Does Financial Aid Cover My Balance?

Does Financial Aid Cover My Balance?

Review Your Anticipated Financial Aid Based on your Current Enrollment

If you are enrolled in less than 12 eligible credits, the financial aid you see offered on your myNOVA account may be reduced after the term census date (the last day to drop with a tuition refund for the longest session of the fall, spring, or summer term as shown on the Academic Calendar). Follow the steps below to view the amount of aid you qualify for based on your current enrollment and to determine if it is enough to cover your charges.

View Anticipated Financial Aid and Total Charges

  1. Log in to myNOVA.
  2. Click on SIS: Student Information System and then click My Student Information.
  3. Scroll down to the Finances and click on Select College. Select Northern Virginia Community College as your institution. Select appropriate term and Aid Year to view respective anticipated financial aid and total charges. Save your selection.
     
  4. Scroll down to the Finances and click Account Inquiry.
  5. Click the yellow button that reads CLICK HERE to see Pending Financial Aid Based on Actual Enrollment.

    Important Notes:
    1. Courses that do not apply to your degree or certificate are not eligible for financial aid and are not included in the Pending Financial Aid calculation.
    2. If you accepted a federal Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loan, you must enroll in at least six eligible credits and complete the Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling at https://studentaid.gov before the loan is counted as Pending Financial Aid. A tutorial for accepting loans is provided on the financial aid blog. 

  6. View the total amount due under Account Inquiry.


If your pending financial aid is MORE than the total cost of your tuition & fees, no amount will be shown in the Total Due section. It will be left blank as shown below.

If your pending financial aid is LESS than the total cost of your tuition & fees, the remaining balance that you owe will be displayed in the Total Due section as shown below.

Be sure to pay the Total Due by the payment deadline.

If your Pending Financial Aid Based on Actual Enrollment is more than your Outstanding Charges then you do not need to make a payment.

Important Notes About Financial Aid Disbursements:

  • Most federal and institutional aid is disbursed 2-3 weeks after you have attended at least 6 eligible credits past the course census date if you do not have any holds or incomplete To Do List items on your NOVAConnect account that prevent disbursement.
  • State aid is disbursed after you have attended the minimum number of eligible credits required for the respective state program past the course census date.
  • Aid for students enrolled in only 1-5 eligible credits is disbursed after they have attended past the course census date.
  • No aid is disbursed before the term census (the last day to drop with a tuition refund for the longest session of the fall, spring, or summer term).
  • At the time of loan disbursement, students must be currently attending at least 6 eligible credits past the course census date or they must have already successfully completed at least 6 eligible credits during the term.

Payment Options

If your Pending Financial Aid Based on Actual Enrollment is less than your Outstanding Charges, please pay the Total Due by the payment deadline. Options to consider include:

  • Make a Payment online through your NOVAConnect account for the remaining balance.
  • Enroll in NOVA’s Payment Plan to cover the remaining balance.
  • Visit the Payment Methods website for additional information.