Financial Aid Terms and Conditions

Terms and Conditions 

Following are the terms and conditions of aid acceptance. Aid program awards are determined by the information you and/or your parents provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Regardless of a student’s FAFSA results, the student must also be making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) towards degree requirements in order to continue their eligibility for Federal Aid.

You must agree to the terms and conditions before your awards can be packaged

Important changes beginning July 1, 2026 for all students regarding Federal Student Aid:

• Grad PLUS loans will be phased out beginning July 1, 2026; beginning on that date, new loans will not be available for new borrowers. There will be some continuing eligibility for existing Grad PLUS borrowers as they complete their current programs.
• Parent PLUS loans will be capped at $20,000 per student per year, with a $65,000 lifetime limit per dependent student.
• Starting in the 2026-2027 award year, if you take fewer than full-time hours, your student loans may be reduced.
• Starting in the 2026-2027, if you drop or withdraw from classes and fall below full-time status, your student loans may be reduced.
• Starting in the 2026-2027 award year, students enrolled at least half time (6 credits for undergraduates or 5 credits for graduate students) will have their loan eligibility adjusted. A half-time course load typically results in receiving about half of the full loan amount.
• Starting in the 2026–27 academic year, students will no longer be eligible for a Pell Grant if their Student Aid Index (SAI) is greater than twice the maximum Pell award for that year. An applicant with an SAI equal to or greater than $14,790 for the award year are ineligible for a Pell Grant.

Students receiving scholarships that cover the full cost of attendance (COA). Students who receive grants or scholarships from non-federal sources covering their entire COA are ineligible to receive a Pell Grant, even if otherwise eligible for the program.

You understand that ALL communications concerning your financial aid will be sent to your University email. To receive federal financial aid, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be a U.S citizen or eligible non-citizen.
• Be classified as a degree seeking student at Northwestern State University
• Classes taken for audit are not eligible for financial assistance and do not count toward enrollment for purposes of financial aid.
• If requested, you must provide documents to verify the accuracy of information reported on the FAFSA before financial aid can be awarded or disbursed.
• You may not receive more aid than the total cost of attendance assigned to you for school, including tuition and fees, room and board, allowances for books and supplies, transportation and personal expenses.
• You must not be in default on any federal educational loans or owe any refunds on federal grants received at any post-secondary institution. You understand that if those things were true you would not be entitled to receive federal aid.
• Acceptance of your financial aid award indicates that you agree to comply with the rules and regulations that govern the programs for aid as well as the policies of this institution. Your award is subject to change if corrections or revisions are made to the information you provided on your applications for aid.
• Students with federal or state drug convictions that occurred while receiving aid may be ineligible for aid.
• Must be registered with Selective Service (Males only).
• If you resign (officially or unofficially), funds could be owed back to Northwestern State University.
• You must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
• If your aid has not been processed, or you do not have enough to cover full tuition and fees, you will be charged an installment plan fee.
• Federal Aid can only apply to courses within your Degree Program.

Important Registration Information

• Be enrolled in at least half-time to be eligible for Federal Direct Loans ( 6 hours is considered to be half time status for undergraduate and 5 hours for graduate students starting Fall 2017). Funds may not disburse until after the B-term course drop date if you do not meet the 1/2 time enrollment requirement until B-term courses begin.
• Financial aid packages are based on full time enrollment. If you enroll for less hours, your financial aid disbursement will be adjusted/reduced accordingly.
• All required forms must be submitted and processed by the Financial Aid Office prior to the last day of class. Forms not processed prior to the last day of class could limit aid eligibility.
• You may only receive federal financial aid for the same course TWICE if you get a passing grade of D or higher.
  —- SAMPLE 1: John took a Math course and made a D grade, he can receive federal aid to take the course again but federal aid will not pay for a third attempt.
  —- SAMPLE 2: If John fails the Math course with an F grade, federal aid will pay for the course until he receives a passing grade of D or higher.
• Federal Aid will not pay towards installment plans or late payment fees.
  • • Federal regulations state 1) if a student is in the first year of undergraduate studies and is a first time Stafford loan borrower, the school may not disburse the first installment of the loan until 30 calendar days after class begins. 2) A single semester loan must be disbursed in two installments, the first half at the beginning of the semester and the second half may not be disbursed until midpoint of the semester.
      • Grants, Institutional scholarships, and Loans are applied to student accounts as funds arrive at the institution, after the add/drop period of each