On average, Cardinal Central gets 5,600 student visits per year. That's a lot of questions! Check out our frequently asked questions below. If you don't see what you're looking for, stop by any time to ask or send us an email. We are here for YOU!
FAQ topics:
Application Classes, Programs, & Registration Payment
General FAQ
If you are attempting to log into your application account and receive the notification that your account has been locked, please call Cardinal Central so that we can assist in unlocking and resetting your password.
Cardinal Central
(208) 769-3311
If you are a current student attempting to log into your MyNIC account, contact the NIC Help Desk to assist in getting your password reset for your MyNIC account.
Help Desk
(208) 769-3280
If you are a new or returning student attempting to log into your application account and can't remember your password, contact Cardinal Central to assist in getting your password reset.
Cardinal Central
(208) 769-3311
The application at NIC is FREE and applying is easy! Our apply page has all the answers you're looking for.
It generally takes about three to five business days to process an application after it has been submitted. You will receive an automated confirmation email when successfully submitted. During peak times, it may take at least a week.
Once your application has been processed, we will send you a Thank you for Applying email to the personal email address you applied with. This email will contain your student ID and information on how to access your MyNIC & Cardinal Mail accounts. There will also be information on how to check to see what additional documents are needed.
Visit the Application steps webpage for additional information.
The MyNIC portal is your one-stop-shop for all the important resources you’ll need while you’re a student at NIC. In the portal you can register for classes, view your class schedule, find your advisor, pay your bill, access Canvas, access Cardinal Mail, and more! Select the MyNIC link on the nic.edu homepage or go to nic.edu/mynic to access the portal.
Cardinal Mail is your student email account. Official communications from NIC will be sent to this email account, including important deadlines, financial aid, registration, and other information. You can access Cardinal Mail in the MyNIC portal.
Canvas is an online eLearning system used by most instructors and is located within your MyNIC account. If you take an online class or hybrid class, you will get some or all of your assignments through Canvas.
Unofficial transcripts are available at no charge through MyNIC. All other requests for transcripts must be received online.
You can apply for the Residence Hall once you have applied to NIC. Residence Hall applications can be requested through the Residence Hall website under "Apply for Housing".
Visit NIC's Transfer Equivalency Guide to review how your courses transfer to NIC. The transfer equivalency guide is an unofficial aid for students, all official evaluations require official transcripts.
Once you have applied to North Idaho College, you will need to request your official transcripts to be sent to NIC for an official evaluation to identify equivalent courses. You will receive an email to your Cardinal Mail once a transcript has been evaluated. You may view your transfer equivalency report on your MyNIC account by searching “Transfer Credits”.
Visit the Application steps webpage for additional information on requesting official transcripts from other colleges & universities.
We cannot discuss a NIC student's information with a parent/spouse/child/guardian/etc without the student. A student can sign and submit a "Consent for Release of Student Information" form and identify an authorized individual. This release form is only for information, the authorized individual cannot make changes to the student's record.
Learn more about The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and how you can provide consent on our FERPA webpage.
Currently enrolled students should use the Find My Advisor feature to get their advisor's name. Students should contact their assigned advisor directly to schedule an advising meeting. The Advising Services front desk schedules appointments for Student Success Advisors.
New, transfer or former students who have applied will receive steps on how to schedule their advising appointment in their Acceptance email. Visit the Application steps webpage for additional information on when you should expect to receive an Acceptance email.
Contact Advising Services to inquire about identifying a new advisor or changing your advisor.
Disability Support Services (DSS) is dedicated to assisting students to achieve their educational goals by facilitating accommodation requests for students who are experiencing classroom and programmatic barriers due to a documented disability.
To request accommodations for placement testing, coursework, or any NIC-sponsored activity, students must contact DSS at (208)769-5947 or stop by Seiter Hall, Room 100.
TRIO Student Support Services is a federally funded academic assistance program with the goal to help participating students to successfully complete their course of study at North Idaho College and transfer to the four-year college or university that will best meet their academic and career goals.
Visit TRIO’s website for more information, program application, and qualification information.
A valid parking permit is required for any vehicle, except motorcycles and vehicles displaying handicapped plates or placards, parked at the main NIC campus and the Career Technical Education Facility (CTE) during the academic year. Parking permits are only valid for the semesters printed on the permit. Permits expire at the end of spring semester. A new permit must be purchased every academic year.
Parking permits are available for purchase online only using a eCheck, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or an American Express (AMEX).
Visit the Parking Services webpage to learn more and to purchase your permit online.
Many students opt to buy their books online and pick them up at the NIC bookstore. The bookstore will match prices with other vendors. If you do choose to purchase your books from other sources, be sure to buy the right book! Also, many books have a code to unlock online content, and a used book will not have that code.
