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Northwest Missouri State University


Guide to Financial Aid

What is financial aid? | Federal Aid Programs | Institutional Programs | State of Missouri Programs

What is financial aid?

Financial aid is money available from federal, state, university and private sources to help students and their families meet college costs. Financial aid will help pay for direct educational costs such as tuition, books and fees, as well as personal living expenses such as housing, food and transportation. Financial aid is designed to assist students with paying for the cost of attending college.

Who is eligible?

Almost anyone who needs financial assistance to attend Northwest may receive financial aid. However, pursuant to federal regulations, students must meet the following requirements in order to be eligible for federal financial aid:

  • Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen
  • Have a valid Social Security number
  • Register (if you have not already) with the Selective Service, if you are a male between the ages of 18 and 25
  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress in college or career school
  • Show you are qualified to obtain a postsecondary education

For additional requirements visit Student Aid Eligibility.

How is Cost of Attendance determined?

In order to determine your financial need for the Federal Assistance programs, Northwest will develop a Cost of Attendance (COA) budget as stipulated within the federal guidelines. This budget includes direct costs (charges that you are billed) such as tuition, technology fee, book usage fee, and room and board (if living on campus). The budget will also have average allowances for personal living expenses, transportation, and additional supplies, which are indirect costs (not billed to students). The student and/or parent may choose to borrow additionally in order to help meet some of these additional expenses.

Example Budgets (based on 2013 - 2014 rates)
Budget: MO Resident Budget: Non-Resident
 Tuition 7988  Tuition 14239
  Room/Board 8676  Room/Board 8676
 Transportation 1000  Transportation 1000
 Personal 1500  Personal 1500
 Books/Supplies     500  Books/Supplies     500
  19,664   25,915

How will I know what I'm eligible for?

The information you reported on your FAFSA is used to determine your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is calculated by a formula established by law. The EFC is not the amount of money that your family must provide. Rather, the EFC is an index which is used to determine how much financial aid (grants, loans, or work-study) you would receive if you were to attend our school. If your EFC is below a certain number, you will be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant assuming you meet all other eligibility requirements. The amount of your Pell Grant depends on your EFC, your cost of attendance, and your enrollment status (full time, three-quarter time, half time, or less than half time).

The next step in determining your need and eligibility for other aid programs is to take the Cost of Attendance budget and subtract the EFC, Pell Grant eligibility, and any additional scholarship resources. The result is your remaining need.

Cost of Attendance
-EFC
-Federal Pell Grant Eligibility
-Additional Scholarship Resources 
Remaining Financial Need 

The number determined for your remaining financial need will then be used to evaluate your eligibility for federal aid programs including Stafford Loans, Parent Plus Loans, and work study eligibility.

What if I have special circumstances?

A financial aid administrator can consider special or unusual circumstances such as unusual medical expenses, tuition expenses, or unemployment and can adjust your cost of attendance or some of the information used to calculate your EFC. The financial aid administrator may also change your status from dependent to independent, but only under specific circumstances which the aid administrator will explain. You will have to provide the Financial Aid Office with documentation to justify any change. The decision to change or not to change your dependency status is based on the aid administrator's judgment and is final. It cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education.

Federal Aid Programs

Program Description

Who is Eligible?

Amount of Award

How to Apply

Pell Grant

 Eligibility determined by federal government.
 Award is based entirely on need.
 All eligible students receive this grant.

 All undergraduates with high financial need and academic good standing.

 Between $555 and $5,550 per year depending on need. 
 Amounts are pro-rated for less than full-time enrollment.

 Complete and submit the FAFSA.

Apply Now!

Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

 Based on need.
 Funds are limited.

 All undergraduates with high financial need and academic good standing.

 Varies

 Complete and submit the FAFSA.

Apply Now!

Teach Grant

 For Students who plan to complete or are completing coursework necessary to begin a career in teaching in specified high need fields.
 Must be repaid as Direct Unsubsidized loan if student does not teach at least 4 years within 8 years of completing program as a teacher in a Title I School, in a specified subject area. (science, math, foreign language, bilingual education, special education or other high need area)

 Regular student
 Citizen or eligible non-citizen
 Not in default, 
 Satisfactory progress.

 See website for list of High-need fields.

 Up to $4,000 per year for first undergraduate - $16,000 aggregate
 Up to $4,000 per year for graduate students - $8,000 aggregate
 Prorated amounts for less than full-time enrollment. 
 Requires Agreement to serve/Promise to Pay to include promissory note. 
 Award combined with other assistance cannot exceed cost of attendance.

 Complete and submit the FAFSA.

Apply Now!

 GPA at least 3.25 for each payment period (from high school if 1st year student or from college for other students). 
 OR above 75th percentile on Admission test (ACT, SAT or GRE)

Perkins Loan

 Awards administered by Northwest. 
 No interest or repayment until nine months after student drops below half-time enrollment. 
 5% interest during repayment. 
 Based on need. Funds are limited.

