Financial Policies

Institutional Refund Policy

Institutional Refund Policy

REVISION/EFFECTIVE DATES

 July 25^th, 2018 / September 5th 2018

PURPOSE

To comply with the relevant legislation under which the University is bound and to ensure the University delivers a transparent, effective and efficient tuition and fee refund process.

SCOPE

The scope of this policy applies to all students in all programs.

POLICY

Students are responsible for all tuition and fees incurred by registration in a course. Failing to attend a course does not constitute a withdrawal from the course.   During the Add/drop Period at the beginning of each trimester, students are allowed to add and/or drop courses without any financial consequences. 

If a student officially withdraws from a class or the university after this period, the following schedule reflects the amount of tuition and fees that will be refunded.  The amount of the refund is determined by the official date of the withdrawal.  The date of official withdrawal is the date the Registrar receives written notification from the student of their intent to withdrawal or upon receipt of the Official Withdrawal or Add/drop form.

Tuition and Fee Refund Chart  - Full Term Courses
If the date of official drop/withdrawal is within:	Tuition and Lab Fees Refund	Institutional Fees*  Refund
Week 1 of the term (Add/Drop Period)	100%	100%**
Week 2 of the term (Add/Drop Period)	100%	100%**
Week 3 of the term	50%	0%
Week 4 of the term	25%	0%
No refund of tuition and fee will be given after the 4th week of classes.
Tuition and Fee Refund Chart - Accelerated and/or Less than Full Term Courses***
If the date of official drop/withdrawal is within	Tuition and Lab Fees Refund	Institutional Fees*  Refund
Week 1 of the term	100%	100%**
Week 2 of the term	50%	0%
* Institutional fees include:  University fee, Activity fee, Needle Stick insurance fee, SACA, AAM **Refund only applies to students who withdraw from the university (see table below). ***Courses that meet for only one day must be dropped prior to the start of the class for a full refund.

Financial aid recipients who withdraw from Northwestern Health Sciences University should be aware that they may need to return part or all of the funds they were awarded (see Financial Aid Refund Policies). Before officially withdrawing from classes, we recommend that you contact the Financial Aid Office. Students are also encouraged to view and be aware of the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. Students must complete at least 67% of all attempted credits in order to remain eligible for financial aid.  Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress is evaluated at the end of each trimester.  

PROCEDURE

Student completes steps below to withdraw from a course.  A student who wished to withdraw from all courses in a term must follow the steps below to officially withdraw from the university.

To drop a course or courses

• Complete the online add/drop request form using the following link to drop a course or courses:          Add/Drop Request Form.  Please note the course number and title are needed to complete the form. 
• The Registrar’s Office will process the add/drop request form upon receipt.  The amount of tuition refunded is based on the chart below using the date the request form is submitted. 

Tuition and Fee Refund Chart  - Full Term Courses
If the date of official drop/withdrawal from a course is within:	Tuition and Lab Fees Refund	Institutional Fees*  Refund
Week 1 of the term (Add/Drop Period)	100%	0%
Week 2 of the term (Add/Drop Period)	100%	0%
Week 3 of the term	50%	0%
Week 4 of the term	25%	0%
No refund of tuition and fee will be given after the 4th week of classes.
Tuition and Fee Refund Chart - Accelerated and/or Less than Full Term Courses**
If the date of official drop/withdrawal from a course is within	Tuition and Lab Fees Refund	Institutional Fees*  Refund
Week 1 of the term	100%	0%
Week 2 of the term	50%	0%
* Institutional fees include:  University fee, Activity fee, Needle Stick insurance fee, SACA, AAM **Courses that meet for only one day must be dropped prior to the start of the class for a full refund.

To officially withdraw from the university

Please note:  Requesting a withdrawal from the University may impact your student account, financial aid, and academic standing.  To ensure that you are making an informed decision about this action, it is strongly advised that you meet with the appropriate office.  At a minimum, meeting with an Academic Advisor is highly recommended. Financial Aid recipients should also plan to meet with a representative from the financial aid office.

