Frequently Asked Questions

Financial Aid & Scholarships FAQs

Financial Aid

What forms are needed to apply for financial aid?

For all types of federal, state, and most institutional student aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Renewal FAFSA each year. Northwood University strongly encourages all students to submit the FAFSA.

When do I apply for financial aid?

Students must apply for financial aid every year. The FAFSA on the Web (FOTW) or Renewal FAFSA on the Web should be completed as quickly as possible after October 1^st each year. For optimal consideration for undergraduate students who reside in the State of Michigan to apply earlier than the state deadline of July 1^st. Applications received after the priority deadline will continue to be processed throughout the academic year. Financial aid offers are based on a combination of funds available and financial need.

Do I have to complete the FAFSA every year?

Yes, you need to fill out the FAFSA each school year because your eligibility for financial aid can differ from year to year for various reasons, including your family’s financial situation and the number of family members enrolled in college. If you filled out a FAFSA last year and want to renew it, go to studentaid.gov, click “Login”, and be sure to select “FAFSA Renewal” once given the option. That way, many of the (nonfinancial) questions will be pre-filled for you. Just be sure to update any information that has changed since last year.

Which FAFSA should I complete?

When you log into studentaid.gov, you will be given two different options: “Start a 2024-25 FAFSA” and “Start a 2023–24 FAFSA.” Which should you choose?

If you’ll be attending college between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024, select “Start a 2023–24 FAFSA.”
If you’ll be attending college between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025, select “Start a 2024–25 FAFSA.”

Remember, you must complete the FAFSA each school year, so if you’ll be attending college during both periods of time, you should fill out both applications.

What types of financial aid are covered by this application?

Federal Aid

Federal Pell Grants
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants
Federal Direct Loans
Federal Work-Study

State Aid

Michigan Tuition Grant
Michigan Achievement Scholarship

What other sources of aid are available?

Many local, state, and national organizations award scholarship funds. A comprehensive free scholarship search service is available on the Financial Aid Information Page.

What about outside scholarships?

Legitimate scholarship sources:

Sponsored by a foundation, community organization or school.
Legitimate scholarships do not require the applicant to pay to apply.
Offer no guarantee of funding.

Examples of legitimate scholarship sources:

Parent’s employer
High School Guidance Counselors
Local organizations that family members (parents, grandparents, aunts/uncles) have a connection to such as churches, civic groups and veteran’s organizations.
Community foundations and industry associations pertaining to specific careers, or students. Check your local county Community Foundations.
College Financial Aid and Admissions representatives.

• http://scholarshipamerica.org

• https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search• https://www.salliemae.com/college-planning/tools/scholarship-search/

What are the Liberty Funds?

Northwood students who have at least a 2.5 GPA can apply for Liberty Funds (formally Private Donor Scholarships). These funds are reviewed annually by the committee to award scholarships based on the donors wishes.

How do I apply for a Pell Grant?

When you complete the FAFSA, you are automatically considered for a Pell Grant.

How do you get a student loan?

Northwood University includes student federal loan eligibility as part of the financial aid award offer. Students must apply for financial aid to be considered for federal student loans.

I was selected for verification. What is it and what do I need to do?

Verification is a process of review that determines the accuracy of the information submitted by the student and family on the FAFSA and that resolves conflicting data resulting from changes made by the student and family on the FAFSA. If you are selected for verification, you will receive a request for documentation from Northwood University. You will be notified via email to check your self-service account for required documentation to submit. We will also send a notification via mail every 30 days.

Download verification of FAFsa Data

If my parents are separated or divorced, do they both have to contribute to my education?

When completing the FAFSA, financial information is required of the primary contributor. To understand who your contributors are please visit https://studentaid.gov/sites/default/files/is-my-parent-a-contributor.jpg.

How do I become an independent student for federal aid purposes?

