Financial Aid Eligibility Requirements

To receive aid from our programs, you must meet the following criteria:

• Complete FAFSA each year
  When applying for financial aid, we ask that you complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at least one month before your last class ends for the term in which you are seeking financial aid. This gives us adequate time to process your application.
• Be admitted to and enroll in an eligible program as a regular student seeking a degree or certificate
  (exceptions for MAT students and teaching licensure/endorsement coursework)
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
• Have a valid Social Security Number (unless you're from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia or the Republic of Palau)
• Register with the Selective Service if required. If you’re a male, aged 18 through 25 and you have not registered, you can, at the same time you complete your FAFSA, give the Selective Service System permission to register you by means of the FAFSA. You can also register online at https://www.sss.gov/register/.
• Not owe a refund on a federal grant or be in default on a federal student loan. To be eligible for financial assistance, students must not be in default on a Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Stafford Loan, Federal Supplemental Loan for Students, or Federal Direct Loan, nor owe any refund on a Federal Pell Grant or Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant received while attending any institution.
• Not have certain drug convictions. Further information is available online at https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/eligibility/requirements/criminal-convictions.
• Meet the eligibility requirements for each aid program from which you accept financial aid
• Not be receiving aid at another college or university simultaneously
• Be enrolled at least half-time. Half-time status is defined as 6 hours or more for undergraduate students and 3 hours or more for graduate students. Graduate students enrolled in terms that are 15 weeks or longer must be enrolled in at least 4 credit hours to be eligible for aid. At least half-time enrollment is required for the majority of financial aid programs. If you are considering dropping a course(s) which would change your level (for example, from full-time to three-quarter time), you are encouraged to contact the Student Finance Office to determine if the change will affect your financial aid eligibility.
• Demonstrate financial need (for most types of financial aid). Need is the difference between the amount of contribution expected from you and your family and the cost of attendance.
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the NLU Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy