Frequently Asked Questions

●   How do I register for an online course?

For step-by-step instructions on how to register for an online course, click here if you are a degree seeking student. Click here if you are a non-degree seeking student.

●   What is the cost of an online course?

Tuition rates and other costs are approved by the South Dakota Board of Regents and may be revised during the year when there are circumstances beyond the control of the university.  After a student receives a "Student ID #", he/she will have access to his/her account balance (including financial aid amounts) through  WebAdvisor.

For current tuition costs and payment options, click here. 

●   What do I need to consider when using financial aid for an online course?

 To be eligible for financial aid, you need to be a degree-seeking student and registered for at least six credits. 

If you are receiving federal financial aid (Pell Grant, SEOG, Work Study, Perkins Loan, PLUS Loan, and/or Stafford (Subsidized or Unsubsidized) Loan, you must complete the course within the term specified for your online course.  Your cost of attendance - for calculating your financial need - will include only tuition, fees, and books (excluded are room and board, personal, and transportation expenses).

If you have any questions regarding these policies, please contact the Financial Aid Office at:

Dacotah Hall - Room 101
(605) 626-2640
finaid@northern.edu

Click Here to visit the Financial Aid page

●   What financial options do I have if I am a veteran or currently serving in the military?

Click Here for Veteran/Military Financial Aid options

●   What are the Drop & Refund policies for an online course?

 Students who wish to drop an online course may do so by contacting the Office of Extended Studies at online@northern.edu or by calling (605) 626-2568. You may also access Web Advisor and drop the class.

Students can receive a full refund if their online course is dropped by the Census Date (10% of the course length).

Spring 2011 Semester

16-Week Course: January 21, 2011 (drop date for 100% refund)

From the day following the census date of your course(s) - until 70% of the course length has passed - you may withdraw from your course and receive a "W" grade.  You will not receive a refund at this point.  You may not withdraw from your course after 70% of the course length has passed.

If you do not complete the course, a grade of "U" or "F" (depending on the instructor's grading system) will be recorded on your transcript.

If for any reason an online course is cancelled by the Office of Extended Studies, the student will receive a 100% refund.

Additional Refund Policies

Students who withdraw, drop out, or are expelled from the university after 60% point of the enrollment period will not receive a refund of tuition and related fees.

Students who withdraw, drop out, or are expelled from the university after the Add/Drop period, but before the 60% point of the enrollment period, may be entitled to a refund.  The amount of the refund varies depending on the exact date of withdrawal and Federal Title IV financial aid involvement.

Students Who Receive Federal Title IV Financial Aid

The U.S. Department of Education requires institutions to apply the Return of Title IV Funds policy for students withdrawing from a university who receive Title IV financial aid programs: Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans, Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans, Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS), Federal Perkins Loans, Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, and other Title IV assistance.

A student who withdraws after the 60% point of a semester is entitled to retain all Title IV aid for that semester.  However, if the students withdraws prior to the 60% point of the term, unearned Title IV funds as determined by the federal policy must be returned to the various programs.  These funds must be returned even if the University provides no refund to the student.  This means the student could owe the University and/or the U.S. Department of Education a significant amount of money.

Title IV financial aid is earned by the calendar day, not the class day.  This includes weekends, holidays, and breaks of less than five consecutive days.  The university is required to determine the amount of the Title IV aid the withdrawing student has earned and then either disburse any additional funds to the student that he/she may be entitled to up to the amount earned, or return funds in excess of the amount earned which the student has already received.  If an amount to be returned to a federal program is determined, then a further calculation is made to determine how much of the amount needs to be returned by the University and how much, if any, needs to be returned by the student. 

The amount to be returned is distributed in the following specified order:

Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
Subsidized Stafford Loan
Perkins Loan
PLUS Loan
Pell Grant
SEOG
Other Title IV Assistance
Other Federal, State, Institutional and Private Aid
The Student

Any grant amount that is to be returned by the student will be reduced by 50% under the regulations.  This provision does not apply to grant funds that must be returned by the University.  The University  has specified timeframes within which to disburse additional funds, return excess funds, and to contact and advise the student of what is occuring and of any needed actions on the student's part.

The University strongly encourages students and parents to consult with the Financial Aid Office and/or Finance Office to determine the financial impact of withdrawing before making a final decision.

Waivers to Refund Policy

The president of the University, or a designee, may extend or waive the time periods above for any of the following circumstances:

*  The death of the student
*  The student's disabling condition or severe illness
*  The death, disability, or severe illness of an immediate family member causing
    severe financial hardship
*  Other extenuating circumstances beyond the student's control 

●   Is there a special Drop & Refund policy for individuals activated for military service?

 Students required to withdraw from the University before completing a semester may receive credit or refund privileges if they are regularly enrolled and belong to a military unit called for duty or are drafted and not eligible for deferment, and, the discontinuance of class attendance is on the last practicable day before reporting for duty as determined by the University.

Eligible students who are required to report for military duty not earlier than four calendar weeks prior to the date a semester ends as stated in the official catalog of the University, or after completion of at least 75% of the enrollment period in a non-standard semester course, may, when authorized by the instructor, be given full credit for all courses for which they have an average of "C" or better.  Eligible students who receive credit or an incomplete for any course for which they are enrolled shall not be entitled to any refund of tuition or fees paid.  Eligible students who do not receive an incomplete or credit for a course in which they are enrolled shall be entitled to a full refund or tuition and academic fees.

●   Are there placement requirements for taking an online English or Math course?

Students who have not completed the equivalent of ENGL 101 (Composition I and/or MATH 102 (College Algebra) are subject to placement requirements for first-time students based on the availability of valid ACT scores.

Those students without valid ACT scores may take the appropriate COMPASS placement exam at any one of the six South Dakota regental universities or county extension offices.  Their scores will be sent to the institution offering the distance education course.

●   Is there a maximum number of credits I can take online?

The total enrollment of online (for-credit) courses shall not exceed the maximum number of hours for an academic load as specified in the Northern State Univerity catalog.

An overload petition must be completed and approved if you wish to take more than the allowed number of credits.  It is the student's responsibility to get an overload petition from the Registrar's Office and obtain the correct signatures.  This petition should then be submitted to the Office of Extended Studies along with your registration form.

Students may register on a non-credit basis.  The tuition and fees are the same, but no grade will be submitted at the completion of the course.  The course will be entered on the transcript and designated as an audit (AU). 

●   If I need extra time to complete my online course, can I receive an extension?

Students must request a course extension from their instructor.  When requesting an extension, the student should present (to his/her instructor) a "game plan" detailing how the student will complete the remaining course work - and the final date that work will be completed.  The instructor has the authority to accept or deny a student's request for an extension. 

●   What is Desire 2 Learn? 

Click Here for Desire 2 Learn tutorials