Yes! Military veterans, active duty, reservists, and other military-connected students may be eligible for education benefits. Visit with our Veteran & Military Family Services to see if you qualify for support.
Application FAQ
The application at NIC is FREE and applying is easy! Our apply page has all the answers you're looking for.
Students who know they want to complete an AA or AS degree but are unsure of an academic or career focus generally declare “General Studies.” The requirements for this degree generally satisfy general education requirements at most baccalaureate-granting institutions. However, it is wise for students to explore potential programs and careers, as it may be important for students to complete certain prerequisites prior to transfer.
It generally takes about three to five business days to process an application after it has been submitted. You will receive an automated confirmation email when successfully submitted. During peak times, it may take at least a week.
Once your application has been processed, we will send you a Thank you for Applying email to the personal email address you applied with. This email will contain your student ID and information on how to access your MyNIC & Cardinal Mail accounts. There will also be information on how to check to see what additional documents are needed.
Visit the Application steps webpage for additional information.
Once we have received your application, it generally takes about three to five business days to process. During peak times, it may take at least a week. Visit the Application steps webpage for additional information.
Classes, Programs, & Registration FAQ
For non-degree and continuing students, check out the college calendar for registration dates as well as your Registration Start Time in Student Planning within your MyNIC account. The Registrar's Office will also email currently enrolled students when registration times are available. New non-degree-seeking students will also be notified when registration opens in their Thank you for Applying email.
New, transfer, and returning students who have applied will receive steps on how to schedule their advising appointment in their Acceptance email. These students are required to meet with an advisor prior to being released to register for classes. Visit the Application steps webpage for additional information on when you should expect to receive an Acceptance email. Acceptance emails are sent to a student's Cardinal Mail account.
Currently, enrolled students are encouraged to meet with their advisor regularly, at least every semester, to re-evaluate their educational plan and make certain that they are on track to meet their educational goals. Adding and dropping classes is a function that students can do independently in Self Service Student Planning.
New, transfer, and returning students are required to meet with an advisor prior to being released to register for classes. New, transfer, and returning students will receive steps on how to schedule their advising appointment in their Acceptance email. Visit the Application steps webpage for additional information on when you should expect to receive an Acceptance email. Acceptance emails are sent to a student's Cardinal Mail account.
Contact Cardinal Central stating you have a hold. We will tell you exactly why you are on hold and what department to contact to have the hold cleared.
It is the responsibility of the student to officially drop any class(es) he or she is not attending. NIC does take attendance within the first two weeks and drops anyone not attending at that time. If you attend even one day, you will be liable for the charges.
You must follow the procedures for dropping a class through your MyNIC. Refunds are only granted during the refund periods. If you are dropping the class after the refund period, you will not receive a refund. NIC is sympathetic to any student who has to drop a class(es), but the refund periods are strictly followed.
Drop/Withdraw deadlines
Drop/Withdraw deadlines vary by course. Refer to the Academic calendar for full-semester courses drop and withdraw dates. Refer to the catalog for drop/withdraw timeframes for classes that do not run the entire length of the term (short term/late start).
It is your responsibility as a student to be aware of the drop deadlines for your courses, and to drop any course you do not plan to attend. Students who remain enrolled in courses after the withdrawal deadline has ended will be assigned a final grade in the course.
To All Financial Aid Recipients: Students who have received Financial Aid are encouraged to speak with Cardinal Central before dropping or withdrawing from a class as this can affect current and/or future financial aid eligibility.
Dropping a course
The drop period allows students to drop classes without appearing on your official academic record (transcript) and tuition and fee charges rebilled.
Withdrawing from a course
Dropping a class after the drop period has ended is considered a Withdrawal. You may withdraw from a course after the drop period has ended with no grade penalty, however, you will not be eligible for a tuition refund and must still pay any outstanding balances owed to the college. You will receive a "W" grade for the course when you withdraw.
An official withdrawal must be made through your MyNIC by dropping all courses. Drop/Withdraw deadlines vary by course. Refer to the Academic calendar for full-semester courses drop and withdraw dates. Refer to the catalog for drop/withdraw timeframes for classes that do not run the entire length of the term (short term/late start).
It is your responsibility as a student to be aware of the drop deadlines for your courses and to drop any course you do not plan to attend.
A stop payment placed on a check or credit card does not constitute withdrawal from NIC and the student will be responsible for fees resulting from the stop payment.
To All Financial Aid Recipients: Students who have received Financial Aid are encouraged to speak with Cardinal Central before withdrawing from a class as this can affect current and/or future financial aid eligibility.
There are a few reasons this may occur. You may have planned but not actually registered for the course, waitlisted the course which does not guarantee a seat in the class, or there may have been a reason you were dropped from the course. Students who are dropped from a course are notified to their Cardinal Mail account.
Contact Cardinal Central at (208) 769-3311 as soon as possible so they can help research your particular situation.
Degree Requirements are outlined in the college catalog. Current students can also check outstanding degree requirements in My Progress in Student Planning Self-Service.
Visit Career Services website for information and to sign up for a career workshop!
NIC offers LPN and ADN programs. Visit the nursing program webpages for a list of prerequisite coursework and program information.
Changing your declared program (major) is simple with our fillable and downloadable form. Fill out the form and return it electronically to cardinalcentral@nic.edu or print and submit it to Cardinal Central. Consult with your advisor prior to changing or adding a program (major) to make sure everything is completed properly.
Canvas is an online eLearning system used at NIC. If you take an online class or hybrid class, you will get some or all of your assignments through Canvas. To access your online classes, log into your MyNIC and click on the button that says “Canvas.”
Please note: Your classes will not appear in Canvas until the first day of the term.
It is most often advantageous to complete a math class during your first semester. Depending on the math requirements for your intended program (major), you may need to take many math classes, and it is best to begin as early as possible. Waiting to take math could result in a delayed graduation.
In some cases, students benefit from using the ALEKS Prep and Learning modules to boost their math skills (and math placement) prior to taking a math course.
Payment FAQ
Yes! We send emails to your Cardinal Mail and text messages. Don't miss a message - make sure your phone number is up to date in MyNIC and check your Cardinal Mail!
As a student, you may set up an authorized user (parents, guardians, spouse, employers, etc.) within your Self Service Student Finance.
Authorized users will receive a separate login for your student account. Authorized users can view account details, make payments, or set up a payment plan on your behalf. However, authorized users will not have access to your student schedule or other educational information.
NIC does not accept payments by phone. Visit Student Finance to see acceptable methods of payment.
Your bill (Statement of Account) is always available through your MyNIC account. Paper bills will not be mailed. Your statement of account will give you the most up to date account balance. You may print a copy of your account information through your Self Service Student Finance portal by clicking on the expand arrow above the semester.
First, check to see that you are enrolled in the correct courses. If not, make necessary drops or adds through your Self Service Student Planning portal.
Second, check your residency status. Residency status is based on information provided on your NIC Application. Filling out this application accurately and completely will ensure you are charged the correct tuition rate for your classes. Your residency classification doesn't change based on updating your address so if your residency has changed since you first applied, visit the Residency Status for Tuition Paying Purposes webpage for additional information on residency for tuition purposes.
If you have problems dropping or adding classes, have additional questions on your residency for tuition purposes, or have additional concerns about your tuition charges contact Cardinal Central.
We do not grant deferments for pending financial aid. If you have just submitted the FAFSA, but have not yet been awarded, you may still take advantage of our payment plans.
Your tuition must be paid on time regardless of financial aid status. To help families eliminate the debt of borrowing loans, NIC does offer a number of payment plan options. Once Financial Aid is awarded and accepted, your payment plan will automatically adjust.
Set up a payment plan within your Self Service Student Finance.
Your tuition must be paid on time regardless of financial aid status. To help families eliminate the debt of borrowing loans, NIC does offer a number of payment plan options. Once Financial Aid is awarded and accepted, your payment plan will automatically adjust.
Set up a payment plan within your Self Service Student Finance.
If you received financial aid, you are required by federal law to return any funds you did not earn because you didn't attend the whole semester (i.e. for every day you attend you earn a percentage of the financial aid you received). Contact Cardinal Central and we will let you know why you owe.
Once registered in classes, you can view your tuition & fee charges and make a payment online within your Self Service Student Finance.
Payment due dates are outlined in the College calendar. In addition, students are also reminded of payment deadlines through Cardinal Mail and text messages.
You may get an estimated cost for the upcoming semester by visiting NIC's Tuition and Fees webpage.
Once registered in classes, you can view your tuition & fee charges and make a payment online within your Self Service Student Finance.
Your student can set you up as an authorized user through their Self Service Student Finance.
Authorized users will receive a separate login and can view account details, make payments, or set up a payment plan on the student's behalf. However, authorized users will not have access to a student schedule or other educational information. (Authorized User Login Site)
NIC reserves the right to charge a $50 late payment fee for any student that has not paid his or her tuition in full by the payment deadline. NIC also reserves the right to de-register any student who has not paid his or her tuition in full by the due dates.
Your card may have been declined by your bank or your credit card company. Generally, it is because the amount you were charging was above your bank's daily debit limit. Speak with your bank. If that's the reason it was declined, you can log back into your Self Service Student Finance and pay using the correct limits.