 All undergraduates with high financial need and academic good standing.

 Between $300 and $2,000 per year depending on need. 
 Total borrowed as an undergraduate may not exceed $20,000.

 Complete and submit the FAFSA.

Apply Now!

William D. Ford Direct Subsidized Loan *

 No repayment until six months after student drops below half-time enrollment.
 Interest rate is set at 3.4% annually
 Based on need

 All students with need and academic good standing. 
 Must be enrolled at least half-time.

 Annual maximum:
$3,500-first year
$4,500-sophomore
$5,500 for juniors and seniors

 Cumulative loan for undergraduates may not exceed $23,000.

 Complete and submit the FAFSA. 
 Master Promissory note and entrance counseling are required.

Complete Online!

William D. Ford Direct Unsubsidized Loan *

 Same as Direct Subsidized Loan except interest must be paid or capitalized during enrollment period.
 Interest rate is set at 6.8% annually

 All students. 
 Non-need based. 
 Must be enrolled at least half-time and have academic good standing.

 Annual limits not to exceed $2,000 above subsidized loan grade level limit. 
 Aggregate limit for combination of all subsidized and unsubsidized loans not to exceed $31,000.

 Complete and submit the FAFSA. 
 Master Promissory note and entrance counseling are required.

Complete Online!

William D. Ford Direct Parent PLUS Loan **

 For parent of dependent students to borrow on the student's behalf. 
 Repayment may be deferred until six months after date student drops below half-time enrollment.
 Interest rate fixed at 7.9% annually.
 Accruing interest to be paid monthly or quarterly or capitalized quarterly.
 Need is not a factor.

 All undergraduates.  Must be enrolled at least half-time and have academic good standing.

 Parent's annual maximum eligibility is equal to the cost of attendance minus other financial aid received.

 Complete and submit FAFSA. 
 Master Promissory note and entrance counseling are required.

Complete Online!

Registered PIN is required and can be obtained online.

Federal Work Study (FWS)

 Part-time employment on campus. 
 Maximum 20 work hours per week. 
 Based on need. 
 Funds are limited.

 All undergraduates with financial need. 
 Must be enrolled at least half-time and have academic good standing.

 Minimum wage. 
 Paid monthly in a check directly to the student for hours worked.

 Complete and submit the FAFSA.

Apply Now!

 

Institutional Programs

Program Description

Who is Eligible?

Amount of Award

How to Apply

American Dream Grant

 Based on need.
 See full description.

 First-time freshman.
 Complete FAFSA and all verification documents by April 1 priority date
 Have an EFC of 2000 or less (dependent or independent students)

 Varies. 
 Will fill gap between cost of tuition, room, board, textbook and computer usage fees, (standard double occupancy and aladine meal plan) minus all federal, state, institutional funds and a $3,500 student contribution. 
 Students must live on-campus to receive assistance with room and board.
 Awards subject to available funding.
 Summer funding not available. 

 Complete and submit the FAFSA

Apply Now!

Renewable for one year as a tuition only scholarship with the following stipulations:
 Reapplication of FAFSA (by April 1 for consideration of state grants used in determining American Dream funding). 
 Be Pell eligible. 
 Completion of 24 Northwest credit hours with a 2.00 Northwest cumulative GPA.
 Combination of federal, state, and institutional grants and scholarship plus American Dream Grant covers regular tuition

Bearcat Grant

 Based on need and academic criteria.

 First-time freshman. 
 Must be enrolled full-time.

 Varies. 
 Funds are limited.

 Complete and submit the FAFSA.

Apply Now!

Northwest Grant

 Based on need.

 First-time freshman. 
 Must be enrolled full-time.

 Varies.
 Funds are limited.

 Complete and submit the FAFSA.

Apply Now!

Regular Employment

 Part-time employment on campus. 
 Maximum 20 work hours per week. 
 Need is not a factor.

 All students. 
 Must be enrolled at least half-time.

 Minimum wage. 
 Paid monthly in a check directly to the student.

 Contact the Student Employment Office at 660.562.1140 or visit the website.

Tuition Exchange Program

 An association of 586 colleges and universities offering scholarships to members of faculty and staff families employed at participating institutions

Participating institutions

Determined by the home institution

 Varies
 Dependent upon policies of home institution

  Contact liaison officer at home institution 12 months prior to using TE program.
 Certification is sent to importing school. 
 Northwest will notify award approvals/denials.
 Contact liaison each year for required recertification.

State of Missouri Programs

Missouri resident and U.S. citizen, enrolled full-time at a Missouri post-secondary school.

Program Description

Who is Eligible?

