Aid Offer

To view your Financial Aid Offer, you will need to:

1. Access your secure account on CatPAWS
2. Select the Financial Aid tab
3. Select the Award box
4. Select the Accept Awards/Add Private Resources
5. Report any additional outside resources or scholarships
6. Select the aid year you want to view
7. Accept or decline any loans offered to you
8. Submit your electronic response once finished
9. Lastly, complete any federal loan requirements prompted at the bottom of the page
   • You will need to log in to your FSA account.

Award Letter Structure

1. Estimated Total Cost of Attendance (COA): While reviewing your award letter, remember the importance of separating amounts you pay directly to Northwest from other indirect costs. Additional information about tuition and fees is available on the Student Account Services page.
2. Billable expenses are items you are charged by Northwest, such as tuition and fees. Housing and food are charged only if you live on campus.
3. Non-billable expenses are allowances for other items and may vary based on your needs. Northwest will not bill you for these items.
4. Scholarships & Grants are free money that doesn't need to be repaid.
5. Options to pay remaining costs: Financial aid in the form of student employment or loans. Loans are used to help pay the remaining net costs after gift aid is deducted.
6. Total Financial Aid Award are scholarships, grants, work-study, and all loans offered.

Glossary of Terms for Financial Aid Offer

Additional financial aid terms and definitions, visit Glossary | Federal Student Aid.

• I understand that my awards are contingent upon adequate funding and state and federal regulations.
• I understand that all aid will be packaged originally for full-time attendance. If I enroll less than full-time may aid must be adjusted accordingly. Federal Pell Grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG) and TEACH Grants will be adjusted as follows:
  • Federal Pell Grant will be prorated based on a per credit hour enrollment status under 12 credit hours. Ex: If a student is enrolled in 6 hours and their Pell grant award is $3698, it will disburse for $1,849
  • Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) will prorate for students enrolled half-time (6 credit hours). Ex: If a student is enrolled in 6 credit hours for a single term and their award amount is $750, the disbursement amount will be $375.
  • TEACH Grant will prorate for students enrolled half-time (6 credit hours). Ex: If a student is enrolled in 6 credit hours for a single term and their award amount is $1886, the disbursement amount will be $943.
• I understand that financial aid funds will be scheduled for disbursement once per semester, beginning one week after courses start.
• My course load for the term will be locked at the end of the free drop/add period of each term. My eligibility for aid will be adjusted to the appropriate level of enrollment at that time.
• I must maintain satisfactory academic progress, as outlined in Forms under Academic Progress.
• Funds I accept must be applied to outstanding educational expenses at Northwest Missouri State University (fees, housing and food) before the surplus may be disbursed to me. All assistance will be used for educational expenses related to my attendance at Northwest Missouri State University.
• These awards may be voided or changed at any time if incorrect or false information is discovered on the application or if there has been an error in computing the award.
• Any change in enrollment, state residency or the receipt of additional outside resources after the initial award must be reported to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Assistance. Revisions or changes in status will necessitate revisions of the award.
• I understand that if I withdraw from school prior to the completion of a semester, the financial assistance award received will be prorated and the unused portion of the financial assistance award will be refunded to the programs involved. Depending on the portion of the aid, I may owe a balance to my account.
• I understand that if I fail all classes in a term, last date of attendance must be established and a financial aid withdrawal calculation must be done from that date. This may result in federal funds being returned which may create a balance due to my account.
• I understand that all academic year William D. Ford Direct Loans (Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Parent PLUS) must be disbursed in two equal payments.
• As a first-time borrower of Federal Direct Loans (Subsidized and Unsubsidized) at Northwest, I realize that I must complete an online entrance counseling session and Master Promissory Note (MPN) before any part of my loan can be disbursed and credited to my account. The MPN requires the FSA ID and Password used to complete the FAFSA.
• I understand that students who receive a Direct Loan are subject to the terms and conditions disclosed on the Federal Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) and the Direct Loan Disclosure Statement .
• I understand that any Federal Title IV, HEA Loan I receive will be submitted to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) and will be accessible by guaranty agencies, lenders, services, and other institutions determined to be authorized users of the data system.
• I understand that if I have received loans at any time while enrolled at Northwest Missouri State University, I must complete an exit counseling session before I leave the University for any reason.
• I understand that I must be seeking a degree and may receive aid from only one institution during an academic term.
• I understand that to receive federal aid I must be enrolled in at least six credit hours at Northwest except for those who qualify for Federal Pell Grant funds.
• I understand that I must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours at Northwest in order to receive Northwest scholarships or to be considered for State of Missouri assistance programs.
• I understand that if I enroll at another institution concurrently with my Northwest enrollment I must have a completed Federal Aid Consortium Agreement for each term filed with the Northwest Office of Scholarships and Financial Assistance before I can receive federal aid for the total enrollment.
• I understand that proceeds from Federal Direct PLUS Loans (parent) will credit directly to my account, pay off all charges and any overpayment will be refunded to my parent. In order for overpayments to be refunded to me, my parent borrower must indicate so on the Parent Loan Information Form.