Frequently Asked Questions
The financial aid process is similar for both graduate and undergraduate students. Unless otherwise indicated, the response is applicable to all NUHS students applying for financial aid. Specific information on how to apply for aid is found in the "Getting Started" section of each academic program. The answers below reference general financial aid information that will answer most students' questions.
What is the tuition cost at
NUHS?
Tuition costs for the next academic year are determined each May.
Current year tuition rates are located in the NUHS Bulletin and in
the "Cost Estimates" section of each program.
How do I apply for financial
aid?
Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA). National University of Health
Science's school code is 001732. Call the Federal Processor at
800-433-3243 if you have difficulty accessing the FAFSA or
completing the form.
How do I obtain a PIN if I never had one or forgot
mine?
Go to www.pin.ed.gov and request one. If
you have an email address they will email you the PIN, usually
within 24 hours.
I will be taking Prerequisite Program courses at
NUHS before enrolling in a graduate program. How do I fill out the
FAFSA?
Since Prerequisite Program courses are at undergraduate level, you
must complete the FAFSA as if you are applying for undergraduate
aid. This means you must: (1) indicate you are at the 5th year
undergraduate level; (2) indicate enrolling in a non-degree
program; and (3) indicate enrollment in an undergraduate program.
These data elements are updated to graduate responses prior to
enrollment in a graduate program.
What else will I need to turn in to the Office of
Financial Aid?
You will be contacted via email if any additional information is
needed from you to determine an award package for the year.
Depending on the results of your FAFSA, you may be asked to submit
a copy of your Social Security card, proof of birth date,
confirmation of citizenship, or financial information. Please
submit the requested documents as soon as possible.
I was selected for "verification." What does that
mean?
If you were selected for "verification," you will receive
notification from the Office of Financial Aid requesting certain
documents to verify that the data reported on your FAFSA was
correct. These documents might include, but are not limited to,
federal tax returns, W-2, a verification worksheet, and proof of
citizenship. Once your file has been verified the Office of
Financial Aid will notify you of your financial aid
eligibility.
Students selected for verification must submit requested documents in the timeframe specified in order to receive a financial aid Award Letter. Eligible applicants who fail to provide requested documents by the last date of enrollment or August 20 of any award year (e.g., August 20, 2012 for the 2011-2012 year) will be ineligible to receive federal financial aid.
Why do I have to include my spouse's information
on the FAFSA?
The government requires your spouse's information be completed
when determining your financial aid eligibility. They are not
stating that your spouse must pay for your education; they are
merely stating that they must use your spouses's financial data in
determining your eligibility for federal funds.
How long will the verification process
take?
Generally, the verification process will be
complete within one week of the documents being turned in to the
office.
What if something is discovered to be incorrect on
my FAFSA during the verification
process?
If something is incorrect on your FAFSA, the Office of Financial
Aid will correct it and send any change(s) electronically to the
Federal Processor. If any changes are made, you will receive a new
student aid report from the processor indicating those changes.
How will I know that the verification process has
been completed?
You will receive an award notification from the Office of
Financial Aid indicating your eligibility for financial aid.
When will I receive an award
notification?
The Award Letters are sent out starting two months
prior to the beginning of your first trimester. If you have not
received your award notification prior to the beginning of the
trimester, please contact the Office of Financial Aid to make
certain they have received your student aid report, and have been
notified that you have been admitted to the university.
How much is allowed for living
expenses?
The living expense amount is based on where you
are living for the year. Whether living on-campus, off-campus or at
home with parents/relatives, this is a fixed amount allocated for
living expenses that needs to be carefully budgeted for the year.
This includes allowances for rent, utilities, food, transportation,
and personal expenses. Financial aid funds are to be used solely
for educational expenses. In no circumstances will non-educational
expenses be included in the Cost of Attendance. These expenses
include items such as car payments, credit card payments,
recreation, higher than normal rent/mortgage, spousal insurance,
moving expenses, and security deposits. Living allowance
information is listed in the "Cost Estimates" section in each
program.
What do I do with my award letter when I receive
it?
You must sign one copy of your award letter, indicate any awards
you wish to reject or decrease, and return it to the NUHS Office of
Financial Aid. (Keep one copy for your own records). Specific
instructions for receiving the funds will be included in the
mailing you receive.
Will I receive enough funds to cover the cost of
education?
