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Funding Your Education

Funding your education requires preparedness and research. The information below details what you need to apply, how to apply, and general resources of funding. Please contact your respective Financial Aid Office with any questions.

• How to Apply
• Grants & Scholarships
• Loans
• Online Loan Counseling
• Other Useful Resources
• Work Study

How To Apply

To be considered for any need-based financial aid including student loans, you are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you have Internet access, we encourage you to apply online using FAFSA on the Web at www.fafsa.ed.gov. There are audits in the system when applying online that help eliminate errors. Applying online normally reduces processing time. Help is available. If you prefer a paper FAFSA application, you may request one from the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID.

Apply as soon as possible after January 1 of each year. Northwood encourages you to apply by the earlier of your state aid deadline or April 1. Read more about your state aid deadline on the FAFSA and in our section on grants.

Before completing the FAFSA online, we encourage you to apply for a personal identification number or PIN. The PIN is your electronic access code. A PIN can be requested from www.pin.ed.gov  or www.fafsa.ed.gov. The PIN acts as your signature on the FAFSA. It also provides you access to other personal information stored in other federal aid sites. Parent(s) of dependent students should also apply for a PIN.

NEVER SHARE YOUR PIN WITH ANYONE.

If you have questions when completing your FAFSA, you can get free help by contacting the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4 FED AID or by contacting your Northwood Financial Aid Office. If you are using FAFSA on the Web, you can also get help online.

Be sure to include Northwood University's school code on your FAFSA.

• The FAFSA school code for the Adult Degree Program locations (except Florida and Texas) is 004072.
• The FAFSA school code for the Florida campus and Florida Program locations is E00586.
• The FAFSA school code for the Texas campus and Texas Program locations is 013040.

After you have submitted your FAFSA to the federal government for processing, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). Review the information. Follow any instructions on the SAR. Be sure Northwood's school code is on the SAR. You may find that your SAR has been selected for verification. If so, you will be receiving a letter from the Financial Aid Office requesting additional information.

Before the Financial Aid Office is able to offer you financial assistance, you must have applied for admissions and been accepted for enrollment at Northwood. After you have been accepted, and the Financial Aid Office has received your SAR from the Department of Education and any requested documentation from you, the Financial Aid Office will mail you an award letter. The award letter will notify you of the types and amounts of aid that you may receive. You will also be able to view your award information at my.northwood.edu.

Remember the Financial Aid Office is here to serve you. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.

Grants and Scholarships

FEDERAL GRANTS

Federal Pell Grant

• Maximum 2009-2010 award is $5,350.
• Student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Eligibility is determined from the results of the FAFSA

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

• Variable amount.
• Receipt of these funds is limited to students who demonstrate exceptional financial need and who are Pell Grant eligible.
• Student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)

• First year student $750, Second year student $1300.
• Must be US citizen, Federal Pell Grant eligible, and enrolled full-time.
• Must have completed a rigorous secondary school program.
• Other academic restrictions apply.
• Student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

STATE GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Michigan Tuition Grant

• $1,610 maximum
• Awarded to Michigan residents who demonstrate need
• Renewable up to 15 terms, if the student continues to demonstrate financial need and continues to meet the University's standard for academic progress

Michigan Competitive Scholarship

• $1,610 maximum
• Awarded to Michigan residents who have demonstrated financial need and a qualifying ACT test score
• Renewable up to 15 terms if the student continues to demonstrate financial need and continues to meet the University's standard of academic progress

Florida's Access to Better Learning and Education Grant (ABLE)

• Variable amount.
• Tuition assistance awarded to Florida residents who have met all program requirements.

Florida's Bright Futures Scholarship

• Variable amount.
• Awarded by the state of Florida to Florida residents based on academic performance.
• Students must apply after December 1st during their senior year in high school
• Eligibility is determined by the state during the student's senior year in high school.
• Awards may be used up to seven years after high school graduation.
• Northwood University's school code for this scholarship is 024.

Most states have financial assistance programs. Each state program generally has specific deadlines, application requirements, and restrictions on the use of their funds. Contact your state's Department of Education for more details. For contact information, please click here.

