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Parents

Parents of Future Students

Get to Know NNU

If you’ve just started learning about the college enrollment process with your child, we’re happy to offer this information to you. This page is your helpful resource for learning more about the value of a Christian liberal arts education at NNU, resources for financial aid and what to expect on a visit to our beautiful 90-acre campus!

As parents, we’ve been really pleased about NNU for just developing our daughers completely as people.

Judi and Pick Sullivan

Start Here

As you and your student begin the college search, you may be wondering where to start. You’ve come to the right place! We’ve compiled resources to help you as you search for a university that’s perfect for students who want to explore their God-given potential for transforming the world.

1. Take a minute to breathe

Regardless of where your student wants to end up, this checklist will help keep you on track during the college search process.

2. Spend some time exploring the website.

Learn more about the Undergraduate Journey. For many, NNU is a great fit! Here’s why:

3. Apply for admission

Completing an application doesn’t commit you to a specific college; it just keeps that door open as a possibility. Besides, it’s free, so you have nothing to lose!

4. Complete your FAFSA

Although you do not need to complete a separate application for financial aid at NNU (your admission application doubles as your financial aid application), we encourage you to complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to ensure you receive the maximum financial support for which you are qualified. Consistently, 99% of NNU students qualify for some level of financial support and 1 in 4 graduate with no debt.

5. Schedule a visit

The only way to truly get a feel for what a university is like. At NNU, we say it’s the difference between wondering what it’s like and knowing you belong.

6. Celebrate your new role

Celebrate with your student as they confidently begin their college journey, and you are officially promoted to “current” college student parent.

Parents of Current Students

You’ve always been in a position to direct, protect and encourage your student throughout life’s journey, but now as they’ve headed off to college, you’re not sure what your new role is. We want to help you transition to your new role as your child’s guide, so they can continue to receive the support they’ve always depended on and be empowered to stretch their wings and build their own pathway to success.

It means a lot that you have entrusted them to NNU for part of their journey, and we do not take that lightly. We are committed to walking alongside you as together we encourage and challenge your student to grow into the person God is calling them to be.

Based on what we are hearing from students, there are three key ways in which you can continue to play a significant role in their college journey:

1. Embrace this new stage—This is a significant time in both your and your child’s life as they explore and grow into adulthood. Know that you are not alone in the joy, grief, confusion and celebration—and everything in between—that comes along with it. There are many other parents who have and/or continue to walk this journey who can shed light on what to expect and how best to embrace this new stage.

2. Educate yourself—Let’s face it! Your role as a parent never ends. Your student will still need guidance along the way—and when they don’t know where to turn, they will do like they always have and turn to you. This list of quick links will help you continue to be the hero for your child in their time of need!

3. Encourage Your Student—Nothing helps with motivation like knowing that you’ve got someone in your corner. Send your student a special treat or even pop in to campus for a quick visit or one of our special family events.

Still have questions? Contact kcovington@nnu.edu in the Office of Student Life.

College Preparation/Application FAQs

My student is interested in NNU. Where do we start?

We know the college search can be overwhelming, but you are off to a great start! The first thing you and your student need to do is identify what it is you want in a college or university and then start researching—which clearly you are doing! Once you’ve done your research, you should narrow it down to the top two or three universities that best meet your criteria and then encourage your student to complete an application and schedule a visit! We would love to talk with you and answer your questions. Please contact us at admissions@nnu.edu.

As a parent, how should I support my student during the application process?

Each student will be different in how involved they want you to be throughout the process, so take the lead from them. In general, you can support your student by helping them figure out what they want in a university, researching schools with them, editing applications and essays for them, helping them get registered for the SAT/ACT, completing a FAFSA and accompanying them on visits to their top schools. Finally, you will play an important role as a sounding board as they narrow down to their top choice.

What timeline should we be following? What important dates do we need to know?

This College Planning Checklist gives you a great guide to keep you on track. Here are a few of the key dates you need to know:

  • Applications open for submission Aug. 1
  • Early Action Deadline is Nov. 1
  • Priority FAFSA Deadline is Jan. 15

 

What classes should my student be taking in high school to get ahead at NNU?

We know that a lot of students are looking to get a head start to college. We encourage students to look into concurrent college credit and/or AP classes offered at their high school and consider taking classes that can help fulfill basic general ed courses. Contact admissions or the registrar’s office to see how certain classes will transfer to NNU or look at the Transfer Equivalency System.

 

Will my student’s dual/concurrent credit transfer to NNU?