Undergraduate students are eligible for a
variety of federal aid sources. Individual eligibility is based on
demonstrated financial need (through submission of the FAFSA).
Students may receive a Pell Grant, a Federal Supplemental
Opportunity Grant, and Illinois residents may receive the Monetary
Award Program (MAP) Grant. Additionally, since undergraduate
courses are held in the evening, most students maintain part-time
employment to assist with their educational costs. In addition to
personal and family resources, undergraduate students may borrow
from non-federal, private loan programs. These loans are
credit-based and may require a co-signer.
Parents of undergraduate dependent students may borrow from the Parent PLUS loan, a low-cost, credit-based loan available through the Federal Direct Parent PLUS program. Interested parents should contact the Office of Financial Aid for further information.
Graduate students are generally able to
borrow the estimated Cost of Education through the Direct Loan (not
credit-based) and/or Graduate PLUS (credit-based) loan
programs.
Degree seeking students may also work on campus under the Federal College Work Study program to help meet their expenses and to reduce the amount of loan.
How do I get my loan funds?
After completing all required steps to obtain loan
funds, the Federal Direct Loan funds (DL) are transferred
electronically to the Office of Financial Services at NUHS at the
start of each trimester. Prior to releasing funds to your account,
your enrollment status will be reviewed and your financial aid may
be reduced if any changes in enrollment reduce the budget on which
aid is based.
How long will it take for my loan funds to
arrive?
After confirming that all required forms were
received, and enrollment status verified, your loan funds should
arrive the second week of class.
How do I purchase my
books?
Refund checks are available during the second week of the
trimester, and therefore, students must arrange for purchase of
books and supplies from other sources. We do not have a bookstore
voucher system or other method of providing funds prior to the
second week of the trimester.
How will I know that the funds were applied to my
account?
The Office of Financial Services sends an email when the funds are
applied to your account indicating the amount and source of the
loan. That email also indicates the approximate date you may pick
up a refund check from the Cashier's office.
Can I have my refund check direct deposited to my
checking account?
The Office of Student Accounts is not set up to do that right now.
Refund checks are picked up from the Cashier or you may request to
have it mailed to you instead.
What if I decide I don't need to borrow as much as
I did?
You have the right to decrease your loan amount at
any time throughout the period of your loan. You can decrease the
amount you wish to receive on your Award Letter; or after funds
have been disbursed to your account, you may write a check for the
amount you wish to return and drop it off at the Office of
Financial Aid. Sometimes it's difficult to know just how large a
refund you will receive until after the university bill is paid,
and it's OK to return a refund check rather than cash it.
What happens if I reduce the number of classes I
take in a trimester?
Tuition paid from Federal Direct loan proceeds will be returned to
the U.S. Treasury due to a reduced course load. In addition, you
could lose your financial aid eligibility. Courses dropped during a
term are counted as "attempted" and may affect your Satisfactory
Academic Progress status. If you intend to enroll as anything other
than at least half-time student status, please consult with the
Office of Financial Aid.
What if I
withdraw?
Always consult the Office of Financial Aid before making a
decision to withdraw. The government has very specific guidelines
to be followed in the case of withdrawal from classes. It is
possible you could end up owing the government a refund of funds
already paid out to you, and you could lose future financial aid
eligibility until the overpayment is resolved.
What happens if I don't pass my
classes?
If you do not meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress guidelines
stated in the NUHS Bulletin, your aid disbursement may be held.
Pursuant to government regulations, a student must be maintaining
the minimum GPA published in the NUHS Bulletin, which is 2.0, and
must pass a certain percentage of classes they have attempted. It
is possible your financial aid disbursement will be held until you
are in good academic standing with the university.
What is FERPA?
FERPA is the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act. This ensures
that you are entitled to privacy in regards to your financial aid
file. This means that if you are an independent student (per FAFSA
definition), your file cannot be discussed with your parent unless
you have provided the Office of Financial Aid with written
permission to do so. If parent(s) were required to provide their
information on the FAFSA, the file can be discussed with them.
How do I get a copy of the Campus Safety &
Security Report?
The most current Campus Safety & Security Report is available online, published in the NUHS
Bulletin, and available as a hard copy in the Office of Student
Services.
Any other questions?
Contact the Office of Financial Aid at 630-889-6518 or financialaid@nuhs.edu
.