Independent Student Definition

To be considered an independent student for 2024-2025, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions:

Were you born before January 1, 2001?
As of today, are you married? (Also answer “Yes” if you are separated but not divorced.)
At the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, will you be working on a master’s or doctorate program (such as an MA, MBA, MD, JD, PhD, EdD, graduate certificate, etc.)?
Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed forces for purposes other than training?
Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?
Do you have children who will receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30, 2025?
Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30, 2025?
At any time since you turned age 13, were both your parents deceased, were you in foster care or were you a dependent or ward of the court?
Are you or were you an emancipated minor as determined by a court in your state of legal residence?
Are you or were you in legal guardianship as determined by a court in your state of legal residence?
At any time on or after July 1, 2023, did one of the following individuals determine you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless:
- High school or school district homeless liaison.
- Director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by HUD.
- Director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program.

What is the difference between the Finance & Accounting Office and Financial Aid?

The Finance & Accounting Office sends bills, collects payments for university charges, and sends refund checks. The Financial Aid Office awards scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study. Financial aid is disbursed to student accounts to help meet university charges. Financial Aid Counselors in the Church Administration Building can assist students with all financial aid and receivable accounting activities.

Scholarships

Are scholarships available regardless of financial need?

Yes. Scholarships are awarded to students based on high academic achievement, athletic ability, or club participation without consideration of need. A FAFSA is required for any student to receive any athletic scholarship or E-Sports scholarship.

Are new freshmen eligible for the Liberty Funds (Private Donor Scholarships)?

Some scholarships require that the student have a specific major and an established GPA in a specific field of study. However, there are scholarships still available for freshman and highly encouraged to opt in and provide their letter of recommendation for the Liberty Funds.

If I don’t achieve the GPA required to renew my Northwood University scholarship by the end of the fall semester, will I lose my scholarship?

No. The grade point average for scholarships is reviewed at the end of the academic year, so you will have two semesters to meet the GPA requirement. However, we will notify you at the beginning of spring semester if you are at risk based on your fall grades.

If I drop out of school for one semester, will my Northwood University scholarship be renewed?

Individual scholarships may vary. Please contact the Financial Aid Office if you wish to withdraw for a semester to discuss your specific aid.

How will outside scholarships affect my financial aid award offer?

Federal regulations require that students who receive Federal Title IV aid may not receive more financial aid than their demonstrated financial need. Your award offer will be reviewed and adjusted as necessary. Northwood University will first reduce your loan or work study award. We will send you a revised financial aid notice via email that reflects the changes in your award.

How are outside scholarships disbursed?

Donors may specify the semester(s) in which the scholarship is paid.
If a student wants the scholarship distributed in a way that differs from what the donor requests, the student will be asked to get an authorization letter from the donor.
If the donor letter does not specify a distribution schedule, Northwood University will be split with half in the fall and half in the spring.
If the scholarship has been split and the donor has not given instructions, the student may request the entire award be moved to the fall semester. However, the student is then cautioned that they may be short of funds for the spring semester.

Do I need to tell you about a scholarship that I am receiving from my high school or an organization in the community?

Yes. If you are receiving federal aid, we are required to include the scholarship in your offer. In addition, most scholarship donors send the checks to the University and make them payable to Northwood University and the student. This is done to verify that you are enrolled at Northwood University. Informing us early reduces the number of corrections that must be made to your financial aid and allows us to begin processing any loans included in your offer.

If there is a delay in receiving an outside scholarship, what should I do?

Please contact the Finance and Accounting Office at (989) 837-4207 with proof of scholarship to discuss options for billing deadlines.

I received an outside scholarship check, what should I do with this?

If the check is just written to Northwood University please drop off or send the check to 4000 Whiting Drive Midland, MI 48640 C/o Finance & Accounting Office. If the check is written to you and Northwood University, please sign the back of the check and mail or drop off to Finance and Accounting.

Student Loans

What is a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling?

The Master Promissory Note (MPN) is a legal document in which you promise to repay your loan(s) and any accrued interest and fees to the U.S. Department of Education. It also explains the terms and conditions of your loan(s).

