Prerequisite Program

Types of Federal Loan Programs

Federal Direct Subsidized Loan - Learn more »
A need-based loan where the government pays the interest while the student is attending school on at least a half-time basis, and during the 6 month after school grace period. A loan fee of approximately 1% will be deducted from the loan prior to disbursement. Interest begins to accrue after the end of the grace period and throughout repayment (view interest rate chart).  These funds must be repaid. 

First-time borrowers after July 1, 2013 are subject to new limitations on the length of time for the Subsidized Direct Loan.  These borrowers are subject to maximum eligibility time limitations equating to 150% of the published length of the student's program. For details, please review the Federal Student Aid publication on this new regulation.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan - Learn more »
A non-need based loan where the student is responsible for all interest which accrues from the day of disbursement (view interest rate chart). A loan fee of approximately 1% will be deducted from the loan prior to disbursement. Repayment begins 6 months after graduation. These funds must be repaid. 

Parent PLUS Loan - Learn more »
A credit-based, non-need loan applied for by the parent of a dependent student. Interest accrues from the day of disbursement (view interest rate chart). A loan fee of approximately 4% will be deducted from the loan prior to disbursement. The maximum amount cannot exceed the approved cost of education (including all other aid) for the loan period. Repayment begins 60 days following disbursement. See the Parent PLUS Authorization Form for eligibility criteria and instructions on completing the application process.

More Information

View the current federal loan interest rates »

Most loan and scholarship programs require students to maintain standards of satisfactory academic progress. 

Allowable Loan Maximums - Prerequisite Program

Note: Students in the Prerequisite Program may only receive federal loans for two trimesters. (Each academic year is two trimesters.)

How to Start

Finding financial aid begins with filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. Which FAFSA should you complete?

• Enrolling in Fall 2010, Spring 2011 or Summer 2011? Complete the 2010-2011 FAFSA.
• Enrolling in Fall 2011, Spring 2012, or Summer 2012? Complete the 2011-2012 FAFSA.

What is the FAFSA?

The FAFSA determines a student's eligibility for grants and loans. Prerequisite students are only eligible for Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loan(s) and may also qualify for Federal College Work Study funds for on-campus employment.

How to File a FAFSA

The application can be completed at www.fafsa.ed.gov. National University of Health Sciences' school code is 001732. 

Prerequisite Program students are classified as undergraduate at the 5th year grade level. If you have already submitted the FAFSA or are completing the FAFSA for the first time, the follow must be updated and entered into 2010-2011 FAFSA numbers:

• Q. 28: Enter 5 for 5th year/other undergraduate.
• Q. 29: Enter 7 for non-degree program.
• Q. 48: Enter NO because the Prerequisite Program is undergraduate.

When you enter a professional program these data items need to be updated to the appropriate graduate responses for the term you enter a professional program at NUHS.

FAFSA PIN

The PIN allows students and parents to electronically sign the FAFSA and Master Promissory notes and complete Entrance Counseling for the Federal Direct loans. You can apply at the Department of Education's PIN site, www.pin.ed.gov. The PIN also allows students to access information to track their student loans at www.nslds.ed.gov.

Verification

Sometimes additional information will be requested by the Office of Financial Aid prior to determining a final award offer. You will be contacted via email when additional documents or information are required. This may include, but is not limited to, the following items:

• Signed and dated copy of federal income tax return from you and/or your parents (including W-2 statements)
• Completed Verification Form
• Signed statement listing your taxable income if you did not file a return
• Detailed summary of you and/or your parents' assets, including all liquid and non-liquid resources

Qualifications to Receive 50% Tuition Discount as a Prerequisite Student

• Accepted to take Prerequisite courses.
• Apply for admission into the Doctor of Chiropractic or Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree programs.
• Register for courses listed in your admissions letter.
• Only courses listed in your admissions letter will be included for tuition discount eligibility (though you  may register for additional courses).

Qualifications to Receive Federals Loans as a Prerequisite Student

• Accepted to take Prerequisite courses.
• Apply for admission into the Doctor of Chiropractic or Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree programs.
• Register for courses required by Office of Admissions for acceptance into the DC or ND program. The courses must total a minimum of 6 credit hours for the trimester(s) enrolled, or 3 credit hours per each mini-term within a trimester, depending on when the course is taught.
• Only courses listed in your admissions letter will be included for federal loan eligibility (though you may register for additional courses).
• Loan funds will be approved only for 2 trimesters, or four mini-terms, as a Prerequisite student. 

Eligibility 

The U.S. Department of Education has established certain base eligibility requirements in order to receive federal financial aid. Individual scholarship, grant, work study, and loan programs may have additional eligibility requirements.

To qualify for most types of aid, you must:

• Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate.
• Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a student pursuing a degree or certificate. (Please note that students in the Chiropractic Assistant program are not eligible for financial aid.)
• Be enrolled half-time or more credit hours each term, for most types of aid.
• Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or an eligible noncitizen.
  • An eligible noncitizen is defined as a U.S. permanent resident who has an Alien Registration Card (I-151, I-551, or I-551C). If you have an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) showing "Refugee," "Asylum Granted," "Indefinite Parole," "Humanitarian Parole," "Cuban-Haitian Entrant," "Status Pending," or "Conditional Entrant" (valid only if issued before April 1, 1980), you are also eligible for aid. 
  • If you hold only a Notice of Approval to Apply for Permanent Residence (I-171 or I-464), you are not eligible for federal aid.
  • If you are in the United States on an F1 or F2 student visa or a J1 or J2 exchange visitor visa, you are also not eligible for federal aid.
  • While students who are not U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or eligible noncitizens are not eligible for federal financial aid, they may be eligible for certain private loans with a U.S. citizen as a cosigner.
• Have a valid Social Security Number.
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), as defined by NUHS, towards the completion of your degree or certificate.
• Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and sign the statement certifying that you will use federal student aid only for educational purposes.
• Register with selective service, if required.
  • The requirement to register applies to males who were born on or after January 1, 1960, are at least 18 years old, are citizens or eligible noncitizens, and are not currently on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces. 
  • Citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, or Palau are exempt from registering.
• Not be in default on a federal student loan and not owe money back on a federal student grant
• Not have your Title IV eligibility suspended due to a federal or state drug conviction.

• Completed the FAFSA for the term(s) enrolled.