Northeastern State University

Fees, Expenses, Financial Aid

Student Financial Aid

NSU’s financial aid program is designed to recognize outstanding achievement and leadership potential and to assist those who otherwise would be unable to attend the University. NSU has its own scholarship and work programs and also participates in all traditional types of financial assistance available through the state and the federal government.

Students at NSU receive funds from a variety of sources to pay for their education, including scholarships, grants, part-time jobs and educational loans. This money comes from federal and state agencies, private donors and lending institutions.

We believe that the student and the family should make an investment in the student’s education. We are committed to working with families to make an NSU education affordable.

Most federal and state educational assistance is based on financial need as determined by the information you provide on the FAFSA. Financial need is the difference between the cost of attending NSU and the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) calculated using formulas prescribed by federal regulation.

Financial Aid Application Process

1. Apply for admission to NSU.
2. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1st each year. The most efficient method for students to apply for financial aid is to complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Paper FAFSA forms can also be processed by submitting a signed paper FAFSA to: Federal Student Aid Programs, P.O. Box 4691, Mt. Vernon, IL 62864-0059.
3. Respond promptly to any correspondence requesting additional information.
4. Financial aid applicants will be notified of their financial aid eligibility through a Financial Aid Award Notification mailed to the student’s home address.
5. Schedule an appointment with an NSU financial aid counselor to discuss financing options and to understand the fee payment procedures at NSU.

Types of Financial Assistance Available

Grants: money available for education that does not require repayment.

PELL - Federal Pell Grant. Based on financial need. Available only to undergraduates.

SEOG - Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grant. Available only to undergraduates with exceptional financial need.

OTAG - Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant. Available to needy Oklahoma residents who enroll at least half-time in an undergraduate program. Must file a FAFSA by April 15 to be considered.

Tribal Assistance - Available for Native American students; please apply early to appropriate tribal higher education agency.
Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) - The Academic Competitiveness Grant is designed for first and second year students who completed a rigorous secondary school program of study.

National Science & Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART Grant) - The National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant, also known as the National SMART Grant is available during the third and fourth years of undergraduate study to full-time students who are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant and who are majoring in physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, or engineering or in a foreign language determined critical to national security. The student must also have maintained a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 in course work required for the major. The National SMART Grant award is in addition to the student’s Pell Grant award.

Employment: part-time employment allowing students to earn money to pay for educational expenses and gain valuable work experience.

FWS - Federal Work-Study Program. On-campus employment. Normally fifteen hours per week at minimum wage. Financial aid eligibility is required.

Institutional Employment- On-campus employment. Normally twenty hours per week at minimum wage. Financial aid eligibility is not required.

Job Location and Development - Provides assistance in locating off-campus employment. Financial aid eligibility is not required.

Loans: money available for education requiring repayment with interest.

Federal Perkins Loan - Money borrowed through NSU at 5% interest. Must be enrolled at least half-time. Available to both undergraduates and graduates. Repayment begins nine months after graduation or leaving school.

Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan - Money borrowed from a lending institution at a fixed interest rate. Repayment begins six months after graduation or six months after leaving school.

Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan - Money borrowed from a lending institution at fixed interest rates. Repayment begins six months after graduation or six months after leaving school; borrower is responsible for interest payments while in school.

Federal regulations require that all recipients of student financial assistance make satisfactory academic progress toward a degree or certificate. Students applying for assistance through the Federal Pell Grant, Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG), Smart Grant, Federal SEOG, Federal Work Study, Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant (OTAG), Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan, Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, Federal Parent PLUS Loan and Graduate PLUS loan programs are required to meet two separate requirement in maintaining their financial aid eligibility at NSU.

First, students are required to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average.
Second, students are required to complete (pass) a certain number of hours per year based on their award status (full time, three-quarter time, half-time). These two requirements are summarized in the following charts. Failure to meet both of these minimum academic standards will result in the loss of financial aid eligibility. Students are expected to know, based on this Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy, when they may be placed on financial aid probation or suspension.

1. Grade Point Average Requirement

   Each student must meet a minimum cumulative grade point average to remain eligible for federal student aid.

   Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy Requirements	Undergraduate Students		Graduate Students
   Total Hours Attempted from All Institutions	1-30 Credit Hours	31 Hours or more	All Hours
   Minimum Cumulative GPA Requirements	1.70 GPA	2.00 GPA	3.00 GPA

   
   
2. Satisfactory completion of semester hours required

   Students must also complete and pass 100% of the credit hours for which the receive financial assistance in any enrollment period. For example, full time undergraduate students who attempt 24 credit hours in their first two semesters and receive full financial aid must pass 24 credit hours in that academic year. Only grades of A, B, C, D, S, and P are counted as successfully completed.
   

   Number of hours a student must complete per academic year to remain eligible for Federal Student Aid.	Undergraduate Students	Graduate Students
   Students funded at full-time status must complete	12 Hrs per Sem / 24 per Year	9 Hrs per Sem / 18 per Year
   Students funded at 3/4 time status must complete	9 Hrs per Sem / 18 per Year	N/A
   Students funded at 1/2 time status must complete	6 Hrs per Sem / 12 per Year	5 Hrs per Sem / 10 per Year

   Students must complete their degree program within an allotted time frame to remain eligible for financial aid. The chart below indicates the time frame in which a degree must be acquired. Be aware that hour limits are cumulative; therefore, all hours from all institutions you have attended will be included. Student Financial Services recommends that students who have attempted 150 hours toward their first Bachelor’s degree request a Final Degree Check in the Office of Admissions and Records to unsure they have taken the courses necessary for their degree. For financial aid purposes grades of A, B, C, D, F, P, S, W, AW, WP, WF, I, N, NP, X and U are all considered attempted hours. Once students reach their maximum time frame for their specified degree, they are no longer eligible for federal student aid.
   

   Attempted Hours Allowed for Earning a Degree	186 hrs - First Bachelor’s Degree	48 hrs - First Master’s Degree
   	240 hrs - Additional Undergrad Work	80 hrs - Additional Master’s Work

Financial Aid Probation and Suspension

Probation
After the initial semester of attendance in an academic year, if students fail to meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements for the semester (see “GPA and Semester Hours” required tables on reverse side), they will be placed on financial aid probation for one semester. Students remain eligible for financial aid during their probationary period.

Suspension
At the end of the probationary period, if students fail to meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements set for the year (see “GPA and Semester Hours” requirement tables on reverse side) they are placed on financial aid suspension. While on suspension, students are not eligible for any type of federal student aid, i.e., grants, loans, etc.

Financial Aid Suspension Appeals

1. Financial aid suspension may be appealed. Appeals must explain in detail why the student failed to meet the minimum academic standards, the extenuating circumstances that caused the failure, and how the situation has since improved.
2. Financial Aid Suspension Appeal forms are available in Student Financial Services.
3. Students must meet all conditions of appeal approval in order to continue receiving aid until they regain full eligibility.
4. All decisions of the appeals committee are final.