Financial Aid

Financial Aid Policies

Policy for Issuing Cash Refunds to Financial Aid Students

Financial aid is posted on a rolling basis as financial aid awards are processed. If the application of financial aid or other resources to a student’s account results in a credit balance (excess cash), a refund is issued to the student. The University’s goal is to process refunds via direct deposit on a daily basis and via paper check at least once per week but never later than 14 days after the date that the credit balance occurs. Please note that dropping courses can impact a financial aid award.

The amount of financial aid awarded is determined by many factors including the number of hours for which a student enrolls. A reduction in hours may reduce the amount of financial aid a student is eligible for during a term with the possibility of being completely ineligible for financial aid for the term. In addition, federal regulations require that a student complete more than 60% of a term to earn all Title IV funds awarded for that term.

Policy on Course Non-Attendance

This policy pertains to student non-attendance in registered courses. Students who do not attend any enrolled course during the first two weeks of the class and do not inform the instructor of an intention to join the course will be dropped from the class.

This drop will result in a change in enrollment status for the term as well as adjustments in any financial aid that had been previously awarded. Federal regulations require that a student establish attendance in a course in order to receive aid for it. Failure to attend courses for which a student is registered will result in financial aid revisions and may result in a balance due to the University.

Attendance is considered actively engaging in a course. In on campus courses this would be defined as attending the class in person. Online courses define attendance as either posting to a discussion board, submitting assignments, reading classmates postings, etc. Simply logging into the course without actively participating is considered non-attendance and will result in being dropped from the course.

Please note that students who wish to drop a class during the add/drop week should still follow University policy and contact Academic Advising to change their enrollment. Non-attendance is different from withdrawal. Please review the Withdrawal Policy for more details.

Note: Tardiness policies and how they affect attendance are based upon individual course policy and are located in the course syllabus. 

Policy on Online Attendance and Participation

Federal regulations require that online students establish attendance/participation in coursework each term to be eligible for federal financial aid. National Louis University verifies student attendance in accordance with this regulation.

For online coursework, logging into the class in D2L is not sufficient, by itself, to demonstrate attendance by the student. Students must establish a record of participation in academically related activities in order to comply with this requirement. These activities include but are not limited to:

1. Physically attending a class where there is an opportunity for direct interaction between the instructor and students (on campus/blended courses only)

2. Submitting an academic assignment;

3. Taking an exam, an interactive tutorial or computer-assisted instruction;

4. Attending a study group that is assigned by the school;

5. Participating in an online discussion about academic matters;

6. Initiating contact with a faculty member to ask a question about the academic subject studied in the course.

Students who only do one of the following are not defined as establishing attendance:

1. Logging into an online class without active participation or

2. Participating in academic counseling or advisement

Students who have not established attendance/participation in online courses by the end of the second week of class will be dropped by the university by the based on the Policy on Course Non-Attendance, which may be found here.

Student Withdrawal and Return (Loss) of Federal Title IV Funds

The Student Finance Office is required to recalculate the percentage of financial aid earned by a student who officially withdrew before completing more than 60% of the quarter or who failed to pass at least one class in a term and ceased attendance at some point (unofficial withdrawal). The funds subject to this calculation include the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant, Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant, Iraq Afghanistan Service Grant, Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, Direct Parent PLUS Loan, and Direct Graduate PLUS loan. We use a calculation that determines what percentage of the aid a student earned and what amounts may need to be returned. This is called a Return of Title IV calculation and must be done within federally mandated timeframes.

Please note that the Return of Title IV calculation is separate from the National Louis University tuition refund policy. Students who withdraw from classes may end up having an account balance with the University after the required financial aid adjustments are made. Learn more about NLU's Withdrawal Policy.

The financial aid awarded was based on enrollment in the entire term and any unearned funds must be returned by National Louis University and/or the student. A portion of any refund the student received may need to be returned to the University.

