Help Paying for College



 

CONTACT

Financial Aid/Veterans' Office
University Transfer Center - Room 211
Phone: 715-365-4423 or 1-800-544-3039 ext. 4423
Email: klatal@nicoletcollege.edu

School Code: 00891900                                I Need a Form  


EVENT: College Goal Wisconsin - Sunday, February 19, 2012
Rhinelander High School at 2:00 pm
Get help completing the required financial forms for Fall 2012
More details at College Goal Wisconsin


Federal Financial Aid

The Financial Aid/Veterans' Office provides information about financial aid and assists students seeking financial aid. Although the major responsibility for financing a college education resides with the student, Nicolet College is able to assist students in meeting their educational expenses. Assistance may be in the form of grants, scholarships, loans, employment, or a combination of these.

Many of the financial aid programs are based upon financial need. Financial need is the difference between the student's established educational expenses and resources the student and/or family should have available to meet those costs. They include the following:

  • Grants are financial aid that does not have to be paid back.
  • Work-study enables students to work and earn money to help pay for school.
  • Loans are borrowed money which must be repaid with interest.
  • Scholarships are similar to grants in that there is no obligation to repay them. Scholarships generally are not need based. Academic achievement and service are the main criteria. For more information contact the Financial Aid/Veterans' Office at 715-365-4423.

Application Process

Students can apply for federal aid by completing and submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students should submit a FAFSA online. By completing the FAFSA application, you are applying for all types of aid which include: federal and state grants, student loans and work study. Students need to apply each academic year. Students should apply as soon after January 1 as possible. Students will need to complete the FAFSA using prior year tax returns. It is best to complete the tax return as early as possible.

FAFSA Online

FAFSA Printable

Step 1: PIN Number

To sign a FAFSA online, a PIN (Personal Identification Number) is required. For dependent students, a parent will also need a PIN number. Students and parents may obtain a PIN at www.pin.ed.gov.

PIN Number

Step 2: The FAFSA Application

Federal School Code: 008919 

The FAFSA determines if a student is eligible to receive state and/or federal funding. You can complete a FAFSA on the Web Worksheet first to help you complete the on-line application, this recommended but it is not required. Worksheets are available to print from the FAFSA website and at the college’s Financial Aid Office.

  • Once the Department of Education has processed the application, the student will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). This is a record of the FAFSA application, not the financial aid award.
  • The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) listed on the SAR is derived from the information listed on the FAFSA. It measures the family's financial strength to determine eligibility for student aid.
  • During the application process, the student may be selected for verification by the Department of Education. The Financial Aid Office will request the appropriate documentation, if necessary.

Eligibility Requirements
  • Apply for admission to an aid-eligible program (Associate Degree or Technical Diploma)
  • Meet program entry requirements as determined by the academic counselor before the start of the term and have an admitted status into the requested program
  • Be a U.S. citizen, a National or a permanent resident of the United States
  • Demonstrate financial need as determined by NATC’s Financial Aid Office using the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) application results
  • Not be in default on any educational loan and/or owe any repayment of grants to Nicolet Area Technical College or any previously attended educational institution
  • Be in compliance with Selective Service
  • Be enrolled in courses that count towards completion of student’s program of study
  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the NATC's Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.

 

Grants

 

Pell Grants are awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or professional degree. For many students, Pell Grants provide a foundation of financial aid to which other aid may be added.

Talent Incentive Program Grants provide assistance to the most needy and educationally disadvantaged Wisconsin resident students attending Nicolet. Eligibility cannot exceed ten semesters.

Wisconsin Higher Education Grants provide grant assistance to undergraduate, Wisconsin residents enrolled at least half time in degree or certificate programs at Nicolet.

Indian Student Grants are made to Wisconsin residents who are a least twenty-five percent Native American and are undergraduate students enrolled in degree and certificate programs at Nicolet. Awards are based on financial need with a limit of ten semesters of eligibility.

Minority Retention Grants are made to resident minority undergraduates, excluding first-year students, enrolled at least half time at Nicolet.

The Handicapped Student Grant Program was established to provide funding for Wisconsin residents who show financial need and have a severe or profound hearing or visual impairment.

A Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is for students with exceptional financial need, that is, students with the lowest Expected Family Contributions (EFCs) and gives priority to students who receive Federal Pell Grants.

An Academic Competitiveness Grants (ACG) are for full time undergraduate students who receive Pell Grants and also have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study. Students must be enrolled in at least a two-year academic program acceptable for full credit toward a bachelor’s degree. Students must not have been previously enrolled in an undergraduate program and have graduated from high school after January 1, 2006.

 

Loans

 

Federal Direct Student Loans

Nicolet Area Technical College will process all Federal Stafford and Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) through the William D. Ford Direct Loan (DL) Program. This program replaces the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program on our campus.

Student Loans, unlike grants and work-study are borrowed money that must be repaid with interest. Before you take out a student loan consider carefully the amount that you will have to repay in the years after graduation.

Ninety-eight percent of financial aid recipients are eligible for either a Direct Subsidized Loan or a Direct Unsubsidized Loan, or a portion of both loans.

