Traditional Undergraduate Financial Aid Information
For Frequently Asked Questions pertaining to the Professional Studies Program, click here.
What type of financial aid does Northwest Christian College offer?
Northwest Christian College offers several types of financial aid that are available on the basis of merit, need, and athletic or musical abilities. Athletic scholarships are awarded for men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, women's softball and women's volleyball. Each athletic scholarship is determined by the respective coach. Music scholarships are awarded by the music department and require an audition. Need based scholarships are determined by the Office of Financial Aid and require the annual FAFSA
How do I apply for financial aid?
You need to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and you can do so at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. You will need a PIN number to sign your FAFSA, and you can get this at http://www.pin.ed.gov/. If you are a dependent student, your parent will also need a PIN number and will need to sign your FAFSA. All new undergraduate students in the 2008-2009 academic year should fill out the Merit Scholarship Worksheet to determine what level of merit they qualify for.
What is the FAFSA?
The FAFSA is the form that the U.S. Department of Education uses to determine your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and your eligibility for Federal Financial Aid. Northwest Christian College will use the information from the FAFSA to determine your eligibility for need based institutional aid.
What is the Expected Family Contribution?
The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is a figure determined by the U.S. Department of Education from your FAFSA information that signifies a families relative ability to pay for college. The EFC does not represent the amount that your family will have to pay for college in a given year, only the ability that a family could afford to pay as determined by the Federal Government.
I'm not going to qualify for financial aid. Do I still need to fill out a FAFSA?
Yes, you may fill out the FAFSA, however it is not required to receive merit based financial aid from Northwest Christian College. If you will not be filling out a FAFSA and intend to pay with your own means, please let the Financial Aid Office know.
Do I need to reapply for financial aid every year?
If you are planning on using financial aid for the upcoming year, then you must reapply by filling out a renewal FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The renewal FAFSA becomes available on January 1st of each year, and Northwest Christian College strongly encourages students to fill out the FAFSA as early in January as possible.
Can I still fill out a FAFSA even if my taxes are not done yet?
Yes, you may fill out the FAFSA using estimated amounts for what you earned in the previous calendar year. As soon as you complete your taxes you need to update your FAFSA with the current information.
Wouldn't it be better for me to fill out the FAFSA after I have completed my taxes?
Some scholarships require that you have filled out the FAFSA by a certain deadline, so Northwest Christian College recommends that you fill out the FAFSA as soon as you can to make sure that you are considered for every scholarship that you would qualify for. Also, there are some types of aid that are very limited and are given out on a first come first served basis. To make sure that you receive the maximum amount of aid that you can, it is in your best interests to fill the FAFSA out early.
If my parents do not support me do they still have to complete the parent section of the FAFSA?
Yes. You must include parent information on the FAFSA unless you are 24 years old, married, a graduate student, orphan or ward of the court, a veteran, or have dependents.
If my parents are separated or divorced, whose information should be used on the FAFSA?
Information should be given for the parent who has provided more than half of your support in the last 12 months. Typically this will be the parent that you are living with. If this parent has remarried, then be sure to include the income from both the parent and stepparent.
The FAFSA asks me for the school code. What is the school code?
The school code is how the U.S. Department of Education determines who to send your FAFSA information to. Northwest Christian College's school code is 003208.
How long will it take for Northwest Christian College to receive my FAFSA once it is complete?
If you file the FAFSA electronically, Northwest Christian College should receive it in 3-5 business days. If you fill out the paper FAFSA, NCC should receive it in 2-4 weeks.
I received a student aid report that says my FAFSA is incomplete. What do I do now?
You need to contact the U.S. Department of Education at 1-800-433-3243 to find out what it is that they need in order to complete your FAFSA.
I received a student aid report that says I have been selected for verification. What do I need to do?
You must submit the verification worksheet that will be mailed to you with a signed copy of your previous year's Federal Tax Forms (1040, 1040A, 1040EZ). If you are married, please be sure to include your spouse's information. If you are a dependent student, your parents must also sign the verification form and submit a signed copy of their taxes as well.
How do I complete verification if I or my parents were not required to file taxes?
You will need to complete the verification form and check the box that says you were not required to file taxes. You will also need to list what income you did earn for the previous calendar year.
When will I receive my award letter from Northwest Christian College?
The first awards will be sent out to incoming students in mid-to-late March, and will be sent out every two weeks thereafter. Awards are sent to incoming students through the mail as well as to the email address indicated on the FAFSA. Awards are sent to continuing students at the email address indicated on their FAFSA.
Can I use Direct Loans as my Stafford Loan Lender?
No. Northwest Christian College participates in the FFELP loan program, meaning that we use private lenders for your Stafford Loans.
What is the Parent PLUS loan that is on my award letter?
The Parent PLUS loan is a Federal loan that a parent of a dependent student can take on behalf of their child to help cover the cost of attendance. A parent must be approved for the loan based upon credit, and can take a loan for the difference between the cost of attendance and any other financial aid that their child is receiving. To apply for a Parent PLUS loan please print the Parent PLUS Loan Request Form, fill out the form and fax it back to the Financial Aid Office. For more information click here.
What happens if my financial aid is greater than the cost of attendance?
If you have more financial aid than your charges, the billing department will issue you a refund in the amount that your aid exceeds your charges. To find out when you will receive your refund and how much it will be, contact the Billing Department at 541-684-7213.
I plan on using Veterans Benefits to pay for my classes - will this affect my financial aid?
The total amount of financial aid cannot exceed the cost of attendance for a given year. Veterans Benefits must be counted as financial aid, and as such, may affect your eligibility amounts for other types of financial aid. Veterans benefits include money that is sent directly to Northwest Christian College to pay for your tuition, as well as money that is sent directly to the student on a monthly basis. If you are receiving Veterans Benefits, it is best to let the financial aid office know the type and amount of benefits that you expect to receive for the academic year as this will help to prevent an over-award. If a student is over-awarded, some funds may have to be returned to Northwest Christian College or the government to ensure that the total financial aid does not exceed the cost of attendance.
