Applying for Financial Aid

A key step in receiving financial aid is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which can be done online at StudentAid.gov. This is a mobile friendly site, so you can submit your FAFSA securely and safely from your computer or mobile device.   

Follow these three steps to complete your FAFSA: 

1. Create your StudentAid.gov account if you don't already have one. Every contributor to your FAFSA (student, spouse, parent, or parent's spouse) will need a StudentAid.gov account before accessing and completing their section of the online FAFSA. Be sure to enter your name and Social Security Number (SSN) exactly as they appear on your Social Security card.  
2. Gather records of your income, bank statements and other financial information.
3. Complete and submit your FAFSA. The federal school code for Nebraska Methodist College is 009937. Income information can be transferred from the IRS into your FAFSA, using the FUTURE Act Direct Data Exchange (FA-DDX). This ensures that the correct information gets reported on your FAFSA, and it reduces your chances of being selected for verification. In order to enhance the security and privacy of sensitive personal data transferred to the FAFSA from the IRS, the imported data will be masked and will not be displayed for you to view.

Important tips & reminders:

• The FAFSA is usually available starting Oct. 1 in the year prior to the start of the academic year.  However, the 2025-2026 FAFSA won't be available until December 2024. 
• FAFSA applications may be open for multiple academic years, so be sure to select the correct one.
• The FAFSA must be submitted each academic year for most financial aid programs.
• NMC's FAFSA priority date for need-based aid is March 1 prior to the fall semester.
• The FAFSA is free! If you are asked to pay a fee, you are on the wrong site.

Check the status of your FAFSA in your StudentAid.gov account. After logging in, select your FAFSA submission from the "My Activity" section of the Dashboard. Keep in mind that all contributors must provide their signature and consent before your FAFSA will be processed. 

Review your FAFSA Submission Summary, which provides basic information about your eligibility for federal financial aid and includes the information you reported on your FAFSA. Review your information and submit any necessary corrections.  

NMC typically begins reviewing applications and corresponding with financial aid applicants in March for the following fall term.  After that time, notifications are usually sent out within 1-2 weeks of receiving the FAFSA results. Processing for new students with spring and summer start dates will begin after those admission decisions are made. 

1. After NMC receives and reviews the results of your FAFSA, we will inform you of your status.
   Most correspondence will be sent by email. Prior to the start of a student's first semester of enrollment, we use the personal email address reported on the FAFSA or the one on file at the College. Once your classes begin, the majority of correspondence will be sent to your college email account. An email notification may tell you that we need additional information and/or documentation before we can determine your financial aid eligibility. 
2. Once we are able to determine your eligibility, we will notify you that your financial aid offer is ready for you to view.
   It is your responsibility to access your account on the NMC Financial Aid Portal to view details about documentation requirements and/or your financial aid offer. It is important to act promptly when you receive these communications.  If you do not respond, we are unable to continue processing your application. 
3. Initial offers are typically based on full-time enrollment.
   Notify the Financial Aid Office as soon as possible if you plan to enroll part-time, as it could affect the amount of your financial aid.
4. If your family's financial situation changes, please contact the Financial Aid Office.
   If the family income you reported on the FAFSA does not reflect your family's current ability to pay for your educational expenses, please contact the NMC Financial Aid Office to discuss your options. Examples of typical life changes include loss of employment or other income, separation or divorce, death of spouse or parent, excessive unreimbursed payments for medical/dental expenses, etc. Appropriate documentation will be needed to support your request. 
5. Federal aid is not automatically renewed so students must reapply each academic year.
   The FAFSA is usually available beginning Oct. 1 prior to the fall semester of the new academic year, but the 2025-2026 FAFSA will not be available until December 2024. The priority date to be considered for NMC’s need-based aid is March 1 prior to the fall semester. 

NMC merit scholarships are automatically renewed provided the necessary criteria are met. Academic progress is reviewed at the end of summer term in August, and notifications are sent to students who are not eligible for renewal.