Providing access to quality post-secondary education opportunities is a strategic investment that enhances the U.S. Service member’s ability to support mission accomplishment and successfully return to civilian life. A forward-leaning, lifelong learning environment is fundamental to the maintenance of a mentally powerful and adaptive leadership-ready force. Making post-secondary programs and information available to the military community is a goal at Northwestern State University. Below you will find several tools that can be used in making a decision to attend NSU:

  • The College Scorecard which is a planning tool and resource to assist prospective students and their families as they evaluate options in selecting a school.
  • The College Navigator which is a consumer tool that provides school information to include tuition and fees, retention and graduation rates, use of financial aid, student loan default rates and features a cost calculator and school comparison tool.
  • The Financial Shopping Sheet which is a model aid award letter designed to simplify the information that prospective students receive about costs and financial aid so they can easily compare institutions and make informed decisions about where to attend school. Students are emailed/mailed a shopping sheet once the University receives a federal application.
  • The ‘Paying for College’ webpage which can be used by prospective students to enter the names of up to three schools and receive detailed financial information on each one and to enter actual financial aid award information.

At Northwestern State University the designated point of contact for academic and financial advising, including access to disability counseling, to assist Service members with completion of studies and with job search activities is:

Office of Veteran Affairs
Student Services Center, Room 335
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357- 6171

Military Tuition Assistance Refund Policy

NSU returns unearned military tuition assistance funds on proportional basis through at least the 60% portion of the term for which they were provided regardless of the reason for withdrawal. Any unearned TA funds will be returned directly to the military service, not to the service member, and could possibly create a balance owed by the student.

Military tuition assistance is awarded based on students completing the entire term it was awarded. When a student withdraws, they may no longer be eligible for the full amount.

Tuition Assistance Eligibility will be recalculated for students who officially, or unofficially, withdraws from a course prior to completing 60% of the enrollment period. The official last date of attendance is used to determine the number of days completed.

Once the last date of attendance has been determined, NSU will recalculate your TA eligibility based on the following formula and return funds directly to the military service.

If the student withdraws during a fall or spring semester (16 week course):
Before or during week 1-2 100% return
During week 3-4 75% returned
During weeks 5-8 50% returned
During weeks 9-10 40% return (60% of the course is completed)
During weeks 11-16 0% returned
If a student withdraws during a twelve-week course:
Before or during week 1-2  100% return
During week 3-4 75% returned
During weeks 5-6 50% returned
During week 7-8 40% returned (60% of the course is completed)
During weeks 9-12  0% returned
If a student withdraws during an eight-week course:
Before or during week 1  100% return
 During week 2 75% returned
During weeks 3-4 50% returned
During week 5 40% returned (60% of the course is completed)
During weeks 6-8 0% returned
If a student withdraws during a four-week course:
Before or during Days 1-3  100% return
Day 5 75% returned
Day 6 70% returned
Day 7 65% returned
Day 8 60% returned (60% of the course is completed)
Day 9 55% returned
Day 10 50% returned
Day 11 45% returned
Day 12 40% returned
Day 13 0% returned