Financial Aid

Through the use of financial aid, many students are able to attend Northland College at costs much less than they may expect. The Financial Aid Office strongly encourages all students and families to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) electronically at fafsa.ed.gov. March 15th is the priority deadline for the FAFSA. Filing prior to this date ensures consideration for all applicable forms of financial aid. Various federal, state, and Northland aid programs can be combined to help remove financial barriers to enrollment at Northland.

Requirements for Consideration

Full-time student eligibility

Federal, state, and Northland College financial aid regulations require a full-time student to be enrolled in at least 12 credits in each of the fall and winter sessions and to maintain satisfactory academic progress.

Part-time student eligibility

Students who are enrolled in less than 12 credits may qualify for federal or state financial aid if they maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress. A student cannot receive Northland College grants and scholarships unless he or she is enrolled on a full-time basis.

Application procedures for prospective students

Students in need of financial assistance must follow the application procedures outlined below:

1. File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with the U.S. Department of Education by March 15th;
2. Obtain a Supplemental Achievement Scholarship Application from the Admission Office, which should be completed and returned to Admission Office by February 15th. (The Achievement Scholarship application includes Music, Art and other special scholarships.)

Each prospective student should also submit the following documents to Northland College by February 15th for fall admission and November 1st for winter admission: Northland College Application for Admission, college aptitude test scores (ACT or SAT), and high school transcript.

Application Procedures for Returning Students

Returning students must apply for financial aid every year, preferably no later than March 15th, by filing a FAFSA at fafsa.ed.gov. Students applying after March 15th will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis. In order to remain eligible for financial assistance, students must maintain satisfactory academic progress, and be enrolled full-time.

Achievement Scholarships

Grants and scholarships form the largest part of Northland’s financial aid funds. Most funds come from Northland’s endowment, alumni gifts and other contributions. Other assistance comes from federal and state governments. Scholarships and grants do not have to be repaid and range from $200 to the cost of attendance.

For new students Northland conducts a series of scholarship competitions starting in October. All applicants are expected to apply in the competition following their acceptance. These merit based scholarships recognize not only academic ability, but also a wide variety of other talents and interests. This is how we build and enrich the Northland community.

Northland also has a strong commitment to need-based financial assistance. The Lower/Middle Income Access Guarantee ensures that Northland College scholarships and grants will bring costs down to the level at most major public universities. To maximize eligibility for additional scholarships and grants, all students are strongly encouraged to file the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

Current Northland College Scholarships

The Northland Achievement Scholarship application is online and students are encouraged to apply for multiple scholarships. Please note that some scholarships require additional supporting material.

All scholarships are renewable annually, dependent upon meeting all continuing eligibility requirements.

Trustees and Presidential Scholarships - $20,000 - Full Tuition ($80,000 to Full Tuition over four years)
Honors the combination of excellent academic experience, leadership, volunteer service and accomplishments beyond the classroom.

Academic Scholarships - $8,000-$20,000 ($20,000 to $60,000 over four years)
Awarded based on academic record and test scores.

Creative and Fine Arts Scholarships - $1,000-$5,000 ($4,000 to $20,000 over four years)

Art Scholarship: Must be an Art major or minor at Northland College, and must submit 8-15 works of art produced solely by the applicant in the form of slides or digital images.

Music Scholarship: Requires participation in a Northland ensemble (any major), may audition on-campus or submit a recording with two selections of your choice (vocal and/or instrumental).

Writing Scholarship: Must be a Writing major or minor at Northland College, and must submit two pieces of original writing to scholarship@northland.edu

Sigurd Olson Environmental Scholarship - $1,000-$3,000 ($4,000 to $12,000 over four years)
Created in the spirit of Sigurd Olson’s legacy, this scholarship is awarded to students who have made a distinctive commitment to the environment and conservation.

Eco-Visionary Leadership and Service Scholarship - $1,000-$3,000 ($4,000 to $12,000 over four years)
Recognizes contributions made to the community through leadership and service.

Involvement Scholarship - $1,000-$3,000 ($4,000 to $12,000 over four years)
Designed for students who have demonstrated involvement in and outside of the classroom.

Environment and Outdoor Program Awards - $1,000-$3,000 ($4,000 to $12,000 over four years)
These awards recognize the understanding, knowledge and skills consistent with the environmental and outdoor adventure values of the Northland community.

To be considered for the Environment and Outdoor Program Award you must have participated or attended one of the following:

Conserve School
Outward Bound
National Outdoor Leadership School
Wilderness Inquiry
An environmentally-oriented high school

Legacy Scholarship - $2,500 ($10,000 over four years)
Created to encourage the continued family commitment to the high standard, unique mission, and lasting legacy of a Northland College education.

Scouting Leadership Award - $1,500 ($6,000 over four years)
Awarded to Girl Scout Gold Award recipients and Boy Scout Eagle Scouts, who have received that designation by August 31st and who have maintained a 2.5 g.p.a or better.

