Financial Aid Reminders for Spring 2024

We invite you to take a few moments to review important financial aid reminders for the upcoming spring semester. Consider printing this information or saving it in a convenient location so you may share it with students. Of course, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Financial Aid Office.

Apply for Spring Aid:

If students have not already done so, they may complete the 2023–2024 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and submit any items that may be requested on their NOVAConnect To-Do List to be considered for financial aid for Spring 2024 and Summer 2024. More information on applying for financial aid is available here. 

View Anticipated Financial Aid:

Financial aid offered for Spring 2024 before February 1 (the last day to drop 15-week courses with a tuition refund) is based on anticipated full-time enrollment. If students enroll in fewer than 12 eligible credits, their financial aid award may be reduced. To view anticipated financial aid based on current enrollment, students may log into NOVAConnect and follow the instructions provided here.

Tuition Payment Deadline:

After Wednesday, January 3, tuition payment is due the next business day after a student enrolls. If a student’s anticipated financial aid is less than the total cost of tuition and fees, the student will need to pay any remaining balance. A tutorial is provided here. One option for students to consider is NOVA’s payment plan. 

Grant Eligibility for Spring 2024:

Grant eligibility for Spring 2024 is based on enrollment as of February 1, 2024, so students should register for all the courses they plan to take during the entire spring term by February 1. Spring courses added on or after February 2 will not increase grant eligibility.

Purchase Books, Supplies and Laptops with Financial Aid:

If anticipated financial aid is more than what students owe for the Spring 2024 term, they may use their excess aid to purchase books, supplies or even a laptop through the NOVA bookstore from January 2 to March 26 after completing the Bookstore Authorization E-Form on their To-Do List. Please note that this form will appear on the NOVAConnect To-Do List only if students are eligible to complete it and have not already done so for the current academic year. More information is available here.

Financial Aid Disbursements and Refunds:

Financial aid for the spring term is typically disbursed (paid to the student account) by the third week of February for students who have attended at least 6 eligible credits past the last day to drop courses with a tuition refund (census date). If students have not attended at least 6 eligible credits past the session census date, their financial aid disbursement will be held until they do. Students enrolled in only 1–5 eligible credits will have any aid that they are eligible for disbursed after the census date for those courses has passed. Note that state aid is disbursed after students have attended the minimum number of eligible credits required for the respective state program past the course census date. Certain holds and incomplete To-Do List items on a student’s NOVAConnect account may prevent disbursement.

After disbursement, it may take an additional 1–2 weeks to receive any refund for excess financial aid, depending on the student’s refund preference. The quickest way to receive refunds is by direct deposit. A tutorial for managing refund preferences can be viewed here.

Impact of Dropping or Withdrawing from Courses:

Students should always contact the Financial Aid Office before dropping, withdrawing, auditing or deciding not to attend a course to confirm how it will affect their financial aid. Students should also review both the Return of Title IV Financial Aid Funds (R2T4) policy and the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy to make an informed decision.

Changes in enrollment can reduce a student’s financial aid eligibility, depending on the type of aid they have, how many credits they are no longer attending and the timing of when their enrollment changes.  Students are required to repay any financial aid that they are no longer eligible to receive, so they should check with the Financial Aid Office if they were awarded aid and are thinking about reducing their course load.

Review Financial Aid Messages:

Most financial aid communications are sent to the NOVAConnect Message Center and to the NOVA student email. Students should read all messages about their financial aid and follow up on any items that require action.

Questions:

Students are encouraged to visit a campus Financial Aid Office or email FinAidSupport@nvcc.edu if they need assistance. They may also call the Financial Aid Support Center at 1-855-323-3199 or submit a web case at https://mysupport.nvcc.edu/shp/vccs-northernvirginia/home.  

Submitted by:
Clint Young, Financial Aid, JCYoung@nvcc.edu