Terms and Conditions of Your Aid

• Financial aid requirements vary from student to student and program to program. Your unique requirements will display in the financial aid widget in SharkLink.
  
  
• Completing all requirements in SharkLink does not guarantee disbursement. Additional prerequisites apply (such as enrollment requirements, meeting SAP,  and more, as listed below).
  
  
• Florida State Scholarships and Grants: To receive a Florida Bright Futures, EASE Grant, or other state of Florida fund, students must prove Florida residency by submitting a NSU State Aid Application with supporting documentation when they first enroll.

NSU State Aid Application How to View Your Requirements  Reasons that prevent disbursement

Refer to the table below for minimum enrollment requirements by financial aid program: 

 *The grant amount is prorated when you enroll less than full time.

**Half-time enrollment is defined as 6 credits per semester for all undergraduate students. For graduate and first professional students, half-time status varies by program.

Note: Your enrollment status for financial aid purposes is assessed by the first week of the semester. 

This means you should register for all classes at the beginning of the first part of term if you are enrolling in a program with multiple parts of term. Changes in enrollment status after this period (e.g., during the second part-of-term drop/add period) will generally not increase your financial aid amount.    

Degree-Applicable Credits

Courses you enroll in must be required for degree completion. Consult Degree Works if you are not sure and learn more about degree-applicable vs. not degree-applicable coursework.

Degree Works 

• You must meet minimum standards defined as "Satisfactory Academic Progress - SAP" to receive financial aid.
  
  
• Different standards apply for federal and state aid.

If you do not meet SAP requirements each year, you will lose your financial aid.

Students' academic records are reviewed twice a year for SAP. If you are not meeting SAP requirements, you will be notified via your NSU email. Should extenuating circumstances have prevented you from making progress, you may file an appeal. You may view your annual SAP status in your online Financial Aid account, which you can access through SharkLink.

SharkLink SAP Requirements

If you have been awarded a Federal Direct Loan, such as a Subsidized, Unsubsidized, or a PLUS loan, you must meet the following requirements: 

• Be enrolled at least half time in degree-applicable coursework (see enrollment requirements above for more details). 

First-time borrowers must:

• Complete Entrance Counseling
  
  
• Complete a Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) if 

• • You have never signed a Direct Loan MPN.
  • You signed an MPN more than one year ago, but no loan was disbursed.
  • You signed an MPN more than 10 years ago.

Tips: The PLUS Loan MPN is separate from the one used for Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans. Parents must sign an MPN for each child for whom they are borrowing. 

Complete Loan Requirements How to View Requirements

• In accordance with NSU's Student Enrollment Agreement (SEA) and payment policy, by registering for classes, students agree to pay in full all sums assessed by NSU.
  
  
• Undergraduate institutional charges are due August 1 for the fall semester and December 1 for the winter semester.
  
  

• For graduate students, payment is due in full at the time of registration. 
  
  
• View your balance, submit payment, or enroll in an NSU payment plan in NSU eBill.

About Scholarships

• Scholarships generally do not need to be repaid. Exception: Bright Futures funding must be returned if you drop or withdraw from classes any time during the semester.
  
  
• You must meet minimum enrollment, SAP, GPA, and other requirements.
  
  
• Your scholarship may be forfeited if you are deemed ineligible, even after initial disbursement. 

Institutional Undergraduate Scholarships

• Recipients of first-year scholarships are notified of their award(s) by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
• available for four academic years (eight consecutive fall/winter semesters) or such shorter time required to complete the baccalaureate degree from the date of the student’s first enrollment.
• Graduate and/or professional coursework is not covered. Fischler Academy Scholarship recipients are granted a tuition discount to complete their master's degree in their fourth year. 
• applied to tuition only, unless noted otherwise. If tuition awards in excess of tuition charges are received—either from institutional or external sources—the university will reduce institutional award(s) accordingly.   
• Students must meet all scholarship requirements, including any required grade point average (GPA) and enrollment/course-load requirements.  
• Students who no longer meet eligibility requirements will have their Institutional scholarships canceled. 

State of Florida Scholarship - Bright Futures

• Students who are required to repay Bright Futures funds because they dropped or withdrew from classes will not be eligible for other Florida state financial aid until the Bright Futures funds have been fully repaid.

• Florida Bright Futures funds are available for the fall, winter, and summer semesters to undergraduate students enrolled in a minimum of 6 credits. To apply for summer aid, complete a Request for Summer Aid form.

Bright Futures Request for Summer Aid

About Grants

• Grants generally do not need to be repaid. There are however some exceptions. For example, if you withdraw before the end of the semester/term you may need to repay your grant or a portion thereof. If you are a TEACH Grant recipient, you will have to repay the grant if you do not complete the associated service obligation.  
  