• Contact the Registrar’s Office to request an Official Withdrawal/Term Off form. 
• The Registrar’s Office will process the withdrawal upon receipt of the completed form.  The “Date of Initial Notification” indicated on the Official Notice of Withdrawal/Term Off Form is used to determine the amount of tuition and fees refunded according to the chart below:

Tuition and Fee Refund Chart  - Full Term Courses
If the date of official withdrawal from the University is within:	Tuition and Lab Fees Refund	Institutional Fees*  Refund
Week 1 of the term (Add/Drop Period)	100%	100%
Week 2 of the term (Add/Drop Period)	100%	100%
Week 3 of the term	50%	0%
Week 4 of the term	25%	0%
No refund of tuition and fee will be given after the 4th week of classes.
Tuition and Fee Refund Chart - Accelerated and/or Less than Full Term Courses**
If the date of official withdrawal from the University is within:	Tuition and Lab Fees Refund	Institutional Fees* Refund
Week 1 of the term	100%	100%
Week 2 of the term	50%	0%
* Institutional fees include:  University fee, Activity fee, Needle Stick insurance fee, SACA, AAM **Courses that meet for only one day must be dropped prior to the start of the class for a full refund.

Financial Aid Refund Policies

Return of Title IV Refund Policy

If the student withdrawals from Northwestern Health Sciences University during a trimester, a calculation of "earned" versus "unearned" federal aid must be determined. This federal policy assumes the student earned aid based on how much time has elapsed in the term. If the student received federal financial aid, that aid may be reduced as a result of the withdrawal.

There are three steps that Northwestern Health Sciences University must complete to comply with the federal policy:

1. Determine the withdrawal date and/or last date of attendance or academic activity. The financial aid office must first verify with the student’s instructor(s) that s/he attended or participated in academic activities related to their class(es) for the term.
2. Determine the amount of earned federal aid.
3. Return unearned federal funds to the appropriate program(s).

The student must withdraw officially by contacting the Registrar's Office. The withdrawal date is the date the student began the withdrawal process. If the student failed to withdraw officially, the withdrawal date will become the midpoint of the term, unless the university can document a later date. In cases where an earlier date of last attendance or academic activity is determined, this date will be used in the calculation of "earned" federal aid.

If the student withdrew or last attended before completing 60 percent of the term, s/he "earned" federal funds in direct proportion to the length of time s/he was enrolled. The percentage of earned aid is determined by dividing the total number of calendar days in the term enrolled by the total number of calendar days in the term. If the student completed 60 percent of the term, s/he earned all of their federal financial aid for the term.

The responsibility to repay unearned aid is shared by the institution and the student. The institution's share is the lesser of unearned aid or unearned institutional charges. The institution's share must be repaid to the federal aid programs in the following order, before the student's share is considered:

1. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
2. Federal Direct Subsidized Loan
3. Federal Perkins Loan
4. Federal Direct GRAD PLUS/Parent PLUS Loan
5. Federal Pell Grant
6. Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
7. Other Title IV Aid

If a student is required to repay a portion of the loan through the student's share calculation, the student is not expected to return those funds immediately, but rather begin repayment according to the terms and conditions of the promissory note. If a portion of the unearned Federal Loan funds must be returned by the school, the student is responsible for repaying the money back to Northwestern Health Sciences University. If this causes undue hardship, a satisfactory payment arrangement can be made with the Accounting Office.

Return of MN State Financial Aid Program Policy

Recipients of MN State Financial Aid program funds may also have their awards recalculated upon withdrawal. MN State Financial Aid Program funds may need to be returned based on the result of the MN State Programs Refund Calculation. 

Federal Student Aid At A Glance

Federal Student Aid At A Glance

Federal Student Financial Aid (SFA), https://studentaid.ed.gov, is assistance for students enrolled at least half-time in participating schools. It helps to cover school expenses, including tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and transportation. Most aid is need-based and the three types of aid are grants, loans and work-study.

Grants

A grant is a type of gift aid that does not require repayment. Each grant has different requirements for eligibility. Eligibility for need-based grants is determined using federal and/or state formulas and the information the student provided on the FAFSA. Completion of the FAFSA is the only application required to be considered for the specific grant programs listed below.

Federal Pell Grant (Massage Therapy/Undergraduate Programs)

A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid. Federal Pell Grants may be awarded to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or a professional degree.

Students are not eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant if incarcerated in a federal or state penal institution or are subject to an involuntary civil commitment upon completion of a period of incarceration for a forcible or non-forcible sexual offense.