We use the date a student officially withdraws from classes to calculate the percentage of the term completed. For students who cease attendance without officially withdrawing from school the midpoint in the term or the last date of an academic activity are used to calculate the percentage of the term completed.

Any funds that need to be returned are done so in the following order:

1. Direct Unsubsidized Loan
2. Direct Subsidized Loan
3. Direct Graduate PLUS Loan
4. Direct Parent PLUS Loan
5. Federal Pell Grant
6. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
7. Federal TEACH Grant
8. Iraq Afghanistan Service Grant

Click here to learn more about Consumer Information on Return of Title IV.

Financial and Physical Hardship Policy

Consistent with the Illinois Student Debt Assistance Act, this policy establishes processes and procedures to assist students in limiting their student debt when a physical or financial hardship requires the student to withdraw from the College. This policy can be found here. 

Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid Eligibility

Federal regulations require that a student receiving Title IV financial aid funds maintain specific standards in his or her academic program in order to remain eligible to receive these federal financial aid resources. These standards are called Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). SAP is defined as passing a required number of hours and achieving a required grade point average during a reasonable period of time. Regulations require that a student’s entire academic history be considered, including periods of time when he or she did not receive financial aid. These Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress apply only to eligibility for financial aid, and not necessarily to eligibility for continuation at the University, or for readmission to the University.

Please see the Standards for Academic Review for University guidelines.

SAP regulations require that the University monitor three different areas of a student’s academic record. Students must meet the required threshold in all of these areas in order to remain eligible to continue to receive financial aid. These standards are cumulative and a student must meet the requirements at the end of each term of enrollment.

 

The three components of SAP are:

1. Quantitative Standard – Pace
Pace is the rate at which a student is progressing toward program completion. Students must receive passing grades (A, B, C, D, P, or X) in at least two-thirds (66.67% rounded to 67%) of all credits attempted. Credit hours attempted include withdrawals (WW, WS, WF, WU, or WN), in progress evaluation (I), no credit (N) and failing (U, F, FX) grades. Pace is calculated by dividing the total number of hours completed by the total number of hours attempted. For example, a student who has attempted 50 credit hours and has successfully completed 40 credit hours would have a Pace of 80%. All transfer credit hours that are accepted from other institutions will be counted as both attempted and completed hours. 

2. Qualitative Standard – GPA
An undergraduate student must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.0. A graduate student must maintain a minimum CGPA of 3.0. Some programs require a higher GPA. Please refer to the individual program for specific requirements.

3. Quantitative Standard – Maximum Time Frame

A student is ineligible to receive financial aid after she or he has attempted 150% of the credit hours required to complete the degree program. The maximum time frame is one and a half times the degree program length. For example, an undergraduate student enrolled in a 180-hour degree program is allowed 270 hours to complete the program. At the end of the add/drop period all registered hours will be counted in the maximum time frame determination. All transfer credit hours that are accepted from other institutions will be counted as both attempted and completed hours. Once a student has reached the maximum time frame, she or he is no longer eligible to receive financial aid. 

Please note that SAP is monitored at the end of each academic term of enrollment for all students. The quantitative and qualitative standards used to judge academic progress will be cumulative and will include all periods of the student’s enrollment, even periods in which the student did not receive financial aid funds.

Withdrawal and In-Progress Grades

Courses with withdrawal (W) grades and those with in-progress (I) grades are included in hours attempted but not in hours passed.

Repeated Courses

Students are permitted to repeat a course when the grade earned does not award credit for the degree of study two times and receive financial aid for the class. Students are also permitted to repeat a passed course once and receive financial aid for it. Repeating courses must be in accordance with University policy. The grade achieved in the repeated course is recorded on the academic record, however, the original grade also remains on the academic record. The course with the highest grade is used in determining cumulative credit earned and in computing the GPA. All repeated courses are included in hours attempted.

 

Payment Plan Options

This overview provides a general information about payment plans available to help students reach their educational goals. Completion of a Promissory Note is required for all options. The Promissory Note must be completed upon registration. NLU payment plans are calculated on a term basis.

