Financial Aid Checklist

Contact Financial Aid if you need help or have questions.

• Meet the basic eligibility criteria to qualify for aid
• Create a StudentAid.gov Account before starting your FAFSA form. Your StudentAid.gov Account username and password is needed to sign the FAFSA, complete your Master Promissory Note and Loan Counseling and review federal student aid you’ve received.

See Who Needs a FSA ID (PDF)

• The Purdue Northwest Federal School Code is 001827
• Your FAFSA must be received by the federal processor on or before April 15, 2025 for the 2025-26 year to be considered for 21st Century Scholars and Frank O’Bannon grant.
• Contact Financial Aid if you have Special Circumstances or Unusual Circumstances which may result in a Financial Aid Adjustment

Access the FAFSA

Scholarships are gift aid (free money) for college.

• Purdue Northwest is now using Scholarship Universe, a new personalized process to match and apply to both PNW scholarships and scholarships outside of PNW. The deadline to apply for most PNW scholarships is March 1 each year. Continue to use Scholarship Universe for external scholarships after the deadline.

The Office of Financial Aid uses your PNW email and Student Self-Service to communicate financial aid information and changes to your account. Emails and messages are sent throughout the aid year.

After your FAFSA is processed, you will receive a FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS). The FSS is a summary of your FAFSA data and will display your Student Aid Index (SAI) which is used to determine your aid eligibility. Your FAFSA information will be received by Purdue Northwest after it is processed by the federal processor.

• Learn how to correct or update your FAFSA form
• If your file has been selected for verification or additional documentation is requested, you will be notified through your PNW email and messages on the Self-Service Banner. Turn in the required documents to receive your official financial aid offer!
• Use the Checking for Required Documents tutorial to find out what is needed.
• All state aid edits must be resolved before state aid can be received; check ScholarTrack for a list of edits.
• If you have a Consortium Agreement complete it by the deadline (complete steps 1 -3 by the end of the first week of classes).

Once your FAFSA has been received and all requirements have been met, watch for your official financial aid notification. Students with unsatisfied requirements will receive an estimated financial aid notification. Official offers are based on your Student Aid Index (SAI), grade level, enrollment status and other factors. View How Aid is Calculated for more information.

• Review the Loans and Important Federal Loan Information webpages
• Accept or decline your Federal Student Loans or Federal Work Study (if offered) in Student Self-Service
• Use the Viewing and Accepting Awards tutorial for how to accept or decline

If you are a first-time borrower at PNW and have accepted Federal student loans you will need to complete Loan Entrance Counseling and the Master Promissory Note before your loans will be disbursed (paid) to your account. Tutorials are available to assist you.

• If you are offered a Federal Direct Subsidized loan, accept it before your Federal Direct Unsubsidized loan

Your financial aid will be applied to your current tuition and fee charges first.

• If financial aid is canceled or does not pay all tuition and fees, you are responsible for the remaining charges
• Avoid having your classes canceled by setting up a payment plan or paying your tuition and fee charges in full
• If the amount of your refundable financial aid is greater than your bill for the semester tuition and fees you will receive a refund from the Bursar’s Office via direct deposit or paper check. Go to Refunds and Deadlines for information on how to set up direct deposit.
• Changes in enrollment or other factors may result in award revisions and/or a balance due. Refunds issued to you that you are no longer eligible for must be returned.
• Talk to Financial Aid before changing enrollment or withdrawing from classes to understand the impact to your aid and eligibility

• File a FAFSA and complete the PNW Scholarship Application each year
• Monitor Important Dates and Deadlines
• Manage your Federal Student Loans
  • Dependent undergraduates may borrow up to $31,000 in Federal Direct Loans
  • Independent undergraduates may borrow up to $57,500 in Federal Direct Loans
• Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements
  • The same class may only be taken twice with a D grade or higher to be eligible for Federal and State financial aid
• Talk to Financial Aid before changing enrollment or withdrawing from classes to understand the impact to your aid and eligibility