The majority of your student’s dual/concurrent credits should transfer to NNU. To see how they transfer, contact admissions or the registrar’s office or look at the Transfer Equivalency System on our website.

 

Does NNU prefer that my student take the SAT or ACT?

We don’t have a preference on which test your student decides to take. Some students do better on one versus the other, so sometimes taking both is beneficial because we can use the highest score for determining merit-based aid. Additionally, we are also accepting the Classic Learning Test (CLT). This exam costs $59 and can be taken from your home. Click here to learn more and register.

 

Financial Aid/Scholarships

I keep hearing the terms sticker price and net price. What’s the difference?

The sticker price is the price that universities use as a baseline for tuition and all additional charges before any scholarships or financial aid is applied. The net price is what a student can expect to pay after all scholarships and financial aid are applied.

It’s especially important to understand the differences between these because there may be a significant difference in the sticker price of two universities but very little difference between their net prices. The majority of private schools that have higher sticker prices also offer more scholarships and financial aid, which results in very competitive net prices. When weighing your options, make sure you consider the net prices instead of the sticker prices.

What scholarships does NNU offer? How many of those are renewable?

NNU offers a wide variety of scholarships including merit-based awards, athletic awards, denominational awards, departmental awards, talent awards and need-based awards, most of which are renewable. Click here to learn more.

How can we make NNU affordable?

Financial aid is designed to help bridge the gap between the cost of a college education and what you’re able to pay. A significant amount of financial aid is available, including grants, scholarships and loans. Additionally, there are opportunities for students to earn work-study and free or reduced housing and food through certain campus positions. The best place to start is to complete your FAFSA at fafsa.gov as early as possible so you can get all the aid you qualify for.

If my student wants to take a gap year, how will that affect financial aid?

It will depend upon what they do during their gap year. If they earn any college credits after graduating from high school or have any major changes to their family income, their aid offer will likely be impacted. Students will need to complete a new FAFSA in the year prior to beginning college which will determine what their actual aid will be. However, if they do not earn college credits and their income is similar during their gap year, their financial aid likely won’t be impacted significantly.

 

Should my student attend a local community college and then transfer to NNU?

Although a lot of parents and students think this is a great cost-saving measure, it may actually end up costing more in the long run. First-time first-year student award packages tend to be very generous (with much of the aid being renewable during their time here). If a student transfers in, they are not eligible for the same award package that first-time first-year students are, which often results in lesser aid.

Additionally, several programs require pre-requisite classes which could put your student behind once they do transfer. In some cases, this may require an extra semester to complete their program (which leads to additional expenses). If your student chooses to pursue community college first, make sure you do your research and are talking with your admissions counselor to ensure that the courses your student is taking will transfer and fulfill the requirements they will need.

 

Safety/Security

How safe/secure are the campus and residence halls?

NNU takes the safety and security of the NNU community very seriously. Campus Safety Officers are on duty and available for service seven days a week from 5:00 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. The campus is patrolled by a contracted security company from 12:30 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. During the overnight hours, emergency calls go to 911 for the Nampa Police Department to respond. All residence halls require key card entry and are monitored by individuals working the front desk.

What health resources are available on campus?

NNU has an on-campus Health and Wellness Center that provides professional counseling and health services to support your student’s health, development and success. It offers a walk-in clinic, health services, counseling, health insurance and community education through peer health mentors and educators. Visits are free of charge.

Residence Halls

Are students required to live on campus?

Northwest Nazarene University requires all students to live on campus for at least three years. Exceptions to the residency requirement are granted for students who are over the age of 21, married or have children, graduating (current academic year) seniors or are commuting from their parent’s/guardian’s home. To find out if you qualify for a residence exception, reach out to studentlife@nnu.edu or call 208.467.8643.

The majority of NNU students live on campus with over 90% of our first-year students living in on-campus residence halls and over 75% of our juniors and seniors choosing to stay in our on-campus apartments. See some of the benefits of on-campus living here.

What’s included in the dorm rooms?

Each room has AC/heat and arrangeable, adjustable furniture including beds, desks and storage space. There are bathrooms, laundry facilities, lobbies, a kitchen facility, a TV room and study rooms dispersed throughout each hall.

What items aren’t allowed in the dorm rooms?

Students are not allowed to have weapons, firearms or explosives, open flames (i.e candles), blenders, hot plates or toaster ovens, tape on walls, animals (other than a common goldfish) or drugs or alcohol in their rooms.