<p>kelsmom, COA for this year was $22.9K [Financing</a> Your Education - NIU - Undergraduate Admissions](<a href=“http://www.niu.edu/admissions/finance.shtml]Financing”>http://www.niu.edu/admissions/finance.shtml) </p>
<p>Buzymom3, what they offered you combined with your EFC brings you within $2K of this year’s tuition+room+board. According to NIU’s website, tuition+room+board was $17,502 this year. Your EFC ($12K) + $4K in loans is $16K. You would still have to pay for books, transportation (probably not too bad if in-state) and personal expenses. She could get $1500 extra unsubsidized loan $ (which would mean she is taking out $5500/year in loans). She also probably needs to get a job, either starting now (pt only) or just a summer job to bridge that gap. She may also need to work through the schoolyear to pay her personal expenses.</p>