YES! Many families mistakenly think they don't qualify for aid and prevent themselves from receiving financial aid by failing to apply for it. In addition, there are a few sources of aid such as unsubsidized Stafford and PLUS loans that are available regardless of need. The FAFSA form is free.

No. You can apply for financial aid any time after January 1. To actually receive funds, however, you must be admitted and enrolled at the university.

The priority filing date is the date set by a university by which the federal processor must receive your financial aid application for priority consideration for financial aid. At MSU-Northern, the priority filing date is April 15th of the year for which you are applying for financial aid. So if you are applying for financial aid for the 2009-2010 school year, your FAFSA should reach the federal processor by April 15, 2009 to be considered for the greatest amount of available financial aid.

The first step to apply for financial aid at MSU-Northern is to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Certain types of aid do require additional paperwork after you have been awarded, but the FAFSA is the only application required to determine your eligibility. How to Apply

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the application for all federal and state aid programs. Indicate Montana State University-Northern's code (#002533) in the school release section of the application.

A PIN, personal identification number, lets you “sign” your online Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It also allows you to make corrections to your application information.

Generally, all you will need is your federal tax return (IRS 1040, 1040A, or 1040 EZ). You may also want to have your W-2 forms and any other records of money earned in the tax year you are using to complete the FAFSA. This would include records of untaxed income, such as welfare, social security, AFDC or ADC, or veteran's benefits. You may also need to use current bank statement, business or farm records and any records of stocks, bonds or other investments.

YES! You must reapply for financial aid each year by completing the next year's Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Note that your eligibility for financial aid may change significantly, especially if you have a different number of family members in college. Renewal of your financial aid package also depends on your making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree, such as earning a minimum number of credits and achieving a minimum GPA.

- Be properly admitted or currently enrolled in a degree-granting or certificate program.
- Be enrolled at least half-time to receive aid for most programs.
- Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen.
- Be making satisfactory academic progress.
- Be registered with Selective Service if required to do so.
- Have a valid social security number.
- Not be in default on any educational loan.
- Not owe a refund on a Federal Pell Grant or on a Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant.

You will receive your Student Aid Report (SAR), which is verification that you filed the FAFSA and that it has been processed, by e-mail 3-5 days after your FAFSA has been processed, if you provided an e-mail address when you applied. This e-mail will contain a secure link so you can access your SAR online. If you have a “junk” folder or “spam” folder in your e-mail files, check it. The e-mail from us might be delivered there instead of to your inbox. We encourage you to add the FAFSA e-mail address, FederalStudentAidFAFSA@cpsemial.ed.gov, to your e-mail address book to help avoid delivery problems. You will receive a paper Student Aid Report (SAR) by mail in 7-10 days after your FAFSA has been processed, if you do not provide an e-mail address when you apply. FAFSA will automatically send your data electronically to the schools you listed on your FAFSA. Questions about FAFSA processing can be directed to the Federal Student Aid Information Center (1-800-433-3243). You can also determine the status of your FAFSA application through the Department of Education's FAFSA web site.

Check to make sure MSU-Northern is one of the schools listed in Step Six of your Student Aid Report (SAR).

Since corrections to your financial aid application data may affect your eligibility, you should contact the Financial Aid Office to find out whether or not the corrections are necessary and whether or not the Financial Aid Office can make those corrections electronically. You may also be able to correct your information through the Department of Education's FAFSA web site.

You can make a correction to your FAFSA online and add Northern’s school code (002533) electronically. MSUN can do this if you provide the Financial Aid Office with certain information from your Student Aid Report including the DRN. You can also call the federal processor at 1-319-337-5665 and have MSU-Northern added by phone. You will need to provide the federal processor with some information from your Student Aid Report and the Title IV School Code Number for MSUN which is: 002533.

TO BE INDEPENDENT, you must meet ONE or MORE of the following requirements:
     - Born before January 1, 1986
     - Veteran of U.S. Armed Forces (If so, please submit a copy of your DD 2-14)
     - Enrolled in a master’s or doctoral degree program at the beginning of the
       2000- 2010 academic year
     - Married (If you are under the age of 24, please submit a copy of your
       Marriage certificate)
     - Both your parents are deceased, or you are (or were until age 18) a ward or
       dependent of the court
     - If you have legal dependents other than a spouse or your children
     - You have children who receive more than half their support from you
     - You are currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other
       than training.
     - Any time since you turned age 13, were both parents deceased, were you in foster
       care or were you a dependent or ward of the court
     - Emancipated minor as determined by a court in your state of legal residence
     - In legal guardianship as determined by a court in your state of legal residence
     - Any time on or after July 1, 2008, did your high school or school district homeless
       liaison determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?
     - At any time on or after July 1, 2008, did the director of an emergency shelter or
       transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
       Development determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?
     - At any time on or after July 1, 2008, did the director of a runaway or homeless
       youth basic center or transitional living program determine that you were an
       unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of
       being homeless?
     - Are you an eligible noncitizen of the USA? (See Page 2 of FAFSA
      “Notes for questions 13-14”)
             IF YES, please submit a photocopy of your Alien Registration card from the
             U.S. Immigration Service

Were you picked for verification by the Pell grant Processors? (You will find this information on you SAR) If you were picked for verification you will need to request a “verification worksheet” from the Financial Aid Office. You will need to submit a signed photocopy of your 2008 Federal Tax Return (if you have filed or will file). You will also need to submit a signed photocopy of your parents’ 2008 Federal Tax Return (only dependent students need to submit parent documentation).