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 The Award Process

The Process

Once all documents have been received by the office and corrections (if any) have been made, the student's information is submitted for awarding. A student must be eligible for all types of awards based on criteria set by the federal government (U.S. Department of Education), the State government, and the institution.

Criteria

Criteria that must be established prior to a student receiving a financial aid award letter are:

• Matriculating Status (according to the Office of Admissions)
• Residency (according to the Office of Admissions)
• Cumulative Grade Point Average (according to the Registrar)
• (Anticipated) Enrollment (according to the Registrar)
• Grade Classification (according to the Registrar)
• Financial Need (according to the FAFSA Application)
• Satisfactory Standing on Financial Aid Programs (according to the U.S. Department of Education & Lending Institutions)

These criteria must be confirmed prior to any student being given an award. While utmost attention is given to ensure that the information is correct at the time of initial award, if the data in which the award is based changes, the award may be adjusted. When this happens, the student will be sent an updated Financial Aid Notification (Award) Letter.

Factors that may negatively impact financial aid award are: reduction in enrolled classes; corrections to the financial aid application information due to the Quality Assurance (QA) audit; changing residency information.

Not all factors affecting a student's award may be negative. Sometimes having a grade of "I" (Incomplete) being replaced with a letter grade can make the difference in the type of aid a student receives because the letter can positively affect the grade point average.

Residency is another factor that may positively affect financial aid awards in that a student classified as a Virginia resident may now have eligibility for Virginia grants in which a non-resident does not. This also means, however, that the student's overall award package total will be less because the Cost Of Attendance (COA) is less.

Financial Aid Information

For more information regarding the Financial Aid process at Norfolk State University, view at your convenience The Financial Aid Information Guide.

This guide contains information to assist students to better understand several financial aid processes, such as the financial aid application process, satisfactory academic progress, cost of attendance, the Return to Title IV process and scholarship search information.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for other questions regarding the award process.