Financial Aid Process

Students interested in federal and/or state financial assistance should review the steps below to ensure they are awarded in a timely manner for the academic year in which they are applying. 

STEP 1 – Apply for PIN
Students and parents of dependent students should request a Federal Personal Identification Number (PIN) at www.pin.ed.gov.  Your PIN may be used as your electronic signature and identifier to apply for financial aid and to allow you access to personal information in various U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) systems.

STEP 2 – Collect documents
Collect the documents needed to apply, including your (and parents’, if dependent) prior year federal income tax returns and W-2 forms (and other records of income) [i.e., For  2007-2008, you need your 2006 tax form].  A full list of what you need is located on www.fafsa.ed.gov. If you do not have your tax return, you may estimate the tax information.  However, you will be required to correct the information at a later date when you complete your taxes (should be no later than April 15). 

STEP 3 – Complete FAFSA
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) between Jan. 1, 2007, and June 30, 2008 (no exceptions to either date!) for the 2007-2008 academic year.  The fastest and easiest way to apply is online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.  Check school priority deadlines (see Financial Aid Calendar for the academic year in which you are applying).  Provide a valid e-mail on your FAFSA. The NSU School Code is 001509.

The earlier you apply, the better chance of receiving maximum funds and your financial aid completed by July 1, if all information is accurate and documentation has been provided to the Office of Student Financial Assistance.  The priority deadline for NSU is April 15 of the academic year.

STEP 4 – NSU State Aid Application (Undergraduate students only)
Complete and submit the online NSU State Aid Application.  You only need to complete the NSU State Aid Application if you are an undergraduate student seeking your first bachelor’s degree or a graduate student eligible for the Florida Bright Future Scholarship who is interested in receiving state funds.   Exception:  Students who received FRAG, FSAG and/or Florida Bright Futures Scholarship in the prior year (i.e., received aid in 2006-2007 academic year at NSU and are applying for 2007-2008), and did not have a break in enrollment for more than 12 months, do not have to complete the NSU State Aid Application. Check the Financial Aid Calendar for priority deadlines for the academic year in which you are applying. Out-of-state students do not have to complete the NSU State Aid Application.

If you are not interested in additional student financial aid, please check the box for “only applying for FRAG and Florida Bright Future Scholarships, complete the undergraduate student” section, sign the NSU State Aid Application, and submit it to the Office of Student Financial Assistance by the deadline.

STEP 5 – Review your Student Aid Report SAR
The SAR summarized the information you included on your FAFSA.  The SAR will contain your official Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is the number used to determine your federal student aid eligibility.

A copy of the SAR will be sent to all schools you indicated on the FAFSA.  If you provided a valid e-mail at the time you completed the FAFSA and the application was processed successfully, you will receive an e-mail notification with instructions on how to retrieve your SAR with an option to print it.  If you do not have an e-mail address, a paper SAR will be sent to you by mail.  You must have your PIN to retrieve the SAR.

If necessary, make changes or corrections through Corrections on the Web at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Your corrected SAR will be sent to the institutions you indicate.

STEP 6 – Verification
If you are selected for verification, either by the Department of Education or due to conflicting information, you must submit required documentation or information to the NSU Office of Student Financial Assistance.  This may include 2006 tax returns (for the 2007-2008 academic year), an Income Verification Form, Non-filing Form, Asset Conflict Form, and other documents, as deemed necessary by the Office of Student Financial Assistance.  Be sure to meet the appropriate deadlines as detailed in the Financial Aid Calendar, or you may be unable to receive federal student aid.  Please be advised that your documents must be received, reviewed, and verification completed at least three weeks prior to the end of the enrollment period for the term in which you are requesting aid. Failure to complete verification by this deadline may result in ineligibility of aid or cancellation of aid previously offered.

STEP 7 – Follow Up
Check your award status on WebSTAR at www.webstar.nova.edu by going to “Log in to secure area” and using your NSU PIN (not the Department of Education PIN). Make sure you have completed all of the required documentation, including completing your Master Promissory Note (MPN) and the entrance interviews for loans. 

If you have any questions, contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance at 800-806-3680. 

STEP 8 – New and Readmitted Students
New and readmitted students must be fully admitted (i.e., all admissions requirements/documents have been satisfied) into an eligible degree-seeking or certificate program prior to being disbursed any financial aid funds.

Important:  Students may complete the FAFSA prior to being fully admitted into NSU. 

STEP 9 – Register for Classes
You must be enrolled for at least the minimum number of credits based on the specific financial aid program eligibility requirements.

If you are enrolled in a program that has more than one block within a semester, (e.g., two eight-week terms— one beginning in August and the second part of the term beginning in October), you must register for both parts of the term at the beginning of the first part of the semester.  You will be paid based on the first registration at the drop/add date.  However, your award may be adjusted for added courses for the second part of the term if you register prior to the second part of the term drop/add date.

Exception: State aid recipients must register for both parts of the term at the beginning of the first part of the term drop/add dates (check Financial Aid Calendar for the academic year in which you are applying).  No adjustments will be made except under unusual circumstances determined by the Office of Student Financial Assistance.    

STEP 10 – Award Notification
Once you have provided all the necessary documentation and have registered for classes, you will receive an Award Notification via your NSU email address, which you will have to access through your secured NSU PIN.  If you do not have an email address, you will be sent the Award Notification in the mail.  You will have the opportunity to reduce or cancel your loan electronically on the NSU WebSTAR, by submitting the signed paper award letter to the Office of Student Financial Assistance with the specific awards and amounts you wish to have reduced or cancelled.

The Award offers may change if information on required documents, such as the FAFSA or tax information, varies from the information previously submitted.  The award notification is conditional based on a final review of your financial aid application and other eligibility requirements.  Other variables to your award include, but are not limited to, your admissions status, Satisfactory Academic Progress status, enrollment status based on the specific aid program you were awarded, educational loan history, current grade level, residency status, subsequent verification of your information either due to a Department of Education request or conflict of information, and meeting priority and other financial aid deadlines as indicated on the Financial Aid Calendar and on the NSU financial aid Website.