FINANCIAL AID: Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is financial aid?
2. Where can I get information about Federal student financial aid?
3. Where can I get a copy of the FAFSA?
4. I'm not sure my family will have financial need. Should I complete the FAFSA?
5. My parents are divorced, and the parent I'm living with has remarried.
Does my stepparent have to report his or her income and assets on the FAFSA?
6. My parents are separated or divorced. Which parent fills out the FAFSA?
7. What is a Student Aid Report (SAR)?
8. What if my family has a special circumstance that will affect how much we can pay?
9. Do I have to apply for financial aid each year?
Financial aid is funding for your college education that comes from sources outside of your family. Gift aid and self-help aid are two categories of financial aid. Gift aid comes in the form of grants and scholarships and does not have to be repaid. Self-help comes in the form of loans and employment. Financial aid at NSU is awarded to students based on financial need. A student may have a combination of grants, loans, scholarships and employment for a financial aid award.
2. Where can I get information about Federal student financial aid?
Call the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) or 1-800-730-8913 (if hearing impaired) and ask for a free copy of "The Student Guide: Financial Aid from the US Department of Education". This toll free hotline is run by the US Department of Education and can answer questions about federal and state student aid programs and applications. You can also write to
Federal Student Aid Information Center
PO Box 84
Washington, DC 20044
3. Where can I get a copy of the FAFSA?
You can ask your guidance counselor for a copy or request a copy of the FAFSA from the NSU Financial Aid Office, or by calling 1-800-4-FED-AID.
4. I'm not sure my family will have financial need. Should I complete the FAFSA?
Yes. Financial aid is intended both to remove financial barriers for families who cannot afford the cost of an education beyond high school and to fill in the gap for families who can afford only part of the cost. Some loans and scholarships are available regardless of "need."
5. My parents are divorced, and the parent I'm living with has remarried. Does my stepparent have to report his or her income and assets on the FAFSA?
Yes, provided that the parent you're living with is the one filling out the FAFSA (your custodial parent). If your step-parent is married to them at the time you fill out the FAFSA, they must report their income and assets even if they weren't married to them in the previous year.
6. My parents are separated or divorced. Which parent fills out the FAFSA?
The parent you lived with most during the last 12 months. If you didn't live with either parent, or if you lived with each parent an equal number of days, use the parent who provided the most support to you during the last 12 months or during the most recent calendar year that you were actually supported by a parent.
7. What is a Student Aid Report (SAR)?
A Student Aid Report is the analysis of the data you reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The Student Aid Report has your calculated Expected Family Contribution (EFC) on it, and that number is used to determine your eligibility for financial aid.
You will receive your Student Aid Report shortly after filing the FAFSA. This will be sent to you electronically if you provided a current and valid email address on your FAFSA. A paper SAR will be mailed to students that do not provide a valid email address. Around the same time, Northern State University will receive an electronic version of this report from the federal processor, and once NSU receives this we can determine your financial aid award.
8. What if my family has a special circumstance that will affect how much we can pay?
Students who have special circumstances (such as a job loss or high medical expenses) should contact the NSU Financial Aid Office. We review each case here at NSU to see if any adjustments can be made to improve your eligibility.
9. Do I have to apply for financial aid each year?
Yes. Your financial situation must be reassessed each year. However, after the first year you apply for financial aid, you may complete the Renewal FAFSA On The Web. If you have not previously applied online and prefer to complete a paper FAFSA, you should stop by the Financial Aid Office to pick up a paper FAFSA to complete and mail to the federal processor.
finaid@northern.edu • 1200 S. Jay Street, Aberdeen, South Dakota 57401 • 1-800-NSU-5330