Welcome!  This page will direct you to the information you are seeking about Financial Aid for Graduate Programs at Northwest Nazarene University.

• Graduate Financial Aid
• Further Questions?
• Financing Your Education
• The Application Process
• How is Financial Aid Determined?
• Loan Information
• How is Financial Aid Maintained?
• Veterans Administration (V.A.) Assistance
• FAQ
• Summary
• Forms
• In-School Deferment
• What About Repayment?

Please contact NNU at: 1-877-NNU-4-YOU or (208) 467-8424 Email: gradfinancialaid(at)nnu.edu

The choice to seek a private college education, Christian or otherwise, is a major financial investment that appreciates over a lifetime more than almost any other. We realize that those who choose a Christian college usually do so because they believe that their choice is as much a spiritual commitment as it is a financial investment. We believe one of our most important roles as a Christian university is to do all we can to make your spiritual and financial commitment to a top-flight Christian education as affordable as possible.

One way we do that is by holding down costs. In the past three years NNU's tuition and fees have increased at a rate consistent with or lower than the inflation rate. We have been cited by both U.S. News and World Reports and Barron's Guide as a "best value" university. We invite you to compare our costs with other Christian universities; you will see our commitment to affordability and quality.

The purpose of financial aid is to bridge the gap between what you and your family can afford and the total cost of your education. Since more than 90 percent of Northwest Nazarene University students receive some sort of financial aid, we encourage every student to apply for financial aid and pursue every possible source. 

To be eligible for federal financial aid, there are certain requirements that you must meet. For example, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Be registered with the Selective Service if you are a male over 18 years of age
• Be in a degree-seeking program
• Maintain the standards of  satisfactory academic progress
• Not have reached lifetime loan limits as defined by the Federal Loan Program
• Not be in default on a federal educational loan or owe a refund on a federal grant
• Fill out the FAFSA each year for eligibility to be determined
• Meet other specific conditions of federal, state, or university regulations

All incoming and transfer students interested in financial aid must complete the NNU Financial Aid Application for Graduate Students. The applicant must be admitted to NNU in order to receive federal financial assistance, however you may apply for aid before being admitted (see FAQ's).

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must also be completed by the student. The FAFSA can be completed on the web at www.fafsa.ed.gov or can be mailed in paper form. Our school code is 001624. Please contact our office if you need a paper copy or indicate on your Graduate Financial Aid Application that you would like a paper copy sent to you.

Financial Aid Timeline (flow chart)

The basis for awarding financial aid is financial need. Financial need is defined as the difference between a family's calculated ability to pay for post-secondary education and the cost of education at NNU. This is demonstrated by the following equation: Cost of Education minus Resources (Family Contribution) equals Need. The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is not necessarily equal to the amount you are expected to pay for your educational costs. As demonstrated by the equation in the lines above, it is used to determine your need and will assist us in determining your aid eligibility.  

The family contribution is calculated by submitting financial information through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Financial aid eligibility can be determined only after this application process is completed. Educational costs include tuition, fees, room and board, books, personal expenses and transportation for most programs. If you are enrolled in an online program, then the educational costs would not include transportation expenses if you do not need to come to campus during your studies for your degree.

Graduate students are not eligible for the Pell Grant and the Financial Aid Office currently does not award scholarships or Perkins loans to graduate students. Please check with your Department to see if they offer any scholarships or other assistance in your area of study.

Most students take advantage of federal loan programs which are administered through the NNU Financial Aid Office. We share your concern about college debt and are committed to counseling and educating students about the best options available. 

Loans place the responsibility of paying for higher education on the student, which may be necessary when other funds are not available. Students should be mindful when applying for loans and carefully consider the option of borrowing now against repaying later when they may be better able to do so. Loans are typically a large part of the average financial aid package; however it is up to the student to decide how much they need to borrow based on their own individual financial situation. 