Beginning in Fall 2012, students are now limited to 12 semesters (or 600%) of Pell Grant eligibility. This change affects all students regardless of when or where they received their first Pell Grant. Students that have received the Pell Grant in the academic year 2011-2012 and have already used 600% of their Pell Grant eligibility will no longer be eligible to receive a Pell Grant starting Fall 2012.

Students may view their percentage of Pell Grant used by logging into https://nslds.ed.gov/nslds/nslds_SA/. ‘Lifetime Eligibility Used’ percentage will be displayed in the ‘Grants’ section. Visit the Federal Student Aid website for more information.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) (Massage Therapy/ Undergraduate Programs)

FSEOG is a campus-based award of federal money given to eligible students enrolled in the Massage Therapy or Undergraduate Health Sciences Programs. Students who will receive Federal Pell Grant and have the most financial need are given priority for this award. Funds are limited. The FSEOG does not need to be repaid.

Minnesota State Grant Program (Massage Therapy/ Undergraduate Programs)

The Minnesota State Grant Program provides undergraduate students with assistance in meeting the cost of attendance at eligible Minnesota public and private post-secondary institutions of their choice. In order to receive an award, the student must demonstrate financial need, be a Minnesota resident attending an eligible Minnesota institution, be making satisfactory academic progress, and meet any federal and state requirements.

Yellow Ribbon Program

If you are a veteran, you may be eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Under the Yellow Ribbon Program, additional funds are provided by Northwestern and the Veterans Administration to cover the difference between your Post-911 GI Bill Chapter 33 benefit and the annual cost of tuition at Northwestern.

If you are eligible, 100% of your out-of-pocket costs for tuition will be covered for one academic year. In addition, there is no limit to the number of eligible students who may receive the annual Yellow Ribbon Program benefit at Northwestern.

Yellow Ribbon Program Eligibility

Only individuals entitled to the maximum benefit rate (100%) for Post-911 GI Bill Chapter 33 assistance may receive Yellow Ribbon Program funding. If you have not done so already, apply for Post-GI Bill benefits to receive your Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

You may be eligible if:

• You served an aggregate period of active duty after September 10, 2001, of at least 36 months
• You were honorably discharged from active duty for a service connected disability and you served 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001, OR
• You are a dependent eligible for Transfer of Entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill based on a veteran’s service under the eligibility criteria listed above

To be eligible at Northwestern, you must be:

• Accepted for admission to a degree granting program in the Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Program, College of Chiropractic, Clinical Nutrition Degree Program, Massage Therapy Program, Undergraduate Health Sciences
• A current student in good academic standing

Scholarships

Northwestern Health Sciences University offers a wide variety of institutional aid including scholarships and endowments. Northwestern Health Sciences University scholarships are awarded based on financial resources, academic performance, service/leadership involvement, trimester level, scholarship history and faculty/clinic recommendation. Funds from outside agencies may also be available.

Institutional scholarships and grants are intended to encourage geographical, cultural and socioeconomic diversity at Northwestern Health Sciences University. Please note that the availability of funds is based on contributions, interest bearing accounts and institutional funding. Actual amounts may vary.

Students may contact the Financial Aid Office for more information about scholarships offered at Northwestern Health Sciences University.

Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans

Federal Direct Loans are long-term, low-interest loans designed to provide additional funds for post-secondary education.

For the Direct Subsidized Loan the government pays the interest while you are in school at least part-time and during the grace period.

For the Direct Unsubsidized Loan the interest is the responsibility of the student while in school, during the grace period, and during repayment. The interest may be postponed while in school at least part-time. If the interest is postponed it will be capitalized (added to the principal) only once, at repayment.

