Financial Aid - FAQs
FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I apply for financial aid?
For FEDERAL (e.g. Pell Grant, Federal Direct Loans, Parent PLUS Loan) and INSTITUTIONAL aid you will need to:
—Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); our school code is 001624
—Complete the NNU Application for Admission, Scholarships & Financial Aid and return it to the Office of Admissions along with other required information
Do I need to file federal income tax returns before completing the FAFSA?
The income information on the FAFSA will be based on your tax information from two years ago (prior-prior year). This is to ensure that most students and parents would have completed tax returns on which they can base their FAFSA information. To ensure you receive the most aid possible traditional students should submit their FAFSA to NNU by February 1st. After your taxes are completed, you can go back into the FAFSA and use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to pull your tax information directly from the IRS into the FAFSA.
What can I expect after submitting my FAFSA?
Within 3-5 business days of submitting the FAFSA (if it has been completed and signed by all necessary parties), you should be able to view a Student Aid Report (SAR) on the FAFSA website. If you note any errors, make corrections on the web and re-submit. NNU will then develop a financial aid package for you based on the information you have provided. All future revisions to financial aid award letters for new students can be viewed on the NNU Portal. Choose Financial Aid and Student Accounts and Financial Aid Awards. You will receive an email notice to your NNU email if revisions to your award package have been made.
What if my FAFSA information has changed since I filed it?
The FAFSA filed for the 2019-2020 academic year uses 2017 tax information to calculate your need. If you think your 2017 income is no longer an accurate portrayal of your financial situation, your financial aid counselor can determine if using your 2018 or 2019 expected income will change your financial aid awards.
Your financial aid counselor can execute Professional Judgement based on your special circumstances, to update the income on your FAFSA. At a very basic level, special circumstances are anything that makes the information provided on the FAFSA form not reflective of the family's current ability to pay. This can include impending job loss or unusual capital gains. It can also include anything that differentiates the family's situation from other families, such as medical expenses not covered by insurance. Your financial aid counselor will consider each family's circumstances on a case-by-case basis.
The following are examples of special circumstances that could be considered for a professional judgement by your financial aid counselor according to the Higher Education Act.
—Recent unemployment of a family member or temporary layoff
—Drop in income due to fewer hours, change in positions or recent retirement
—Medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance
—Unusually high childcare costs
—Additional costs incurred as a result of a student's disability
Other common special circumstances include:
—Death, disability or serious illness of a wage-earner
—Unusual capital gains
—Roth IRA rollovers
—Change in marital status of student or student's parents
—Termination of a child support agreement (i.e., the custodial parent will no longer receive child support payments during the award year)
Examples of situations that do not count as special circumstances include:
—Vacation expenses
—Tithing expenses
—Standard living expenses (e.g., utilities, credit card expenses, children's allowances, mortgage payments, car payments, credit card debt payments etc.)
If you think your special circumstances qualify you for consideration of a Professional Judgement, please contact the NNU Office of Financial Aid by phone (208.467.8638) or email (financialaid@nnu.edu). Your financial aid counselor will assess your situation and, if appropriate, will send you the necessary forms to proceed.
What scholarships are available at NNU and how do I apply?
For many NNU scholarships, your application for admission is your application for scholarships at NNU. However, there are additional scholarships available that do require an application. Please check the links below to access information about scholarships at your admission level:
—First Time and Transfer Students
—Adult (APP) & Online Students
What is the number one thing I need to do to get my financial aid processed correctly?
Access the NNU Portal regularly to accept aid and check for missing documents. Choose Financial Aid and Student Accounts and Financial Aid Awards to view financial aid. It is better to accept all loans up front and then decline or reduce them later than to wait to accept them. Loans can be adjusted throughout the semester.
How can I check on the status of my financial aid?
Students can view their financial aid at any time by logging onto the NNU Portal. Choose Financial Aid and Student Accounts and Financial Aid Awards to view financial aid for the current academic year. Students may also speak with their financial aid adviser by calling the Office of Financial aid at 208.467.8638 or emailing at financialaid@nnu.edu. Please be ready to provide your student ID when contacting NNU.
Can I access my 1098-T Form online?
Yes, simply follow the login instructions below to obtain a new copy for your records:
To login, use the following information:
Site ID: 10348
User Name: your NNU Student ID number
Password: the last four digits of your Social Security Number (unless you have opted in for online retrieval in previous years)
Should I invest in a scholarship search service?
Often the same information students purchase from search services is available from local sources for free, such as the NNU Helpful Links & Resources page. A scholarship search service does not give you scholarships, rather, it provides you with a list of scholarships for which you might be eligible. Do not lose more money than you can find! Use extreme caution!
Can I get a job on campus?
NNU offers employment opportunities to hundreds of students annually. All students are eligible to work on campus. Students can earn up to $2,000 per school year by working as few as 10 hours per week during the academic semester. However, on-campus jobs are not guaranteed. The student is responsible for securing employment on campus. NNU also participates in the America Reads program in which NNU students go to local elementary schools to help grade school children in reading and math. America Reads is run through the Office of Financial Aid, so please contact us at financialaid@nnu.edu if you are interested in this program. Please be ready to provide your student ID when contacting NNU.
What is a Parent PLUS Loan?
The Parent PLUS Loan is for parents borrowing on behalf of dependent students. The Parent PLUS Loan is in the parent's name and cannot be transferred to the student. A parent can apply for a Direct parent loan on the web at studentaid.gov using the parent's FSA ID. Approval for this loan is based on a simple credit check. See Parent Loans for more information.
Are there any other sources of assistance I can explore?
Lending institutions make loans available to students and "credit-worthy" parents or co-signers for up to the total cost of education (minus other aid). The student and their co-signer are responsible for applying and completing necessary paperwork for the loan through the lending institution of their choice. See Alternative Loans for more information.
Are there payment plan options available for paying my balance due?
Another option for parents or students might be an interest-free monthly payment plan through Flywire offered in cooperation with the NNU Business Office. There is an enrollment fee of $45 a semester. Visit NNU Student Payments for more information or to apply. You may also speak with a representative from the NNU Business Office at 208.467.8596 or businessoffice@nnu.edu. Please be ready to provide your student ID when contacting NNU.
Approximately how much should I expect to spend on books?
Students are estimated to spend between $1,000 and $1,500 per year for books, which changes by major, classes taken, etc.
Am I obligated to pay for student health insurance?
Students are automatically billed for the NNU Student Health Insurance Plan. Students who can provide proof of comparable insurance may waive insurance by completing a waiver form found at the Wellness Center webpage. Please visit the Wellness Center webpage for pricing, terms, and deadlines as student health insurance cannot be waived after the first day of classes. For more information, email the Wellness Center at wellnesscenter@nnu.edu. All International students must purchase the insurance plan and may not opt out.
How can I find out how much I owe in federal loans?
The National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) collects all the data related to federal loan borrowing and grants awarded during a student's educational career. To review financial aid, visit nslds.ed.gov and click on Federal Aid Review. Have your FSA ID on hand when logging in.
To summarize:
—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 as early as possible.
—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, accept or reject your aid immediately by logging into the NNU Portal (my.nnu.edu). Select Financial Aid and Student Accounts and Financial Aid Awards to accept your aid.
—Maintain the scholastic eligibility requirements that allow you to continue receiving financial assistance.
If you have other questions, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at: 1.877.NNU.4.YOU or 208.467.8638, or by email at financialaid@nnu.edu. Please be ready to provide your student ID when contacting NNU.