As a graduate student, please remember that the financial aid package is based on one academic year at a time and not on your entire cohort charge (if you are in a cohort based program). The package represents  the aid that you are eligible to receive during the current academic year and you can apply for additional aid the following academic year by filling out a renewal FAFSA. An academic year is defined as August-July for Financial Aid purposes at NNU.

There are two Stafford Loan programs available, subsidized and unsubsidized.  If you wish to borrow through either of these programs, you must complete the FAFSA each year.

A Subsidized Stafford Loan is a federal loan that must be repaid. It carries a low interest variable rate (not to exceed 8.25%). In the 2007-2008 academic year, the loan has a fixed 6.8% interest rate. Fees of 0-3% are withheld from the borrowed amount by the lender or guaranty agency.  However, the student must repay the full loan amount. 

“Subsidized” means that the interest on the loan is not paid by the student while they are enrolled in school. In effect, the government pays the interest on this type of loan while the student is in school. No interest or principle payments are required until six months after the student graduates, withdraws from school, or drops below half-time status. Ability to participate in this program is determined by FAFSA results, which calculate your need.

An Unsubsidized Stafford Loan is also a federal loan that must be repaid.  During the 2008-2009 academic year, the loan has a fixed 6.8% interest rate. Fees of 0-3% are withheld from the borrowed amount by the lender or guaranty agency. However, the student must repay the full loan amount. 

On this type of loan, interest is accruing continuously, including the time during periods of enrollment. You can choose to pay the interest while enrolled or defer it and add it to the principle of your loan, as long as you are attending at least half time. As an independent student, funds from this loan can be borrowed in addition to subsidized loans. Or, if you do not qualify for the entire subsidized limit, students may receive an unsubsidized loan to make up the difference.

Federal Stafford Loan Limits Per Year

Year in School:	Independent Students:	Additional Unsubsidized Amount for Independent Students:
Graduate	$8,500	$12,000

The cost of your program for one academic year may be less than the amounts shown above. Please be aware that you are only eligible to borrow up to the cost of your budget within an academic year, which may be less than $20,500 (refer to your award letter for the exact amount). The amount you can borrow will vary based on the semesters attending and number of credits you are enrolled in. Your Financial Aid Award Letter will outline the amount you are eligible for in any given academic year.

First time Stafford Loan borrowers, those who borrowed 10+ years ago, and those who have a $0 balance on previous student loans borrowed, are required to complete entrance counseling. Entrance counseling can be completed online at www.nnu.edu/entrance. Please scroll down to the start button on this page to start entrance counseling. 

Exit counseling is required for students who have borrowed a Stafford Loan and are leaving NNU due to graduation, withdrawing from their program of study, or dropping to below half-time status. Exit counseling can be completed online at www.nnu.edu/exit.   Please scroll down to the start button on this page to start exit counseling.  

Alternative or Outside Loans

Please contact the Financial Aid Office to determine your eligibility for alternative or outside loans and for a list of potential lenders.

Federal Perkins Loan 

At the current time this loan is only available to traditional undergraduate students. 

Borrowing Limits

Student Status	Maximum Federal Subsidized Stafford	Maximum Federal Stafford (Subsidized and Unsubsidized)
Graduate Students:	$65,500	$138,500

Once an individual has reached these maximums, they are NO LONGER ELIGIBLE TO BORROW through this program. Keep these maximums in mind, so that you do no “max out” your eligibility before finishing your education.

Student’s who borrow Stafford loan money must meet satisfactory progress standards to continue to receive Federal Aid. 

Graduate Standard of Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid

Students enrolled in a graduate degree program may receive federal financial aid for a maximum of one and a half times the length of their program.  The majority of programs at NNU are 6 or 7 semesters in length.

Students must be enrolled for 3 or more credits per semester to be eligible for Federal Stafford or Federal Perkins Loans.

A Graduate student who receives federal aid is expected to progress toward a degree according to the chart below.  This chart is computed using semester credits.