If your payment is returned for non-sufficient funds (NSF), you will be assessed a $25 NSF fee. Please be aware it is illegal to write a check on non-sufficient funds. These return checks are treated seriously by the Student Finance Office. If anyone wrote a check on non-sufficient funds for your student account, NIC will not accept a check for any future payments.
Payment Plan FAQ
Payment plans allow students to pay their balance in installments through the semester according to specific payment schedules. Depending on when they sign up, students can choose to make five (5) equal monthly payments with 10% down payment; four (4) equal monthly payments with a 10% down payment; three (3) equal monthly payments with a 10% down payment; or a two (2) equal monthly payments with a 10% down payment.
Please note: that the five (5) and four (4) payment options are not available for Summer session due to the shortened length of that semester.
North Idaho College requires that all tuition and fees be paid in full by the payment due date. Therefore, in order to not be charged a $50 payment late fee, all students must complete one of the following by the payment due date:
- Pay their balance in full.
- Have enough accepted financial aid to cover the balance in full.
- Sign up for a payment plan.
- Submit an authorization form from a third-party sponsorship to Cardinal Central which covers your balance.
- Log into MyNIC → Self Service → Student Finance and enter the Student Account Center
- Click Payment Plan tab on the top menu bar.
- Click Enroll Now.
- Select Student Account from the drop-down list. Click Select.
- Select a term from the drop-down list. Click Select.
- The installment plans you are eligible to enroll in are listed.
- Review the various requirements for the payment plan and determine which plan you would like to enroll in.
- Choose the payment plan you would like to enroll in. Click Select.
- A description of the plan and plan details are then listed. Eligible charges and credits for the select term are presented.
- If the student would like to put a larger down payment than required, input this amount. Click Continue.
- Click Update Schedule to refresh and update your down payment and payment schedule. Click Continue.
- Select payment method - either add a new payment method or select a saved payment method.
- Review payment plan agreement.
- The terms and conditions at the bottom of the page must be agreed upon in order to complete the payment plan enrollment process. Click I Agree and Continue.
A confirmation email will automatically be sent to your Cardinal Mail once successfully enrolled in a payment plan.
Students enrolled in a payment plan will receive a notification when their balance changes and their payment plan schedule will automatically adjust.
If the change is within seven (7) business days of an upcoming payment, that payment will remain the same and the adjusted amount will be reflected on the following remaining payments scheduled.
Signing up for a payment plan will have no impact on the amount of your aid, nor will it speed up (or slow down) the time required to process your aid. Signing up for a payment plan will ensure that you don't receive a $50 late payment fee, but does not guarantee that financial aid will cover all or any of your charges for the semester.
A minimum 10% down payment is required at the time of enrollment. All down payments will be processed immediately from the account provided during the enrollment process.
If a student enrolls in a payment plan after the tuition and fee payment due date, there will be an additional $25 setup fee.
Payment plans are term-specific, you must sign up for a new payment plan each term.
No one other than your own financial institution and you ever have access to your account. When you arrange to have an automatic payment, you have authorized a specific payment amount to be paid on a specific date by your financial institution.
You must use a bank account or credit card to sign up for an installment plan. If you do not have a bank account or credit card and do not wish to open one, you may ask someone else (such as a parent or relative) for permission to use their account. If you choose to use someone else's account, you can list that person as an authorized user. The authorized user can only see your billing and payment information.
Monthly payments will be withdrawn on the scheduled date as outlined when enrolling in the plan. If the due date falls on a weekend or a banking holiday, it will be withdrawn on the following business day. Your financial institution determines the time of the day the payment is debited from your account. NIC recommends that you check with your financial institution to determine how far in advance funds should be deposited into your account to ensure that the automatic payment will clear.
Once the scheduled payment date and time have passed, the system will attempt to pull the payment each day for three (3) days. You will receive an email notification regarding successful or unsuccessful payments.
If all attempts fail, you have ten (10) days from the originally scheduled payment date to make your missed payment before a $25.00 late fee is assessed. To make your missed payment in Self Service Student Finance, go to the Payment Plans tab, scroll to the bottom of the page, and select pay next installment.
No. TouchNet acts as an agent for NIC and other institutions in administering payment plans. It is the policy of TouchNet to protect all personal and financial information provided by all participants. TouchNet does not sell or share any nonpublic personal information or client lists to any third party, except as agreed to by you, or as may be necessary to complete a transaction in the ordinary course of business, or as required under an applicable law.
Yes. Any payments that you wish to make on your account balance may be made online and will automatically adjust your remaining scheduled payments.
If you are wanting to make an additional payment within seven (7) business days of an upcoming payment, please call Cardinal Central for additional assistance.