FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY

Students may receive financial aid if they qualify for federal, state, private and institutional eligibility criteria. Students must be in good academic standing with the institution and meet qualitative and quantitative measurements. Some of the federal eligibility criteria are U.S. citizenship, not in default of loans, Social Security Administration match, Selective Service enrollment and credit rating (if applicable).

Students are eligible for financial aid during those terms in which they are enrolled at least half-time in credit hours, as determined by the Registrar's Office. There may be limited private loans
if the student is enrolled below half-time credit hours.

ENROLLMENT STATUS DEFINITIONS

The enrollment status of Northwestern students is defined according to the credit loads shown in the following table:

Financial assistance will be adjusted for each trimester of enrollment according to the student's enrollment status and the regulations that govern each program.

FINANCIAL AID AND SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS

The Higher Education Amendments that govern Title IV Financial Assistance Programs state that "a student shall be entitled to receive federal student assistance benefits only if that student is maintaining progress in the course of study he/she is pursuing, according to the standards and practices of the institution." Northwestern's Policy of Satisfactory Academic Progress requires a student to meet both a Scholastic Standard (qualitative-grade requirement), and a Program Standard (quantitative-work completed). Supportive services are available at Northwestern to help ensure scholastic success. Information about these services is available in the Student Counseling Center. An aid-recipient's Satisfactory Academic Progress will be monitored at the end of each grading period to establish the student's eligibility to continue receiving financial aid.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for Receiving Financial Aid in Programs Offered at Northwestern:

Doctor of Chiropractic; B.S. degree in Human Biology; Undergraduate Studies Program (graduate/professional preparatory) — undergraduate course work required to complete the dual degree of doctor of chiropractic and bachelor of science in human biology:

• Maintaining a minimum grade point average (G.P.A.) on all work attempted or academic standing consistent with graduation requirements; that is, to be making satisfactory progress toward a doctor of chiropractic degree and a bachelor of science degree in human biology.

• Completing the minimum trimester status requirements for which assistance was received. Satisfactory progress is evaluated at the conclusion of each academic trimester.

• A student taking professional preparatory course work can receive federal aid for 12 months or three consecutive trimesters.  

Master's of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

• Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (G.P.A.) of 2.00 (C) or better. Satisfactory progress is evaluated at the conclusion of each academic trimester.

School of Massage Therapy

• Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (G.P.A.) of 2.00 (C) or better. Satisfactory progress is evaluated at the conclusion of each academic trimester.

• When you receive financial aid, you are subject to the 150 percent rule. This means that if you attempt more than 150 percent of the credit hours needed to graduate from the program, you will not be eligible to continue to receive financial aid. The number of credit hours needed to complete the program is 40 and 150 percent of 40 credits is 60 credits.

FINANCIAL AID SUSPENSION AND APPEAL

Academic dismissal or financial aid suspension: If the student has incurred an academic deficiency (probation or dismissal) of the trimester just completed, the student will be sent a letter that their student's financial aid will be placed on hold/suspension until the student's academic record has been reviewed.

How to appeal: The student may make an appeal of the academic dismissal to the Academic Standards Committee.

FINANCIAL AID COUNSELING

Entrance and Exit Counseling are required for students who have or will obtain federal loans while attending Northwestern. Loan counseling is particularly important because new students often have little or no experience with repayment and managing their individual financial aid portfolio debt. Northwestern must conduct Entrance Counseling before releasing the first disbursement of Stafford and Perkins Loans. The emphasis for Exit Counseling shifts to more specific information about loan repayment and debt management which includes Stafford and Perkins Loans. Midstream Counseling is also available at any time while the student is enrolled at Northwestern.

Students may access information on their federal aid debt history at www.nslds.ed.gov.

Contact the Financial Services Office for more information at (952) 888-4777, ext. 387.

OTHER FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION

• NWHSU Withdrawal Policy
• Return of Title IV Funds Policy
• NWHSU Refund Policy