year, the designated scholarship recipient will receive a portion of the interest earned on the endowed funds. Expendable scholarships, on the other hand, last for only a limited time. Graduate fellowships provide financial support to some of our most promising graduate students. Such funding also supports the research needs of graduate students, which often include equipment, computer software, laboratory materials, travel to research sites, and travel to make presentations at professional conferences. For more information about supporting a student scholarship or graduate fellowship, contact John Bass at (815) 753-1859 or e-mail jbass@niu.edu.