  
• Grants are primarily available to undergraduate students. The Federal TEACH Grant is available to both undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in a TEACH Grant-eligible program.
  
  
• Minimum enrollment and SAP requirements apply (see Your Responsibilities section above). 

Federal Grants

• Federal Pell Grant
  Pell Grant recipients are eligible for a maximum award duration of 12 full-time semesters (or the part-time equivalent), including the summer semester. To track your lifetime eligibility, log into studentaid.gov. If you have been awarded a Pell Grant, the initial award amount is based on full-time enrollment in degree-applicable coursework and prorated for less than full-time enrollment. 
• Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
  Funding for the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is limited. It is awarded for the fall and winter semester to Pell Grant-eligible undergraduate students based on the date of their FAFSA submission and exceptional financial need. 

• Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant
  To be eligible for a TEACH Grant, you must be enrolled in a TEACH Grant-eligible program. You must also sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve in which you agree to (among other requirements) teach

  • in a federally defined "high-need field"
  • at an elementary school, secondary school, or educational service agency that serves students from low-income families
  • for at least four complete academic years within eight years after completing or ceasing enrollment in the course of study for which you received the grant.

Undergraduate Grants Graduate Grants

Florida Grants and Scholarships 

• Available to Florida residents only.
   
• A completed NSU State Aid Application must be on file for funds to disburse.
  
  

Florida Grants NSU State Aid Application

About Federal Work-Study (FWS)

• The FWS amount on your award offer indicates how much you can earn under the FWS program. These funds do not count toward your tuition. You must apply for and obtain a job. The money you earn will be paid directly to you through payroll.
  
  
• For instructions on how to apply, visit the Student Employment website.

• If you have not been awarded FWS but would like to be considered, complete a FWS Request Form.

TIP: If you are not eligible for FWS, you may look for on-campus employment opportunities under the Nova Southeastern University Student Employment Program (NSE).

Student Employment FWS Request Form

About Loans

• Loans are a major source of funding for many students; however, it is important to keep in mind that every dollar you borrow must be repaid with interest.
  
  
• Loans are available from federal and private sources. Generally, federal student loans offer students and parents more favorable conditions than private loans.
  
  
• You can reduce the loan amount offered. Calculate how much money you will need before accepting the full amount.
  
  
• Discover budgeting tips and how to minimize debt by making interest payments while in school on our NSU Debt Squad webpages. 
    
• First-time borrowers must complete a Master Promissory Note and entrance counseling at studentaid.gov.
  

Discover Debt Management Tips Complete Loan Requirements

Federal Loans 

• Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans

  For Subsidized Loans, the federal government pays the interest while you are enrolled at least half-time in degree-applicable coursework, for the first six months after you leave school (referred to as a "grace period"), and while the loan is in deferment (a postponement of loan payments). For Unsubsidized Loans, you are responsible for paying the interest during all periods.

• Federal Direct PLUS Loans
  PLUS Loans are federal loans that creditworthy graduate students and parents of dependent undergraduate students may use to supplement their financial aid package. Students of parents denied a Parent PLUS Loan will be offered additional unsubsidized loan funds. 

 Apply for a PLUS Loan

Origination Fees will be deducted from the gross amounts listed on your offer prior to disbursement. Loan fees are published on each respective Federal Direct Loan web page of the NSU financial aid website.

 Loans for Undergraduates Loans for Graduate/Professional Students

Borrowing Limits

Keep in mind that the amounts you can borrow are capped at the life-time maximums listed below:

*Graduate students are no longer eligible for subsidized loans. They may, however, have subsidized balances from borrowing prior to July 1, 2012.

Check My Borrowing History Independent vs. Dependent Student Definition

Private Loans

• Alternative (private) education loans provide additional financing options. Borrowing a private loan is a personal decision, based on your unique situation. Students and families are encouraged to do their own research. NSU does not endorse or recommend any specific lenders.  

Financial aid will be credited to your student account at the beginning of each semester/term, provided you have submitted all required information and meet all financial aid basic eligibility criteria. You can view your payment schedule for each semester along with expected dates and amounts in your financial aid account via SharkLink (offer tab).

• Loans are scheduled to disburse seven days prior to the beginning of the semester/term.
  
  
• Institutional scholarships, federal grants, and state grants/scholarships are scheduled to disburse by the start of classes, or, if your program has an add/drop period, after that period. 

Basic Financial Aid Eligibility Reasons that Prevent Disbursement SharkLink

Making $ense of it All

NSU eBill displays the difference between your estimated institutional costs and your estimated financial aid:

Shortage of funds

Many students and families use other resources in addition to the financial aid included in their initial financial aid award offer to fund their education. These resources may include personal savings, scholarships, Florida Prepaid funds, part-time employment, PLUS Loans, and NSU payment plans. 