Loans

Northwood University will participate in the Federal Direct Loan program effective for the 2010-2011 academic year. Listed below is a brief summary of the Federal Direct Loans. All borrowers must complete a Federal Direct Master Promissory Note (MPN). Please note that first time borrowers who receive loans are required to participate in mandatory Entrance Counseling or contact the Financial Aid Office for a personal interview, before loan proceeds will be released. Entrance counseling is not required for returning students who previously completed this requirement. Upon completion of your education, you will be required to participate in Exit Counseling or contact the Financial Aid Office for a personal interview.

William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program 2010-2011

Direct Loans are low-interest loans for students and parents to help pay for the cost of a student's education after high school. The lender is the U.S. Department of Education rather than a bank or other financial institution. The Federal Direct Loan Program offers the following types of loans:

• Dependent undergraduate students: freshman: $5,500 (no more than $3,500 subsidized); sophomore: $6,500 (no more than $4,500 subsidized); and junior/seniors $7,500 (no more than $5,500 subsidized).
• Independent undergraduate students: freshman: $9,500 (no more than $3,500 subsidized); sophomore: $10,500 (no more than $4,500 subsidized); and junior/seniors $12,500 (no more than $5,500 subsidized).

How to Apply for Direct Federal Loans

• Make sure you have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• There are two documents needed to complete the loan application process: the Federal Direct Master Promissory Note (MPN) and the Federal Direct Loan Request form. If you borrowed previously, you must complete a new MPN, as your lender is changing to the U.S. Department of Education rather than your bank or other financial institution.

New First-time Borrowers:

1. Complete the Federal Direct Master Promissory Note (MPN) at https://dlenote.ed.gov/empn/StudentLoanSelector.jsp or request a paper MPN from the Financial Aid Office.
2. Complete a Federal Direct Loan Request Form by clicking the Financial Aid Forms link in the left banner of this web page. 
3. Submit the Federal Direct Loan Request Form to the Financial Aid Office.
4. New, first-time student loan borrowers must complete mandatory Entrance Counseling at https://www.dl.ed.gov/borrower/CounselingSessions.do?cmd=initializeContext or contact the Financial Aid Office for a personal interview.

Previous Borrowers:

1. Complete the Federal Direct Master Promissory Note (MPN) at https://dlenote.ed.gov/empn/StudentLoanSelector.jsp or request a paper MPN from the Financial Aid Office. Previous borrowers must complete a new Federal Direct Loan MPN, as your lender is changing to the U.S. Department of Education rather than your bank or other financial institution.
2. Complete a Federal Direct Loan Request Form by clicking the Financial Aid forms link in the left banner of this web page.
3. Submit the Federal Direct Loan Request Form to the Financial Aid Office.

Federal Stafford Loan 2009-2010

Here is a brief summary of the Federal Stafford Loan Program. Paperwork is available online or through the Financial Aid Office. Please note that first time borrowers who receive loans are required to participate in Entrance Counseling before loan proceeds will be released. Upon completion of your education, you will be required to participate in Exit Counseling as well. Both of these requirements may be conducted online or in person at the Financial Aid Office.

Dependent undergraduate students: freshman: $5,500 (no more than $3,500 subsidized); sophomore: $6,500 (no more than $4,500 subsidized); and junior/seniors $7,500 (no more than $5,500 subsidized).

Independent undergraduate students: freshman: $9,500 (no more than $3,500 subsidized); sophomore: $10,500 (no more than $4,500 subsidized); and junior/seniors $12,500 (no more than $5,500 subsidized).

Student Loan Code of Conduct

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Work Study

Work-Study awards provide employment opportunities for eligible students with financial need. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for this need based award. If the student qualifies for assistance, the student will receive an award letter from the Financial Aid Office indicating the maximum amount of wages the student is able to earn. Students are paid bi-weekly by check for their hours worked. Students generally use their earned wages to help defray personal educational expenses. All student employment is subject to job availability. Work-study awards are partially funded through the Federal Work-Study program or the Michigan Work-Study program. The Michigan Work-Study program provides funding to eligible Michigan residents only. If you receive a work-study award, you will receive additional information from the Financial Aid Office.

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Other Useful Links

National Association of Student Aid Administrators
FastWEB
BrokeScholar.com
Florida Department of Education
Michigan Student Aid
U.S. Department of Education
VA Education Service
Internal Revenue Service
College-Scholarships.com

BEWARE OF SCHOLARSHIP SCAMS.  Unfortunately there are fraudulent scholarship companies.  BE CAUTIOUS.  For more information on the College Scholarship Fraud Prevention Act contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP or go online at www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams.

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