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4. How it Works

LEAP: Leadership Education for Adult Professionals

How Financial Aid Works

For adult learners, most financial aid funds come from the federal government. There are several kinds of financial aid available to help students pay for a Northwest education. Generally, the Federal Government determines each student’s eligibility, and each student is awarded based on the Government’s results:

Educational Costs - Expected Family Contribution = Eligibility for need-based financial aid.

Educational Costs

Educational costs, or a student budget, are the estimated cost of attendance for a student at an institution. It is used to determine the maximum financial aid a student is eligible for. Typically, the budget includes tuition, fees, books, supplies, room and board, personal expenses, and transportation. Please contact the GPS Financial Aid Services Office for more information regarding the budget.

Expected Family Contribution

The expected family contribution is a combined total of the student’s household contributions. You (and your spouse if you are married) are expected to contribute toward your expenses. Both contributions are based on formulas developed by the federal government and are used at all colleges. The family contribution will be calculated when you send the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the federal processor.

The family contribution formulas are complex; they take into consideration a variety of factors including family size, number of family members in college, parent and student income and assets, age of the older parent, etc. There is not a set income cut-off to use when determining eligibility. If you feel you need assistance in meeting your college expenses then you should apply for financial aid.

Sometimes your family may have a change of employment, additional expenses, or emergency situations. We recognize that each student’s situation is unique, so please communicate your special circumstances to the Financial Aid Services Office.

Eligibility

To receive financial aid from any of the federal or state student aid programs, you must meet all of the following criteria:

• Have a high school diploma
• Be accepted as a student working toward a degree in an eligible program
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
• Meet satisfactory academic progress standards set by the institution
• Register with the Selective Service, if required
• Not be in default on a federal student loan
• Complete and submit a Northwest University Financial Aid Application

Financial need, as determined by the previous formula, determines how much of the different kinds of financial aid are to be awarded to students.