Annual Subsidized Limits (Massage Therapy/Undergraduate Programs)

• 1st Year Undergraduates = up to $3,500
• 2nd Year Undergraduates = up to $4,500
• Remaining Undergraduate Years =up to $5,500
• Preparatory Coursework Needed to Enroll in Graduate/Professional Program = up to $5,500

Annual Unsubsidized Limits (Massage Therapy/Undergraduate Programs)

• Dependent undergraduates = up to $2,000
• 1st and 2nd year independent students =up to $6,000
• Remaining years for independent students =up to $7,000
• Preparatory Coursework Needed to Enroll in a Graduate/Professional Program = up to $7,000 independent student only

Annual Unsubsidized Limits (Graduate Programs)

• Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine = up to $20,500
• Master of Health Science in Applied Clinical Nutrition = up to $20,500
• College of Chiropractic = up to $33,000

Aggregate Loans Limits

• College of Chiropractic - The overall aggregate maximum is $224,000 (including undergraduate loans).
• Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine - The overall aggregate maximum is $138,500 (including undergraduate loans).
• Master of Health Science in Applied Clinical Nutrition - The overall aggregate maximum is $138,500 (including undergraduate loans).
• Massage Therapy/ Undergraduate Programs - The overall aggregate maximum is $31,000, maximum subsidized loan $23,000, for a dependent student and 57,500, maximum subsidized $23,000, for an independent student.

Parent Plus Loan

A Parent may borrow a PLUS Loan up to the student’s cost of education minus other financial aid for the loan period. The parent must specify the amount he/she wants to borrow. A PLUS loan may not be made for more than the parent requests.

To borrow a PLUS loan, the parent must not have adverse credit (see adverse credit definition below).

Graduate Plus Loan

For graduate and professional students only, students may borrow under GRAD PLUS program eligibility criteria and other federal guidelines. To borrow a GRADUATE PLUS loan, the borrower must not have adverse credit.

Adverse Credit is defined as:

• Having one or more debts with a total combined outstanding balance greater than $2,085 that are 90 or more days delinquent as of the date of the credit report, or that have been placed in collection or charged off (written off) during the two years preceding the date of the credit report; or
• If, during the five years preceding the date of the credit report, the borrower has been subject to a
  • default determination,
  • discharge of debts in bankruptcy,
  • foreclosure,
  • repossession,
  • tax lien,
  • wage garnishment, or
  • write-off of a federal student aid debt.

Interest Rate

Congress has passed and the President has signed the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act of 2013, which ties federal student loan interest rates to financial markets. Under this Act, interest rates will be determined each spring for new loans being made for the upcoming award year, which runs from July 1 to the following June 30. Each loan will have a fixed interest rate for the life of the loan. For current rates visit: Interest rates and fees.

Loan Fees

Most federal student loans have loan fees that are a percentage of the total loan amount. The loan fee is deducted proportionately from each loan disbursement received. For current fees visit: Interest rates and fees.

Loan Repayment

Repayment for most federal student loans begins after a borrower leaves college or drops below half-time enrollment. However, PLUS loans enter repayment begins the loan is fully disbursed (paid out).

Loan servicers or lenders must provide the borrower with a loan repayment schedule that states when the first payment is due, the number and frequency of payments, and the amount of each payment. Some loans may have a grace period. The grace period is a set period of time after the borrower graduates, leaves school, or drops below half-time enrollment before beginning repayment on the loan. Not all federal student loans have a grace period. Note that for most loans, interest will accrue during your grace period.

• Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans, and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans have a six-month grace period before payments are due.
• PLUS loans have no grace period. Repayment begins once the loan is fully disbursed, however, the borrower may be eligible for a deferment. Contact the loan servicer for more information.
• Federal Perkins Loans have a nine-month grace period before payments are due.

Federal Work-Study (FWS)

Northwestern participates in the Federal Work Study (FWS) Program, which provides campus-based jobs to financially eligible students. The University also participates in the Community Service Program, which pays FWS-eligible students for jobs involved in community service activities. Opportunities include community events, literacy or reading programs, library and clinic positions. Federal Work Study must be part of a financial aid package. Students may work up to an average of 20 hours per week.

Students who are not eligible for the Federal Work Study (FWS) Program, including Canadian and international students, may obtain student employment through Northwestern's student help program.

Private Alternative Loan Programs

Private alternative loans should be utilized only after all other financial aid resources have been exhausted. Private loan interest rates are variable and are often based on credit plus an index such as PRIME or LIBOR. Private loans can take 2-3 weeks to process. It is recommended that students begin applying for private loans before the trimester starts. For information see: Student Loans

Requirements For Prorating Annual Federal Subsidized And Unsubsidized Loan Limits (Massage Therapy/Undergraduate Programs)

NWHSU is required to prorate Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loan when it is known in advance that a student is enrolled for a final period of study that is shorter than an academic year in length.

