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How Graduate Financial Aid Disburses

How Financial Aid Disburses

Financial aid is generally credited to individual student accounts in equal disbursements by term. The specific amount to be disbursed each term is indicated on the student’s Financial Aid Offer.

In general, financial aid begins disbursing approximately one week prior to the first day of classes for the term and continues twice weekly thereafter. To have aid disbursed, the student must have completed the financial aid process and meet all disbursement eligibility requirements. 

Common reasons that may prevent or delay a disbursement from occurring:

  • Student has not received a Financial Aid Offer.
  • Student has not signed the annual Financial Aid Terms and Conditions.
  • Missing, or late submission of, required documentation needed to confirm aid eligibility.
  • If borrowing loans, missing required Entrance Counseling and/or Master Promissory Note (MPN).
  • Not registered for the appropriate number of credits for the term (as indicated in the Financial Aid Offer)
  • Not meeting satisfactory academic progress requirements.
  • Student’s first class of the term starts at a later date.

Institutional and Federal Scholarships and Grants

Institutional and federal scholarships and grants will automatically credit the student account at the beginning of each term, assuming all disbursement eligibility requirements have been met. See “How Financial Aid Disburses” section above for more information.

Federal Loans

Prior to disbursing federal loan funds, the student must complete the required Entrance Counseling and Loan Agreement/Master Promissory Note (MPN). Loan funds will automatically credit the student account at the beginning of each term, assuming all disbursement eligibility requirements have been met. See “How Financial Aid Disburses” section above for more information.

As a borrower, the student has a right to cancel or decrease their loan within 120 days of the date the school disbursed the loan money. If a student would like to cancel any part of their loan, they must submit their request to Student Financial Services as soon as possible (see timeline below). If the cancelation will result in an owing balance on the student’s school account, they must pay the outstanding balance immediately.

  • If cancelation request is received within 14 days of the disbursement date – Student Financial Services will process the cancellation and return the loan funds on behalf of the student.
  • If cancelation request is received more than 14 days after the disbursement date, but within 120 days – Student Financial Services may or may not be able to accommodate the requested cancelation. If unable to process the request, the student will be directed to contact their assigned loan servicer for guidance on how they can proceed with the cancelation and return the loan money.
  • If cancelation request is received more than 120 days after the disbursement date – Student Financial Services will not be able to accommodate the requested cancelation, as it is outside of the timeframe allowed. The student will be directed to contact their assigned loan servicer for guidance on how they can make a payment to return the money (loan funds returned more than 120 days after disbursement will be processed as a payment rather than a cancelation, and no adjustment of loan fees or interest will occur).

Non-Northwest University Scholarships

Most of the scholarship checks from outside sources will be mailed to Northwest University and automatically credited to the student’s school account. Scholarship funds are generally applied to the first term of enrollment, unless there is information submitted with the check that requires otherwise.

Private Loans

Private loan disbursement dates are generally set to align with the term(s) in which the loan is intended. However, lenders are required by law to allot a specified period of time to allow borrowers the right to cancel their loan, without penalty, after certification. The length of this period varies by lender, and no loan proceeds may be disbursed until after the period has ended. Upon certification, students will receive a statement from their lender including the specific date in which their cancellation period expires.

Once the lender has sent loan proceeds to Northwest University for disbursement, the funds will automatically credit the student account once all other disbursement eligibility requirements have been met. See “How Financial Aid Disburses” section above for more information.