Northeastern Illinois University has announced that it will charge in-state tuition to students who are residents of Puerto Rico for a two-year period beginning Jan. 1, 2018, and ending Dec. 31, 2019.
This decision comes after Hurricane Maria devastated the island in September, leaving most residents without power or water and forcing the closure of many colleges and universities in Puerto Rico.
Northeastern is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the United States Department of Agriculture. Forty-three percent of Northeastern’s new freshmen and 33 percent of all students identify as Hispanic.
“Many Puerto Ricans have sought refuge from the terrible aftermath of Hurricane Maria with family and friends in Chicago,” Interim President Richard Helldobler said. “It is our duty as a public institution of higher education to ensure these students are able to begin or continue their studies during the duration of their stay in Chicago.”
In order to qualify for in-state tuition, students from Puerto Rico will be required to seek a residency determination from the Office of Enrollment Services. Interested students should contact Associate Director of Admissions Processing and Operations Steve Pajak at (773) 442-4013.
Annual undergraduate in-state tuition at Northeastern is $13,419.60, based on a full load of 30 credits, and graduate in-state tuition is $8,190, based on a full load of 18 credits. Northeastern already offers in-state tuition to students from the bordering states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri and Iowa, as well as to military members and their dependent children.