Student Loan Counseling

Entrance and Exit Counseling are required for students who have or will obtain federal loans while attending Northwestern Health Sciences University. Loan counseling is particularly important for new students who have little or no experience with loan repayment and/or managing educational debt. Northwestern Health Sciences University must conduct Entrance Counseling before releasing the first disbursement of Direct Student Loans to all first year first time borrowers. The emphasis for Exit Counseling shifts to specific information about loan repayment and debt management. Completing the Direct Loan Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling, Loan Consolidation, Calculators: https://studentloans.gov

Student loan borrowers can access their federal aid history at https://www.nslds.ed.gov.

Cohort Default Rate

The United States Department of Education provides Northwestern Health Sciences University with its annual Official Cohort Default Rate (CDR) Notification Letter (for the most recent available). For information regarding the University’s Title IV Cohort default rate, feel free to contact the Financial Aid Office.

Canadian And International Students

For those who qualify, students may apply for Canadian and Provincial Loans, Northwestern Health Sciences University International Scholarships and Canadian Tuition Reciprocity (if available). Private loans may be available based on credit rating, a United States citizen or permanent resident cosigner, or other limitations.

Frequently Requested Telephone Numbers

• General information about the federal student financial aid programs: (800) 433-3243.
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA on the Web) assistance: (800) 433-3243.
• Educational Computer Systems Incorporated for Perkins Accounts (888) 549-3274.

Useful Web Sites And Consumer Information

• FAFSA On-Line: https://fafsa.ed.gov
  • File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on-line.
• FASTWEB: www.fastweb.org
  • Database of 1.5 million private scholarships with matching of scholarships to student profiles.
• Federal Direct Consolidation Loans: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/consolidation
  • Information center on loan consolidation including help organizing your records, application process and more.
• Federal Student Aid: https://studentloans.gov
  • Complete promissory notes, online entrance counseling along with resources & tools on financial aid programs including repayment information.
• Financial Aid Information Page: www.finaid.org
  • General financial information and numerous on-line calculators.
• Income-Based Repayment: www.ibrinfo.org
  • An independent, non-profit source of information about new federal student loan repayment (IBR) and loan forgiveness (PSLF) programs.
• NSLDS (National Student Loan Data System): www.nslds.ed.gov
  • National database of your federal loans – Direct Loans - subsidized, unsubsidized, graduate PLUS and Perkins loan programs (interest rate, loan amount, lender and servicer name, etc).
• Scholarship Scam Alert: www.finaid.org/finaid/scams.html www.finaid.org/scholarships/scams.phtml
  • Information on scholarship scams and ways to protect yourself.
• Student Aid On The Web: https://studentaid.ed.gov
  • Provides a current list of federal loan servicers, information on Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), on Loan Consolidation, Income Based Repayment (IBR) and other repayment plans. Also provides general information on financial aid programs.
• United States Department Of Education And Consumer Information: https://studentaid.ed.gov

Please note that financial aid awarding and related processing is subject to change.

Financial Aid and Satisfactory Academic Progress

Financial Aid and Satisfactory Academic Progress

The Higher Education Amendments that govern Title IV Financial Assistance Programs state that “a student shall be entitled to receive federal student assistance benefits only if that student is maintaining progress in the course of study he/she is pursuing, according to the standards and practices of the institution.” Northwestern Health Sciences University’s Policy of Satisfactory Academic Progress requires a student to meet both qualitative (grade requirement) and quantitative (work completed) standards. Supportive services are available at Northwestern Health Sciences University to help ensure academic success. Information about these services is available in the Registrar's Office. Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) will be monitored at the end of each grading period to establish the student’s eligibility to continue receiving financial aid.

Students may continue to receive financial aid by meeting all of the following criteria which have been established as the minimum standards for making SAP at Northwestern Health Sciences University. This policy replaces all previous SAP policies.

1. Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average Requirement: A student must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) to retain financial aid eligibility. A minimum CGPA must be earned in the following colleges:

   College of Chiropractic	2.0
   College of Health and Wellness	2.0

2. Minimum Cumulative Pace Requirement: A student must successfully complete at least 67% of cumulative attempted hours by the end of each trimester. The completed percentage is determined by dividing credits earned by the number of credits attempted. Note: While grades of W, WP, and WF may have no impact in the academic GPA calculations, these grades are included as attempted credits, as required by Federal regulations.
3. Maximum Time Frame Requirement: The maximum number of credit hours allowable to complete a degree is 150% of the credit hours normally required to complete the degree program.

