Undergraduate Financial Aid

The Financial Aid Office, located in Ralston Hall with an annex in St. Mary’s Hall, serves students seeking financial assistance, and provides information to students and parents who are not familiar with the financial aid process. Annually the Financial Aid Office processes in excess of $19 million in the form of grants, scholarships, loans, and work programs from federal, state, institutional, and private sources.

Students who have been admitted to NDNU as at least half-time students, and who are U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents, are eligible to be considered for all types of financial assistance. (Note: international students do not qualify for financial aid.) NDNU administers financial aid in accordance with federally accepted principles and practices.

NDNU Financial Aid Policies

All students seeking admission to the University are encouraged to apply for aid. Please note: low interest student loans are also considered as financial aid.

Students and their families are expected to bear the primary responsibility for meeting educational costs.

Financial aid packages combine scholarships, grants, loans, and part-time work, depending upon each student's eligibility. The total amount of financial aid offered by the University, together with all other financial aid sources, may not exceed the student's calculated financial need or, with non-need based aid such as Parent Loans, the total cost of attendance.

To be considered for all sources of financial aid, students must enroll full-time and complete sufficient academic units each semester to graduate. (Several Federal and state financial aid programs are available to students enrolled at least half-time.)

Generally, students are eligible to receive financial aid for the equivalent of four years of full-time study. To maintain eligibility for NDNU financial aid, full-time undergraduate students must complete at least 12 units of passing work per semester and maintain a cumulative 2.0 grade point average. (Academic adjustment may be made to accommodate documented learning disabilities.) Full-time students in attendance for two semesters without completing 24 units of passing work and/or not maintaining a cumulative 2.0 grade point average will be denied financial aid from federal, state, and/or institutional sources. Students may appeal this policy when non-discretionary, mitigating circumstances (such as illness) have contributed to the lack of satisfactory progress.

Applying for Financial Aid

To apply for financial aid, students are required to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA can be filed online by going to www.fafsa.ed.gov. Supporting documents, such as parent and student tax returns, may be requested by the Financial Aid Office after the processed FAFSA is received. Financial assistance is awarded only after admission to the University. For further information, please call (650) 508-3600 or e-mail us at finaid@ndnu.edu.

Refund/Return of Title IV Funds to the Federal Government

Financial aid recipients should be aware that all or a portion of any federal financial aid received may be required to be returned to the source in cases of complete withdrawal from the University. See the section on Payments and Policies for more information.

Deadlines

March 2 is the FAFSA and Cal Grant GPA Verification deadline for undergraduates to be considered for Cal Grants. March 2 is also the priority filing date for other aid programs. You should apply as early as possible for full consideration. Students who apply after the March 2 deadline are packaged with funds as available.

NDNU Grant and Scholarship Programs

Need-Based Grants and Scholarships

NDNU provides grants and scholarships to qualified full-time undergraduate students who may demonstrate financial need. Most scholarship awards are based on a combination of academic excellence, exceptional promise, leadership, service, athletic or artistic ability, and demonstrated need. Most may be renewed annually. Cumulative grade point average, activities, and leadership qualities are also reviewed. There is no separate financial aid application for these scholarships.

Merit Scholarships

Presidential Scholarships:
These scholarships are valued at $26,000 per year and are awarded to highly meritorious entering freshmen and transfers. During the first year, the Presidential Scholars will earn up to an additional $2,000 while serving as interns to the president, vice presidents, and deans.

Provost Scholarships:
These scholarships are valued at $16,000 per year and are awarded to meritorious freshmen and transfers.

Emerging Artist Talent Scholarships in Art, Writing, Music, and Theatre:
These scholarships are valued at up to $9,500 per year for entering freshmen and transfer students demonstrating talent in art, music, theatre, musical theatre, and writing.

Note: These scholarships will become a part of regular financial aid awards, based on students' eligibility for additional funds from NDNU and other agencies. Students will receive the value of the highest scholarship available to them. NDNU will guarantee a minimum of the value of the NDNU scholarship to those candidates selected for the award, with the understanding that students receiving outside grants and scholarships exceeding their financial need may see a reduction in this award if required under federal regulation. (This happens rarely.)