Excess of fund

If the total amount of your award exceeds your institutional charges, you may receive a financial aid refund. To ensure quick and safe delivery, sign up for direct deposit to your checking account. 

Financial Aid Refund Direct Deposit 

Terminology

BAPP

Cost of Attendance: View a breakdown of your program's Cost of Attendance (COA) on your program's tuition and fees webpage. The COA is comprised of direct costs due to the university, such as tuition and fees, and indirect costs, such as expenses for books and supplies.
COA  

NSU Student Health Insurance: NSU students are required to maintain health insurance, and the cost for the NSU Student Health Insurance Plan is added to students' accounts upon registration. Students are not required to purchase NSU’s Student Health insurance plan, if insured under another health insurance provider. However, you must complete an online waiver to avoid being enrolled in, and charged for, NSU’s insurance plan. 

Student Health Insurance

NSU eBill: Students and authorized users have 24/7 access to NSU eBill which displays all semester charges, payments,  payment plan installments, and financial aid credits. 
NSU eBill

Holds: If an outstanding balance remains on your student account at the start of the semester/term, the Office of the University Bursar will place a hold along with a $100 late fee on your account on the 30^th day of the semester/term. Until the balance is paid in full, this hold will prevent you from registering for classes and taking advantage of other university services, including, but not limited to, access to the Don Taft University Center RecPlex. 

Holds

Withdrawing from the University

Financial aid recipients who withdraw from NSU for any reason must notify the Office of Financial Aid. Financial aid awards may be adjusted, and you may be required to repay a prorated amount of the funds advanced to you for the semester/term from which you withdrew. You will be notified by the Office of the University Bursar of any balances owed to NSU. If you are entitled to a refund of tuition and fees, the refund will first be applied to any financial aid you have been awarded. Any excess funds will be disbursed to you after all balances owed to NSU have been satisfied.

Tuition Refund Financial Aid Refund

Returning Financial Aid (Return of Title IV Funds)
Any student who completely withdraws from all Title IV funds-eligible courses within an academic semester/term for which financial aid is received, or could have been received, may be required to return all or a portion of the financial aid awarded. Federal Return of Title IV Funds regulations are based on the premise that students "earn" financial aid for each calendar day that they attend classes. Students who complete more than 60 percent of the semester/term are considered to have earned 100 percent of their financial aid. 

Return of Title IV

Stop Before You Drop - SAP Implications
Students receiving federal and state financial aid should consult a financial aid counselor before dropping or withdrawing from courses to ensure compliance with federal and state Standards of Academic Progress (SAP) for continued financial aid eligibility.

How dropping can affect your aid

Verification

If your financial aid file is selected for verification, you must submit all required verification documents requested by the Office of Financial Aid. Any discrepancy in the information you provide may cause your award amount(s) to change. You must submit all required documents no later than four weeks prior to the end of the enrollment period for the semester/term in which you are requesting aid. Failure to complete verification by this deadline may result in your ineligibility for aid or cancellation of aid previously offered. 

Verification

Significant Change in Income/Expenses (Professional Judgment)

The Office of Financial Aid may use Professional Judgment (PJ) to consider special and/or unusual circumstances to make adjustments to (1) certain components of the Student Aid Index (SAI), (2) the Cost of Attendance (COA) budget, and/or (3) a student's dependency status, as determined by federal financial aid guidelines. Special modifications to SAI and COA of regulatory provisions may also be made for students who are military personnel. For more information on Professional Judgment (PJ), including instructions on how to submit a request, students should review the

Professional Judgment Request Form

Repeating Courses

You can only receive Title IV financial aid once for a course you already passed. The Office of Financial Aid does not determine if you can repeat a class. This is determined by your academic program's policy regarding repeat coursework or grade forgiveness. The financial aid office only regulates the repeat course policy for financial aid purposes. Repeating a course also affects Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) calculations. Repeated courses are counted as attempted credits.

Repeat Course Policy For Financial Aid

1. Think SharkLink for real-time financial status.

• Your financial aid widget displays your award offer and if you have outstanding requirements.
• Complete outstanding requirements promptly. Aid will not disburse unless all requirements are complete.
• Your student account widget shows your current total balance.

2.  Monitor NSU eBill for your amount due including estimated financial aid.

• Once you register, institutional charges will display in NSU eBill along with your estimated financial aid.
• If you have your own health insurance, you must waive out of the NSU plan by your program's deadline to have the student health insurance charge reversed.

NSU eBill Health Insurance Waiver

 3.  Be mindful of payment deadlines

• Undergraduate institutional charges are due August 1 for the fall semester and December 1 for the winter semester. Failure to meet financial obligations by the payment deadline will result in the cancellation of class registration on the first day of the semester.
• For graduate students, payment is due in full at the time of registration. 
• Accounts with balances on the 30th day of the semester will be assessed a $100 late fee and a hold.