Financial Aid Warning Status

A student who fails the SAP evaluation at Northwestern Health Sciences University may be placed on Financial Aid Warning status. Financial Aid Warning lasts for one trimester and does not require action (such as an appeal) by the student. This option is permitted at Northwestern Health Sciences University since SAP is reviewed at every payment period/trimester.

• A student on Financial Aid Warning is notified of the status at the beginning of the trimester.
• There is no limit to the number of Financial Aid Warnings a student can receive during his or her enrollment and it is possible that a student could receive more than one Financial Aid Warning period, but not in consecutive trimesters.
  • For example, if a student is not making SAP after the fall trimester, the student may be placed on Financial Aid Warning. The student could make SAP during the spring and then fail to make SAP during the subsequent fall. The student could again be placed on Financial Aid Warning after the subsequent fall. The student could not have successive trimesters in Financial Aid Warning status.

Financial Aid Probation Status

• After a Financial Aid Warning, a student who continues to fail SAP must successfully appeal to be placed on Financial Aid Probation and be permitted to receive financial aid. Financial Aid Probation status is not granted automatically at Northwestern Health Sciences University. At the end of one trimester on Financial Aid Probation, the student must make SAP or must be meeting the requirements of the academic plan set in the appeal for probation.
  • Generally speaking, a student granted Financial Aid Probation status should be given two academic requirements during the probation trimester, in addition to fulfilling the academic plan:
    • Complete all coursework with passing grades (e.g., no W or F grades)
    • Achieve a trimester GPA of 2.0 or higher.
• After a trimester on Financial Aid Probation, a student that is still not making SAP cannot be automatically placed on another trimester of Financial Aid Probation. The student would have to successfully appeal to be eligible for financial aid.
• Appeals submitted for students who continue to fail SAP after a probation period must contain information about why the student failed to make SAP at the end of the Financial Aid Probation period, including what had changed that caused the student to not make SAP during the probationary period and why the student will be able to meet SAP on the terms of the academic plan.

If the Academic Program determines, based on the appeal, that the student will require more than one payment period to meet SAP, it may recommend the student remain on probation and develop an academic plan for the student. The Financial Aid Office is required to review his/her progress at the end of probation period, to determine if the student is meeting the requirements of the academic plan. If the student is meeting the requirements of the academic plan, the student is eligible to receive Title IV aid as long as the student continues to meet those requirements and is reviewed according to the requirements specified in the plan.

SAP Appeal

When a student becomes ineligible for financial aid due to failure to meet SAP standards, an opportunity is given to appeal for further financial aid consideration. A student may file a SAP Appeal with the Financial Aid Office on the basis of:

• Death of a relative
• Injury or illness of the student
• Other special circumstances (such as difficult transition to NWHSU, family issues, legal troubles, work or budget problems, etc.)

Completed SAP appeals will be reviewed within 15 business days. The student will be notified by campus email if the appeal is accepted or denied. If the email is returned undeliverable, a letter will be mailed to the student’s current residing address as listed on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Additional SAP Information

Dual Degree Programs/Changed Majors

Students who are enrolled in a dual degree program or who have changed majors* may file a SAP appeal to request an extension of the maximum time frame provision of the SAP policy. Such requests will be evaluated on an individual basis.

*Human biology is the only undergraduate major offered at this time.

Second Degrees

Students seeking second degrees are monitored like any other students under this policy. Students who exceed the maximum time frame allowed by their respective program may file a SAP appeal to request an extension. Appeals will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Transfer/Audit Credits

Transfer and consortium credits accepted by the university will be included when calculating a student’s credit completion ratio and maximum time frame, but not the student’s GPA. This includes credits earned from non-Northwestern Health Sciences University programs. Audit credits are not considered either attempted or earned. Credit hours earned at a foreign institution are included in the SAP evaluation if the university accepts the credit hours.

Repeated Coursework

Repeated courses will count toward enrollment status, attempted hours and maximum time frame.

Summer Sessions Courses

All hours attempted and completed in the summer sessions are treated as any other trimester credit hours in determining SAP.