Money Matters

How can my student apply for financial aid?

For federal, state, and institutional aid, including Pell Grants, Federal Work Study and Federal Direct Student and Parent Loans, your student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. This application may be completed online at FAFSA.

Students and parents of dependent students need to apply for a federal PIN number at pin.ed.gov, which serves as your electronic signature when completing the FAFSA. Students may be required to provide additional information such as tax returns and W-2s, to the Office of Student Financial Aid. Please note that the FAFSA needs to be completed every year with updated tax information.

When are tuition and fees due?

Tuition due dates can be found at Student and Departmental Account Services.  E-billing statements are emailed to a student’s NAU e-mail account around the seventh of the month. To help you budget for educational expenses, the University offers a convenient, low cost way to spread out fall and spring tuition and fee charges over interest-free installments.

Please visit Tuition payment plan for more information and to enroll.

What is the Guardian Access?

Guardian Access enables your student to grant you, the parent or guardian (or other selected individuals), viewing access to financial data (e.g. charges, payments, 1098T), as well as provide you with the ability to make online payments on behalf of your student. Your student has the direct authority to grant, as well as revoke, access to their financial information.

Instructions for signing up for Guardian Access.

My student did not qualify for grant aid, but cannot afford to pay for school. What can be done?

There are various types of loans available from the Department of Education to assist your student with education costs. The Federal Direct Subsidized loan is available to students with demonstrated need (based on FAFSA information) and does not gain interest while the student is in school.The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan is non-need based and accrues interest while your student is in school. The amount that can be borrowed through these loans depends on your student’s class level and dependency status, however no credit check is required.

Parents of dependent students may also qualify (based on credit) for a Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS Loan). You as a parent may borrow an amount equal to the cost of education, minus any other financial aid received by the student. Non-federal loans for educational expenses are also available from private lenders.

My student applied for financial aid, but my financial status has changed dramatically since we filed the FAFSA. What should I do?

The financial aid application determines your student’s financial aid eligibility on the previous year’s tax information. If circumstances change, such as loss of income, loss of employment, divorce, or death in the family, you may have your eligibility reevaluated through an appeal process. Please complete a Parent/Student Contribution Appeal Form located at Office of Student Financial Aid and click on Forms.

Please submit the form, letter, and any supporting documentation to the Financial Aid Office in person, by mail, or via fax at (928) 523-1551.

Can you tell me more about the JacksCard and the accounts on it?

The JacksCard is your student’s university identification card. There are two accounts on the JacksCard, the JacksDebit Express and Dining Dollars.Both JDE and Dining Dollars work like a prepaid debit account. JDE can be used at the NAU Bookstore, the Recreation Center, Postal Services, vending machines, and to pay for laundry. The Dining Dollar account funds can be used tax-free to buy food on campus.

Students, family members, and guests can put money in the JDE account or the Dining Dollar account at JacksCard Office. You can also add JDE at the JacksCard Office or dining dollars at the Meal Planning Office, both located in the University Union. Meal plans are also accessed by using the JacksCard.