Financial Aid | Next Steps
The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) is dedicated to guiding you in taking advantage of all types of financial assistance available to you from federal, state, institutional, and external sources. Please note that with the exception of grants and scholarships, your financial aid will not automatically be credited (disbursed) to your NSU student account. If your financial aid package includes student loans or Federal Work-Study, you must actively accept or modify these award offers. For loans, you must complete additional steps for the loan funds to be disbursed.
If you have not yet applied for financial aid but would like to, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and be sure to enter NSU's Federal School Code 001509. For detailed instructions, visit Applying for Financial Aid.
To apply for Florida state aid, complete the NSU State Aid Application.
NEXT STEPS
1. Review Your Financial Aid Account
- Login to SharkLink.
- Scroll to the "My Finances" section on the home page.
- Carefully review the Financial Aid Requirements and Award Decisions sections.
Your financial aid award offer was calculated based on the information available to the OSFA at the time it was generated. 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 for you to check your account frequently, and to avoid late fees which will be placed on any account with an outstanding balance at the 30th day of the semester.
How to Accept, Decline, or Modify Your Financial Aid Award
Except for grants and scholarships, your financial aid will not automatically be credited (disbursed) to your student account. You must complete additional steps, including but not limited to accepting, declining, or modifying all or a portion of your loan and student employment awards. To accept your financial aid awards, follow the steps below:
- Log in the SharkLink. If you do not know your login credentials, visit My NSU Identity.
- In the “Finances” section, select the “Award Decision” tab.
- Click on the “View More” button to access your financial aid award offer.
- Select “Accept, Decline, or Modify” to act on your award(s). To determine the award amount(s) you would like to accept, select “Modify” and enter the amount. Once you have decided on your award amount(s), click the “Submit” button. Click the link for step-by-step instructions on how to accept, decline or modify your award for more guidance.
Comprehensive information about your financial aid award is published on the Terms and Conditions of your 2023-2024 Financial Aid Offer page.
2. Attack Requirements Like a Shark
We will be the first to admit that financial aid can seem complicated, but with a little practice, it gets easier every year! Carefully follow instructions on submitting additional information as needed and don’t be afraid to ask for help, if you have questions. The financial aid team is available to answer your questions in the One-Stop Shop, by telephone at (954) 262-3380, 800-806-3680, or email at finaid@nova.edu.
Some common requirements include:
- Accept or modify your financial aid award offer in SharkLink. Grants and scholarships will be offered to you in an accepted status. Loans and Federal Work Study awards require you to actively accept, modify, or decline them. For instructions refer to your Financial Aid Award Offer Notice or visit the financial aid website.
- Complete Entrance Counseling and the Master Promissory Note so that your student loans can be disbursed (paid to NSU)
- Finalize enrollment. Contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at (954) 262-8000 or toll-free at 800-338-4723 to make sure all admission requirements have been met.
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).
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.
