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Financial Aid

Our scholarships, grants, loans and work-study opportunities can make your college education more affordable than you ever thought possible. Need-based financial aid is not available to international students, although many students can qualify for loans without demonstrating need.

Financial Aid
Loans
Scholarships
Grants
Filing Dates

Applying for financial aid is simple -- just follow our easy guide or view the FAFSA Tutorial.

NOVA is now 100% Direct Lending. Loans are money that you or your parents borrow and repay with interest. Education loans are offered at low interest rates and have long repayment terms. Some loans require a demonstration of need, others do not.

Learn More

Scholarships are awards that do not have to be paid back and are based on student performance and talent. Some scholarships consider financial need when determining eligibility.

Students looking for grants Grants are financial awards that are based on demonstration of financial need and do not have to be paid back.

See Grants available to NOVA students

Priority Application Date for Summer 2011 Session	April 1, 2011
Priority Application Date for Fall 2011 New and Returning Students	May 1, 2011
Priority Application Date for Spring 2012 New Students	October 1, 2011
Priority Application Date for Summer 2012 Session	April 1, 2012

Latest News

Super Saturday at Alexandria and Annandale Campuses
02.02.12
Get assistance with completing the 2012-2013 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASA) on February 4 at the 2012 NOVA Super Saturday workshops at the Alexandria and Annandale Campuses. Representatives will be on hand to give one-on-one assistance to help students complete and file the FAFSA. This event is free to the public, students and parents.

Alexandria Campus: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Annandale Campus: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Click here to view the Virginia Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (VASFAA) Super Saturday Presentation.

Disbursements
02.02.12
Adjustments and disbursements have begun. If you are not enrolled and attending at least 12 credits for any term, your awards will likely be reduced prior to disbursement. Check the financial aid brochure or NOVA website for the requirements of different aid types. If you drop or fail to attend a later-starting class, your Pell Grant and potentially other aid will be further reduced. For more information, please visit the Financial Aid website.

Excess Aid Checks
02.02.12
Excess aid checks for students with aid on September 8 will be mailed by the Commonwealth of Virginia 1-2 weeks after disbursement. Go to NOVAConnect to verify that your correct mailing address is on file. If you are enrolled part-time, but do not begin attending until later in the term, your refund check will not be released until after your part-time enrollment census date.

Financial Aid Support Center
02.02.12
The NOVA Financial Aid Office has launched the brand new Financial Aid Support Center that includes a single support telephone number for all campuses (1-855-323-3199), self-help knowledge base, live chat and much more available to you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information and to visit the support center, click here.

View Past News

Who Is Eligible?

To qualify for financial aid, you must:

Be enrolled in an eligible program of study.
Maintain satisfactory academic standing.
Not be in default on a federal educational loan or owe a repayment to a federal grant.

State and federally funded aid programs require:

U.S. citizenship
Permanent residency or refugee status
Virginia residency (state funds only)
Federal school code for NOVA 003727

Credits for audited courses do not count in any financial aid eligibility calculation. Most courses taken through the Extended Learning Institute may qualify for financial aid eligibility. All financial aid programs require placement in an eligible degree or certificate curriculum.