Graduate students must achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher by the end of their second semester of full-time attendance to continue receiving financial aid

Satisfactory progress for each semester is based on the completion of no less than the number of credits for which the student was funded in that semester.  If the number of credits for which the student was funded change, financial aid may be adjusted accordingly.  Courses in which a student receives an "incomplete" will not be counted as credits completed.

Transfer students must meet the above NNU Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements before they can receive aid.

Students may appeal the loss of aid by submitting a written petition on a form available in the Financial Aid Office.  Petitions are reviewed by the Financial Aid Committee.

Northwest Nazarene University is listed with the U.S. Government as a recognized undergraduate school for the training of veterans.  All prospective students eligible for V.A. assistance should contact the Registrar for V.A.-approved program information and follow procedures required by the Veterans Administration. To receive V.A. assistance, the student must continue as an enrolled student throughout the semester. Those receiving V.A. assistance must meet the minimum academic standards of the university for enrollment and progress toward degree completion.

If you are seeking information about Army or Air Force Tuition Assistance, please contact the Business Office.

All outside assistance should be reported to the Financial Aid Office.

Q. I probably don’t qualify for aid, should I apply?
A. YES!  Many families mistakenly think they don’t qualify and don’t apply, thus missing out on financial aid that they could have received. In addition, there are some sources of aid, such as unsubsidized Stafford Loans that are available regardless of need. The FAFSA is free, why not apply?

Q. Do I need to file federal income tax returns before completing the FAFSA?
A. If the federal income tax returns are completed, it will be easier to answer the questions on the FAFSA; however, you may complete the FAFSA from estimated tax information if necessary. This is advisable when you wish to get your FAFSA information mailed or sent via the web to the federal processor to determine your aid eligibility and plan for the year ahead.   

Q. How do I apply for financial aid?
A. For Federal aid you will need to:
   • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA can be completed on the web at www.fafsa.ed.gov or via the paper form. Our Title IV school code is 001624. 
   • Complete the NNU Application for Financial Aid and return it to the Financial Aid Office or submit it online.

Q. How do I apply for the Stafford Loan?
A. You must complete a separate Federal Stafford Loan Application which you will receive along with your award letter from NNU. Refer back to the question on being admitted. You must apply for aid in order to receive the award letter by submitting the documentation needed to apply for the Stafford Loan (the FAFSA and the NNU Financial Aid Application).

Q. What is verification?
A. About 35 percent of all FAFSA records are selected for verification. If you are selected, the Financial Aid Office will send you a worksheet to complete and request that you also send copies of your tax return and W-2s for all parties you included in your income information on the FAFSA. The Financial Aid Office completes the verification process by comparing the figures on the tax documents with what you reported on the FAFSA and makes corrections or updates where necessary. If you have already received an award before verification is complete, a revised award may be sent.

Q. I do not meet the independent student requirements and my parents aren't planning on helping me financially. How can I file without using their income information?
A. You must continue to use your parent's income information as long as you don't meet the criteria for filing as an independent. Please refer to the paragraph that appears under Financing your Education for the list of qualifications to file as an independent student.

Q. What can I expect?
A. Within a couple of weeks from the time you mailed the FAFSA or within 3-5 business days of submitting it via the web to the federal processor, you should be issued and/or can view a Student Aid Report (SAR) online. If you note any corrections which need to be made, please submit a copy of your SAR, with the corrections, to the NNU Financial Aid Office or make corrections on the web at www.fafsa.ed.gov . If you submit your corrections to the Financial Aid Office, NNU will electronically submit your corrected information to the federal processor.  When complete results of your FAFSA have been received, NNU will develop a Financial Aid Package for you. The package is based on the information you have provided on your FAFSA and your Financial Aid Application.

