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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
Work-Study
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

Work-study is a financial aid program that allows eligible students to earn money toward their educational expenses by working a part-time job at one of the NOVA campuses. The work-study program is administered by Campus Work-Study Coordinators and the College Financial Aid Office.

Students must be eligible for federal financial aid, be enrolled in at least 6 credits, and have demonstrated financial need in order to potentially qualify for federal work-study. All work-study awards are contingent on the student’s eligibility, funding, and approval by the NOVA Human Resources Department and the College Financial Aid Office.

Learn More

Priority Application Date for Summer 2012 Session	April 1, 2012
Priority Application Date for Fall 2012 New and Returning Students	May 1, 2012
Priority Application Date for Spring 2013 New Students	October 1, 2012
Priority Application Date for Summer 2013 Session	April 1, 2013

Latest News

Second 8-Week Adjustments
03.26.13
The second 8-week term census date was March 26. The College Financial Aid Office has begun the adjustment period. Your award will be adjusted to reflect your actual enrollment and then applied to your outstanding balance. If you have aid remaining, it will be mailed to the address you have on record with the College. Please allow 7-14 business days from the time you see your aid applied to your account, via MyNova, for your refund check to arrive. If it has been more than 14 business days, contact the Financial Aid Support Center.
Be sure to check MyNOVA for updates.

Adjustments Have Begun
02.04.13
The census date was February 1. The College Financial Aid Office has begun the adjustment period. Your award will be adjusted to reflect your actual enrollment and then applied to your outstanding balance. If you have aid remaining, it will be mailed to the address you have on record with the College. Please allow 7-14 business days from the time you see your aid applied to your account, via MyNova, for your refund check to arrive. If it has been more than 14 business days, contact the Financial Aid Support Center. Be sure to check MyNOVA for updates.

NOVA in 3 Hot Minutes Talks Financial Aid
02.04.13
Check out the video on NOVA iTunes U and NOVAaccess YouTube. Additionally, the video will be programmed to play on the College’s Digital Signage System.

Financial Aid Newsletter – “Greenback”
08.03.12
Check out the new look of the latest issue of 'The Financial Aid Greenback,' NOVA's quarterly newsletter that helps students stay up-to-date on the latest and greatest in the world of financial aid. This issue will be available in electronic form with some limited copies at your campus financial aid office. Check it out and share your feedback on our Facebook page!

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.