Financial Aid | Next Steps
The Office of Financial Aid is dedicated to guiding you in taking advantage of all types of financial assistance available to you from federal, state, institutional, and external sources.
Apply for Federal Aid Apply for Florida State Aid
UPON RECEIPT OF YOUR FINANCIAL AID OFFER
1. Review Your Real Time Offer
- Log in to SharkLink.
- Click on the Finances tab to view Requirements and your Award Decision.
- Carefully review all sources of funding and the Terms and Conditions which outline the conditions you must meet for your aid to be credited to your account.
Many students will receive revisions to their award offer as new information about their enrollment, eligibility, and funding sources becomes available. That’s why it is important to check your account frequently.
SharkLink 2024-25 Financial Aid Terms and Conditions
2. Attack Requirements Like a Shark
The Requirements section lists all financial aid requirements that must be met for the aid awarded to actually be disbursed (credited) to your account.
Common requirements include:
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NSU State Aid Application for Florida aid (EASE, FL Bright Futures,...)
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Outstanding admissions requirements
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You must actively accept/modify/decline loan and Federal Work-Study offers.
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Federal Direct Loan Borrowers must complete Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note.
If all eligibility requirements are met, loans will disburse seven days before the start of the semester. Grants and scholarships disburse after the drop/add period, which is the first week of classes.
3. Monitor Your NSU Email Daily
If there is a change to your financial aid award or you are required to take an action, you will receive an email to your @mynsu.nova.edu email. Make it a habit to monitor your email regularly so that you don’t miss out on important information or let a deadline slip by. NSU email is the university’s official means of communicating with students, along with SharkLink.
4. Complete the Scholarship Profile
It is never too early or late to search and apply for scholarships. NSU’s scholarship website is a great place to start. If you are pressed for time, make it a priority to complete the NSU Scholarship Profile every year! By completing the profile, you are automatically considered for thousands of dollars in institutional awards. Once you have the documentation listed below at hand, it will take a mere three minutes for you to complete:
- Test scores
- Unofficial transcript
- GPA (for transfer/continuing students)
- Volunteer or community service experience
- Two letters of recommendation. (Teachers and others who wish to submit their letters of recommendation on your behalf to us directly may do so by emailing them to scholar@nova.edu. It is important that the sender informs us who the letter of recommendation is for (i.e., student name and ID# if known).
2024-25 Scholarship Profile Scholarship Search
5. Don't be Afraid to Ask for Help
We will be the first to admit that financial aid can seem complicated. That's why the financial aid team is ready to assist! Call us during regular business hours at (954) 262-3380, 800-806-3680, email us at finaid@nova.edu, or visit the One-Stop Shop for in-person assistance.
DID YOU KNOW?
Once you begin taking classes as a college student, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of your education record and prohibits the university from discussing your financial aid, student account, or academic information with anyone but you. Submit your Authorization for Release of Information (ROI) Consent to give others such as a parent, guardian, or spouse, access to various types of information.