Q. Do I need to reapply for financial aid every year? 
A. Yes.  After your first year, you will receive or can submit online a “Renewal FAFSA Application,” which contains preprinted/prefilled information from the previous year’s FAFSA. If your financial circumstances change, you may get more or less aid than the previous year. Also, if your family size or number of family members in college changes, this may also change your eligibility.  Continuation of financial aid also depends on making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree, such as earning a minimum number of credits and achieving a specific GPA as outlined in the Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards.

Q. The Financial Aid Office said my loan had been disbursed.  Where do I pick it up?
A. All financial aid funds are disbursed through the Business Office.  If you are on campus, you can go directly to the Business Office in the Emerson Administration Building to request your funds. If you cannot come in person, you can request funds via a Check Request Form or via a phone call to the Business Office at 208-467-8010.  Funds need to be requested on Tuesday for the checks to be cut on Thursday and sent out on Friday.

Q. Why can’t I pick up my check in the Financial Aid Office?
A. Federal Regulations require schools to separate the functions of authorizing payment and delivering funds. This ensures that no one person or office is exercising both functions. The Financial Aid Office authorizes your eligibility for funds; therefore, they cannot disburse those funds to you by law.

Q. My company is paying part of my expenses, should I report it to the financial aid office?
A. Yes.  If you are receiving funds from an outside source, you must report this to the Financial Aid Office. These funds are a resource to help you with your educational costs and will be treated as such.

 

Q. Where can I get more information about federal student financial aid?
A. You can call 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) or 1-800-730-8913 (for hearing impaired) and ask for a free copy of “The Student Guide: Financial Aid from the US Department of Education”. You can also write to the Federal Student Aid Information Center at: P.O. Box 84, Washington, DC, 20044.

• Apply for financial aid early. Check deadline dates and make sure that all necessary information is provided before those dates.
• Submit all documents required for admission and financial aid to NNU. 
• Do not assume that your family's income level will disqualify you for financial aid. Various financial circumstances are taken into consideration, making it possible for families representing a wide range of income levels to qualify.
• Complete application forms carefully. Do not leave anything blank. 
• Keep copies of all forms and other materials you submit. 
• Respond quickly to all requests for information related to the application process. When you receive an award letter from NNU describing your financial aid package, let us know immediately whether or not you plan to accept the award. 
• Maintain the scholastic eligibility requirements that allow you to continue receiving financial assistance.

Financial Aid Timeline (step-by-step)

Financial Aid Timeline (flow chart)

Graduate Financial Aid Application

Graduate Financial Aid Application (Submit Online)

Lender Comparison Chart

Graduate Alternative Loan Brochure

Appeal Form

Graduate Standards of Academic Progress

If you have prior student loans that need to be deferred, please be aware that the Registrar's Office confirms enrollment of student's 10 days into the semester and several times throughout the semester.  If you are still receiving student loan bills that do not reflect an in-school deferment status, you may contact the Registrar's Office via the school's website, or by calling 208-467-8433, or you can access this link for a Student Enrollment Verification.

For Federal Stafford Loan Programs, loan repayment begins six months after you graduate, withdraw, or drop below half-time status for the loans you have borrowed while attending NNU. The exact schedule and amount of your repayment will not be known until your loan repayment begins. Check with your lender or guarantor, often times their home pages will include loan repayment calculators to aid you in estimating your monthly payment. 

If you had student loans prior to attending NNU, please be aware that you may have already used your 6 month grace period for those loans. As soon as you graduate, withdraw, or drop below half-time status and even possibly with half-time status if you do not have a new loan for that year, you can enter repayment on those prior loans immediately.

For loan deferment options, it is best to contact your lender. Please also contact your lender regarding consolidation. If you are unsure who your lender is, please contact the Financial Aid Office. You can also find further consolidation information at www.mapping-your-future.org/paying/cnsldte.htm or at www.nela.net, click on “About Student Loans” and then “Loan Consolidation”. You can access a listing of your loan borrowing history by using your FAFSA pin # on the National Student Loan Database at www.nslds.ed.gov.