Diverse Community Awards - $1,000-$2,000 ($4,000 to $8,000 over four years)
Created to support the pursuit of a college education for incoming students who have a demonstrated a commitment towards diverse communities.

Student Employment

A variety of on-campus jobs are available to students. Northland College offers each student who applies by April 15, regardless of financial need, a campus job that will enable them to earn at least $1,000. Students who show financial need may be able to earn up to $1,600 during the school year. Post-Baccalaureate students and non-degree seeking students are not eligible for student employment.

Grants

Federal Pell Grant Program

The Pell Grant is the standard federal grant program. Grants made currently range from $555 to $5,550 per year and are determined from need analysis results after filing the FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) are available to students who demonstrate the most need, as determined from FAFSA need analysis results. Applications for these grants must be filed by March 15th as funds are limited due to federal appropriations. Northland College contributes substantial matching funds for students awarded FSEOG and offers students who qualify for FSEOG equivalent Northland College grants after FSEOG funds are exhausted at the federal level. For more information, contact the Financial Aid Office.

Wisconsin Tuition Grant Program

Wisconsin residents admitted to Northland College may receive up to $2,900 annually under the Wisconsin Tuition Grant Program. The amount of the award is determined from the FAFSA need analysis results.

Work-study opportunities

Northland College offers campus work-study opportunities to assist students in financing their educational expenses and to help them develop workplace skills to complement those learned in the classroom. Most new students are offered a minimum work award of $800 per year. Students who show financial need receive larger work awards, up to $1,600 per year. Northland College participates in the Federal Work-Study Program, which contributes approximately 15 percent of Northland’s campus employment funding.

Federal Student Loans

Federal Direct Stafford Loan Program

The Federal Direct Stafford Loan Program includes the Federal Stafford Subsidized Loan, Federal Stafford Unsubsidized Loan, and the Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS). Under these programs, the Department of Education provides loans to students and parents through Northland College.

The Federal Stafford Subsidized Loan is a loan based on financial need determined from the FAFSA need analysis results. Full- or half-time students may borrow up to $3,500 during their freshman year, $4,500 during their sophomore year, and up to $5,500 during each of their junior and senior years. The interest on these loans is paid by the government during in-school and grace periods. The Federal Stafford Unsubsidized Loan is also available to students and is not based on financial need. The interest on the Federal Stafford Unsubsidized Loan accrues from the time of disbursement; however, students can defer interest payments until after graduation or dropping below half-time enrollment status. The student does have the option to pay the interest on these loans while in school. Current interest rates for both the subsidized and unsubsidized loan can be found at www.studentloans.gov.

The Federal Parents Loan for Undergraduate Students is available to parents of dependent students, regardless of financial need. A parent may borrow up to the cost of tuition, room, and board less any financial aid awarded per dependent. The current interest rate is an approximate 8.5 percent fixed rate, and repayment begins 60 days after the loan is disbursed, payments may be deferred until the student graduates or enrolls below half time status. Contact the Financial Aid Office for more information about this loan.

Perkins Loans

Perkins Loans are awarded to full-time students who show high financial need determined from the FAFSA need analysis results. The federal government pays the interest on these loans while a student is enrolled at Northland College. Perkins funds are limited and the annual maximum loan is $4,000. Contact the Financial Aid Office for more information about this loan.

Financial Aid for International Applicants

All applicants for financial aid who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States are considered international students.

Upon admission to Northland College, all applicants will automatically be considered for an academic award based on transcripts and standardized test results. No extra paperwork is required beyond the general admission requirements.

If you have any concerns about your family’s ability to meet Northland College’s full cost, you should complete, accurately and truthfully, the College Board’s CSS/PROFILE (International Student Financial Aid Application) profileonline/collegboard.com. Northland College’s School Code is 1561. After receiving this application, the Northland College Financial Aid Office will evaluate that application and prepare a Financial Aid Award letter for the student.

International Student Employment

On-campus employment is available to international students who apply for financial aid. Under the United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services regulations, international students are permitted to work on campus (not to exceed more than 20 hours a week).

International applicants who anticipate the need for financial aid at any time during their course of study at Northland College must make this need known at the time of admission. Students not awarded aid upon starting their first year at Northland will not be awarded aid for any of the following years.

Students Convicted of Possession & Sale of Drugs

A federal or state drug conviction can disqualify a student for FSA funds. Convictions only count if they were for an offense that occurred during a period of enrollment for which the student was receiving Title IV aid—they do not count if the offense was not during such a period. Also, a conviction that was reversed, set aside, or removed from the student’s record does not count, nor does one received when she/he was a juvenile, unless she/he was tried as an adult. The chart below illustrates the period of ineligibility for FSA funds, depending on whether the conviction was for sale or possession and whether the student had previous offenses. (A conviction for sale of drugs includes convictions for conspiring to sell drugs.)

If the student was convicted of both possessing and selling illegal drugs, and the periods of ineligibility are different, the student will be ineligible for the longer period.

A student regains eligibility the day after the period of ineligibility ends or when she/he successfully completes a qualified drug rehabilitation program. Further drug convictions will make him ineligible again.