*Please note, International students must pay in full at the beginning of each term and are not eligible for payment plans.

Term by Term Tuition Payment Plan
Payment of a term's tuition/fees/room and board and other charges is made by the first day of the term.

Deferred Tuition/Installment Plan
There is a $35 per term fee associated with this plan. Tuition/fees/room and board and other charges incurred for the term will be divided into three equal installments requiring a payment of one-third plus $35 by the first day of the term, one-third on the 30th day following the first class, and the final one-third on the 60th day following the first class.

Direct Billing to a Third Party
Under this plan, the third party pays the University directly for all or a portion of the tuition and fees. Payment from the third party or information regarding where to bill for the classes must accompany the registration. In addition, any amount not covered by the third party is due by the first day of class.

Tuition Reimbursement 
Under this plan, a student who has a tuition reimbursement plan at work may defer up to 75% of the cost of a term. 25% of a term’s tuition is due by the first day of class. In addition, a copy of the employer’s reimbursement policy as well as the student’s eligibility for the plan must accompany the Promissory Note. There is a $35 handling fee per term in order to participate in this plan.

Veterans Benefits
Veterans and those entitled to Veteran benefits, should choose this option and provide proof of eligibility to NLU's school certifying official at VAstudents@nl.edu.

Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF)

The Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) is a fund administered in the state of California by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (Bureau) that relieves or mitigates economic loss suffered by a student while enrolled in a qualifying institution – generally one that is approved or registered by the Bureau. At the time of his or her enrollment, the student must have been a California resident or enrolled in a California residency program, prepaid tuition, and suffered economic loss.

You must pay the state-imposed assessment for STRF if all of the following applies to you: 1. You are a student in an educational program, who is a California resident, or are enrolled in a residency program, and prepay all or part of your tuition either by cash, guaranteed student loans, or personal loans, and 2. Your total charges are not paid by any third-party payer such as an employer, government program or other payer unless you have a separate agreement to repay the third party.

You are not eligible for protection from the STRF and you are not required to pay the STRF assessment if either of the following applies: 1. You are not a California resident, or are not enrolled in a residency program, or 2. Your total charges are paid by a third party, such as an employer, government program or other payer, and you have no separate agreement to repay the third party.

You may be eligible for STRF if you are a California resident or are enrolled in a residency program, prepaid tuition, paid the STRF assessment, and suffered an economic loss as a result of any of the following:

1.The school closed before the course of instruction was completed.

2.The school's failure to pay refunds or charges on behalf of a student to a third party for license fees or any other purpose, or to provide equipment or materials for which a charge was collected within 180 days before the closure of the school.

3. The school's failure to pay or reimburse loan proceeds under a federally guaranteed student loan program as required by law or to pay or reimburse proceeds received by the school prior to closure in excess of tuition and other costs.

4. There was a material failure to comply with the Act or this Division within 30 days before the school closed or, if the material failure began earlier than 30 days prior to closure, the period determined by the Bureau.

5. An inability after diligent efforts to prosecute, prove, and collect on a judgment against the institution for a violation of the Act."

Veteran Education Benefits

National Louis University is proud to train and educate our Veterans of the U.S. Armed Services.  Students eligible to utilize Veteran’s Education Benefits may log into VA.gov to apply and monitor their education benefits.

Students utilizing Veteran’s Education Benefits are required to submit a VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and a copy of their DD-214 to the University before we are able to certify and disburse any VA funds. A student must notify the University’s Student Finance Department of their eligibility.  This can be done by providing either the Certificate of Eligibility or a written request to use their VA Education Benefits.

These students expecting Veteran’s Education Benefits to cover their educational costs, and have completed all steps required to receive their funding, will have all required university ledger costs deferred without penalty until VA funding has been received.  No late fees or penalties will be accessed. 

The aforementioned veterans will continue to have access to all institution resources while the ledger costs are deferred and awaiting VA payment.

A veteran using VA Education Benefits will not be required to secure alternative funding while the University awaits payment from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.