In this process, you will complete the following steps:

Enter your personal and school information
Enter your reference information
Read the terms and conditions
Review, electronically sign and submit the MPN

All first-time borrowers must complete entrance counseling. Entrance counseling explains the obligations you agree to meet as a condition of receiving a Direct Loan. During entrance counseling, you will learn about the following:

What a Direct Loan is and how the loan process works
Managing your education expenses
Other financial resources to consider to help pay for your education
Your rights and responsibilities as a borrower

What is the difference between a subsidized and unsubsidized student loan?

The federal government pays the interest for the student during the student’s at least half-time enrollment and through most deferments, the borrower qualifies for. If the student’s loans are unsubsidized the student is responsible for the interest during school, the student’s grace period, and any deferments.

Can a graduate student receive a subsidized loan?

Effective 07/01/12, Congress has eliminated subsidized graduate student loans.

If my student has an unsubsidized loan, must they pay the interest while in school?

The student is not required to make payments while enrolled at least half time, but has the choice of paying the interest quarterly or allowing the loan servicer to add the interest to the loan (capitalization).

If my parents borrow the Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS), when do they start repaying the loan?

The first payment is due within 60 days of the second disbursement. The first payment will be due in February or March for most of our PLUS borrowers. Your parent borrower may also elect deferring loan repayment while you are enrolled in school.

What happens if the PLUS Loan is denied?

Your parent and the Financial Aid Office will receive notification from the Direct Loan Origination Center of credit denial. The Financial Aid Office will automatically process an additional unsubsidized loan up to $4000 for a freshman/sophomore or up to $5000 for a junior/senior. The notification from Direct Loans will outline the options available to your parent to contest the credit denial or to secure an eligible endorser.

My parents don’t want to borrow a PLUS Loan. They think all loans should be in the student’s name. How can we do this?

If your parents are willing to co-sign a loan for you, there are alternative loans that may be borrowed by the student through private lenders. Private lenders also allow non-family members to co-sign a loan for you.

How are loan proceeds paid to the student?

Federal Direct Subsidized, Federal Direct Unsubsidized, and Federal PLUS Loans are paid directly to student accounts in two disbursements. One disbursement is applied in the fall and one disbursement is applied in the spring. Any excess funds will be sent to the student and parent.

Is there anything I must do before the loan proceeds are applied to my account?

Yes. If you do not have a prior Master Promissory Note (MPN) on file with the Direct Loan Program you must complete an MPN and Entrance Counseling online. Once this has been done and you meet all other eligibility requirements, the loan(s) will be applied to your student account.

Must we borrow as much as you have suggested on the award notice?

No. The amount on the award notice is your maximum eligibility for student loans based on the budget, student grade level, status and the student’s other financial aid. You need to decide as a family what you will be able to manage without loans and then how much you need to borrow.

About Your Award Letter

How do I receive an Award Letter?

Before the Financial Aid Office is able to offer you financial assistance, you must have applied for admissions, provided a valid social security number on the Northwood application (this is not required for admission, but is required for us to connect your FAFSA and your NU account properly), and been accepted for enrollment at Northwood University.

After you have been accepted and the Financial Aid Office has received your FAFSA from the Department of Education and any requested documentation from you, the Financial Aid Office will notify you via your Northwood University email that you have an award letter ready to view via your Self-Service Portal. The award letter will notify you of the types and amounts of aid that you may receive. You can access Self-Service on My.Northwood.edu.

What types of aid can students get at Northwood University?

Institutional Aid (merit, athletic, clubs, etc.)
State Aid
Federal Grants
Student Employment-Student/Optional Loans

What is the difference between a scholarship and a grant?

Both scholarships and grants are considered to be Gift Aid. Gift Aid is free educational funds that do not need to be repaid. Scholarships are awards based on the student’s achievement (academic, talent, athletic). Grants are awards based on financial need as determined by completing the FAFSA.

Do I have to accept the loans if I just want the scholarships and grants listed?

No. You may reduce or reject some or all of the offered loans or work awards and still receive the offered scholarships and grants. Rejected loans and work study awards may result in unmet financial need. Northwood University will not replace rejected loans and work study awards with additional scholarships or grant awards. You can reject and reduce your loans on self-service under My.Northwood.edu.