Paying For College

FINANCIAL AID

More than $1.5 million in institutional aid is dispersed annually through our Office of Financial Aid, and 87 percent of our total student population receives some form of aid. More than 90 percent of our freshmen who apply get some type of aid. Approximately 50 percent of our graduates, who enroll as freshmen and graduate at Northwestern, accumulate no student debt! 

The office is located on the first floor of Herod Hall. You will visit the people in this office to discuss how to get help in paying for college, whether that’s through applying for scholarships and financial aid which includes loans, grants, and work study. 

The disbursement of your financial aid will be through the Bursar/Business Office at our Alva office.

For more information on scholarship deadlines, maximum monetary eligibility (cap) information or any other items relating to scholarships contact Carmen Gonser, scholarship coordinator, at (580) 327-8541 or cmgonser@nwosu.edu. For more information about financial aid, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at (580) 327-8542 or e-mail finaid@nwosu.edu.

What is Financial Aid and How Do I Apply?

There are different types of financial aid available at all three of our locations – institutional, state and federal in the form of scholarships, grants, loans and campus employment.

• Fill out the FREE Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form each year using Northwestern's code - 003163 - as soon as possible after October 1. Awards made until funds are depleted. The priority deadline for completing the FAFSA is July  1 each year.

• Each semester Northwestern recommends students enroll as full time students (12 credit hours for undergraduates or 9 credit hours for graduate students). Northwestern promotes the Complete College America initiative of 15 to Finish, encouraging students to enroll in at least 15 credit hours each semester (30 credits per academic year) so students stay on track to graduate on time.

• Once Northwestern receives your financial aid information, we will notify you if verification documents need to be provided, which could include tax documents from the IRS. When you are fully admitted to Northwestern and all necessary forms/documents are submitted to the financial aid office, your aid will be awarded. Your promptness in providing required documents will allow us to award eligible aid in a timely manner. Priority deadline for early awarding is July 1. Financial aid awards can be viewed online through the Self-service website.