Students denied eligibility for an indefinite period can regain it only after successfully completing a rehabilitation program or if a conviction is reversed, set aside, or removed from the student’s record so that fewer than two convictions for sale or three convictions for possession remain on the record.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

All students receiving financial aid must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in order to establish and retain financial aid eligibility.

SAP for federal, state and institutional financial aid programs is based on three measures: cumulative grade-point average, completion rate based on credit hours completed compared to attempted, and a maximum timeframe for degree completion. SAP Warning is instituted at the end of the first semester of not meeting policy. After two semesters of not meeting policy financial aid is suspended. SAP Warning is a forewarning message encouraging a student to rectify his/her academic progress for the next semester so that financial aid can be continued.

Cumulative Grade-Point Average

Undergraduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 based on credits earned at Northland College. The first time a student’s GPA is below 2.0, the student is placed on SAP Warning and continues to be eligible to receive financial aid. If the student does not raise the GPA to 2.0 in the following semester of attendance the student is placed on SAP Suspension and loses financial aid eligibility. The student is able to appeal SAP Suspension based on extenuating circumstances. If the appeal is approved the student is placed on SAP Probation.

Completion Rate

Undergraduate students are required to complete a minimum of sixty-seven percent (67%) of the credit hours attempted at Northland College. Courses with a grade of “D” or higher count as completed. Credit hours attempted include audits, incompletes, withdrawals, and repeated or failed classes. A student who does not complete a minimum of sixty-seven percent (67%) of credit hours attempted will be placed on SAP Warning and continues to be eligible to receive financial aid. If the student does not raise his or her completion rate to at least sixty-seven percent (67%) in the following semester of attendance the student is placed on SAP Suspension and loses financial aid eligibility. The student is able to appeal SAP Suspension based on extenuating circumstances. If the appeal is approved the student is placed on SAP Probation.

Maximum Timeframe for degree completion

Students must complete their degree requirements within 150% of the published length of their academic program. All semester hours attempted are used toward the maximum timeframe allowance regardless of whether the student received financial aid. All repeated courses, failed courses, withdrawals and transfer courses will count as credits attempted toward the maximum timeframe. A student who does not meet the Maximum Timeframe requirement will be placed on SAP Warning and continues to be eligible to receive financial aid. If the student does not raise his or her completion rate in the following semester of attendance the student is placed on SAP Suspension and loses financial aid eligibility. The student is able to appeal SAP Suspension based on extenuating circumstances. If the appeal is approved the student is placed on SAP Probation.

Warning

Students failing to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards will be placed on one semester of financial aid warning. Students on SAP warning are eligible for financial aid. They will be notified in writing of their status by the Office of Financial Aid. Students on academic probation through the academic council will be automatically on financial aid warning.

Suspension

By the end of the warning period, the student must have the stated minimum grade point average and completion requirements as defined above. Failure to comply with the Satisfactory Academic Progress grade point average requirement and completion schedule beyond the one semester warning period will result in the suspension of all federal, state and institutional financial aid. Students will be notified of their financial aid ineligibility via a letter from the Office of Financial Aid.

Re-establishing

Financial Aid eligibility Students who have had their financial aid terminated due to lack of Satisfactory Academic Progress may be able to enroll without financial aid. Such students may request a review of their academic record after any semester in which they enrolled without financial aid to determine whether they have met the SAP standards. If SAP is met, financial aid eligibility is restored for subsequent terms of enrollment. Neither paying for one’s classes nor sitting out a semester is sufficient to reestablish the financial aid eligibility of a student who has failed to meet SAP. If a special or unusual circumstance contributed to a student’s lack of satisfactory academic progress, the student may appeal the denial of financial aid.

Appeal Process

Federal regulations allow a student to appeal suspension of financial aid in cases where failure is due to events beyond the student’s control, such as illness, death in family, or other mitigating circumstances.

The appeal process for GPA is made in conjunction with the academic appeal through the Registrar’s Office. If financial aid eligibility is suspended as a result of failure to meet the completion rate or maximum timeframe standard, the Financial Aid Office sends a letter to the student including a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form. The Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form must include reasons for failure to achieve good academic standing and any applicable documentation. Appeal Forms must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office within thirty (30) days of the date of the letter and are reviewed by the Financial Aid Committee.

Probation

If a suspension appeal is approved the student is placed on SAP Probation for one semester or for a timeframe as determined by an academic plan set by the Financial Aid Office. By the end of the probation period, the student must have the stated minimum grade point average and completion requirements as defined above. Failure to comply with the Satisfactory Academic Progress grade point average requirement and completion schedule beyond the one semester probation period will result in the suspension of all federal, state and institutional financial aid. Students will be notified of their financial aid ineligibility via a letter from the Office of Financial Aid.

Change in Major

All credits attempted at Northland College will be included as earned credits in the completion ratio and maximum time frame calculation. If the student changes majors, they can appeal to have only credits and grades from the courses that are applied to the new major of study included in the financial aid SAP calculation.