Amount of Award

How to Apply

Access Missouri Program

 Provides grant assistance to full-time undergraduate students who are Missouri residents attending participating Missouri post-secondary institutions.

 U.S. citizen. 
 Missouri residents enrolled full-time. 
 Expected Family Contribution (EFC) less than 12,000 as determined by FAFSA.

 Statutory award amounts $1,000-$2,150. 
 Renewal requires 2.50 cumulative GPA each term, reapplication of FAFSA by April 1 each year and meeting need eligibility requirements.

* Actual award amounts contingent upon state approbations.

 Complete and submit the FAFSA by April 1.
 Contact Missouri Department of Higher Education online or at 800.473.6757 or Office of Scholarships and Financial Assistance.

Missouri Bright Flight

 Missouri graduating high school senior who enrolls full-time in Missouri post-secondary school.

 

*Effective for 2011-2012 entering students
 Top 3%
(ACT-31; SAT: critical reading- 800, math- 790)

 Top 4-5%
(ACT- 30; SAT: critical reading-770, math-780)

*Prior to 2010-2011
Top 3%
(ACT-31; SAT: critical reading- 790, math- 780)

Maximum awards:
 Top 3%: $3,000 per academic year Top 4-5%: $1,000 per academic year
 Prior to 2010-2011: $2,000 per academic year

 Maximum award: 10 trimesters
 Must complete 24 credit hours at cumulative 2.50 GPA.
 Actual award amounts contingent upon yearly state appropriations.

 Contact Missouri Department of Higher Education online or at 800.473.6757 or Office of Scholarships and Financial Assistance with questions.

Advanced Placement Incentive Grant

 Provides grant funding to full-time undergraduate students who are residents of Missouri and attending participating Missouri post-secondary schools.

 

 U.S. citizen
 MO resident enrolled full-time 
 Must earn 2 scores of 3 or higher on Advanced Placement exams in math or science fields while attending public high school.
 Must also receive MO Access Grant 

 $500 non-renewable award

 

 Complete application by deadline of June 1, 2012 (to be considered for 2011-12 academic year).
 Contact Missouri Department of Higher Education or Office of Financial Assistance for application.  

Marguerite Ross Barnett Memorial Scholarship

 This scholarship was established for students who are employed while attending school part-time.
 Scholarships can be renewed annually until a student has obtained a baccalaureate degree or has completed 150 credit hours.

 Missouri resident 18 years or older, enrolled at least half-time but less than full-time.
 Be employed and compensated for at least 20 hours per week.
 Demonstrate financial need.

 Maximum annual scholarship is the lesser of: actual tuiton charged at the school where you are enrolled or your demonstrated financial need.
 Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50

 Complete and submit FAFSA. Contact Missouri Department of Higher Education or Office of Scholarships and Financial Assistance for application or go online to print verification form.

 Deadline for submitting FAFSA and all required material is August 1.

Apply Now!

Vietnam Veterans Survivor Grant

 Grant available to children or spouse of Vietnam veteran whose death was attributed to or caused by exposure to toxic chemicals during the Vietnam conflict. 
 Reward is renewable with reapplication.

 Missouri resident and U.S. citizen or permanent resident
 Enrolled full-time at a Missouri postsecondary school.
 Veteran must have been Missouri resident when first entering military or at time of death or injury

 Lesser of actual tuition charged at school where enrolled full-time OR average amount of tuition charged at the regional four-year public Missouri institutions.

 Download and complete application online or contact Missouri Department of Higher Education at (800) 473-6757. View website for additional information.

Wartime Veteran's Survivors Grant Program

 Available to children and spouses of Veterans whose death or injuries were a result of combat action, or attributed to illness contracted during combat action, or who became 80% disabled due to injuries or accidents sustained in combat action since Sept. 11, 2001. 
 Reward is renewable with reapplication.

 U.S. citizen or permanent resident
 Enrolled half-time
 Veteran's spouse at time of death or injury OR Veteran's child under 25 years of age
 Veteran must have been Missouri resident when first entering military or at time of death or injury

 Sum of:
 Lesser of actual tuition charged for number of credit hours enrolled in OR amount of tuition charge at University of Missouri Columbia for same number of hours
 Up to $2,000 per semester for room and board
 Lesser of actual cost for books OR $500 

  Download and complete application online or contact Missouri Department of Higher Education at (800) 473-6757. View website for additional information.

Returning Heroes' Education Act
 Tuition reduction for combat veterans from Missouri who are pursuing a program leading to certificate or bachelor's degree  A combat veteran who served in armed combat after Sept. 11, 2001
 Was a Missouri resident when first entered military
 Discharged from military service under honorable conditions		  Limits tuition and fees to $50 per credit hour for certificate and Bachelor degree programs  Initiate by completing form (each year) and returning with copy of DD-214 to Financial Aid Office. Fax 660.562.1674