  • Federal Direct Subsidized Loans are offered to undergraduate and graduate students on the basis of financial need. While attending school, the government pays the interest that accrues on these loans. Payments can be made at any time before repayment begins. Repayment of principal and interest begins approximately six months after graduation, if attendance goes below half-time status, or if withdrawn from program.
  • Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans are offered to undergraduate and graduate students regardless of financial need. The student is responsible for paying all interest of any Unsubsidized Loan from the date of disbursement until the loan(s) is paid in full. If the student chooses not to pay interest while attending school, the interest will accrue and be capitalized. Repayment of principal and interest begins six months after graduation, when enrollment goes below half-time status, or when withdrawn from program.

 


Loan Limits and Interest Rates

A students award is based on eligibility, and additional steps may be required in order to receive the maximum amounts listed below.

                                  Subsidized     Unsubsidized**   Maximum
Dependent Student 
          1st Year              $3,500           $5,500          $5,500

          2nd Year             $4,500           $6,500           $6,500
Independent Student
          1st Year              $3,500           $9,500          $9,500
          2nd Year             $4,500           $10,500         $10,500

                                                                  ** minus any subsidized award

 

Loan Entrance Counseling 


Loan Borrowing Requirements

If a student is a new loan recipient at Nicolet Area Technical College and awarded a Federal Direct Loan, the student is required to complete:

  Loan Entrance Counseling
 Master Promissory Note

Loan Entrance Counseling

The purpose of the Loan Entrance Counseling session is to inform students of their rights and obligations as Direct Loan borrowers. NATC will be notified when the Loan Entrance Counseling requirement has been met.

Master Promissory Note (MPN)

The MPN is a legally-binding contract between the U.S. Department of Education and a borrower. The promissory note contains the terms and conditions of the loan, including how and when the loan must be repaid.

Accept/Decline your Student Loans

  Accept/Decline your Student Loans by logging into MyNicolet


Loan Exit Counseling


It is a requirement that any student who receives a loan (s) must complete a Loan Exit Counseling session prior to graduating or if there has been a change of status during the school year. Examples of a change of status would be withdrawing from school, falling below half-time status, not meeting satisfactory progress, or transferring to a different college.

Complete Loan Exit Counseling  (When the new browser window opens, look near the middle of the screen under "Exit Counseling.")

Exit Counseling Guide for Direct Loan Borrowers (PDF)

Student Loan Repayment (PDF)

Know What You Owe (PDF)


Parent Plus Loans

Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) are education loans for parents of undergraduate dependent students (students required to provide parent information on the FAFSA application) who are pursuing an education. PLUS loans are available to parents regardless of income or assets, but a credit check is performed. Parents may borrow up to the Cost of Attendance, minus the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) derived from the FAFSA, minus any other financial aid the student has already received.

The PLUS Loan goes into repayment 60 days after it is fully disbursed for the year and is the financial responsibility of the parents, not the student. If the student agrees to make payments on the PLUS Loan, but fails to make the payments on time, the parent will be held responsible. Interest rates at this time are fixed at 7.9%.

To ensure that your PLUS loan is processed in a timely manner, you will need to complete the Nicolet Area Technical College PLUS Loan Request and Authorization Form, the Online PLUS Request Process, and the Online Master Promissory Note (MPN) as follows:

Step 1: Complete the NATC PLUS Loan Request and Authorization Form

Step 2: Complete the Online PLUS Request Process

Step 3: Complete Online Master Promissory Note (MPN)

 

Alternative Loans

Alternative or ‘private’ student loans can be an important funding source for students who need more loan funds than the federal programs can supply or who are ineligible for federal student loans.

Alternative loan programs have various interest rates and terms of repayment. Alternative loans are not federally guaranteed and can take several weeks to process. All alternative loan programs require a credit check on either the borrower, co-signer or both. Before applying for an Alternative Loan, we suggest meeting with NATC’s Financial Aid Director to access eligibility and to obtain more specific information regarding the application process.

Wisconsin Nursing Student Loans

Nursing Student Loans are available to students accepted into either the Associate Degree Nursing or Licensed Practical Nursing programs. Students must be Wisconsin residents and demonstrate financial need as determined by completing the FAFSA.

For nursing program graduates who become licensed RN or LPN and work in Wisconsin for a least two years, 50% of this loan may be forgiven.



Federal Work-Study

 

Click here for more information on federal work-study.



Veterans Services

 

Veterans who have earned eligibility for benefits through active military service, selective reserve or National Guard, may be certified to receive them through the Financial Aid Office or County Veterans Service Office. State and federal benefits include: Montgomery G.I. Bill, Dependents, Selective Reserve, National Guard, Disabled Veterans and State of Wisconsin Part-Time Study. Most Nicolet programs are approved for benefits from state or federal programs. For specific questions on your benefits see you County Veterans Services Officer or visit one of the links below.

 

FEDERAL LINKS
STATE LINKS

Federal GI Bill Benefits

WI Dept of Veterans Affairs

Enrollment Verification for
Federal GI Bill (WAVE)

WI GI Bill Brochure /
Application Process (PDF)

New GI Bill FAQs

Veterans Frequently Asked Questions - WI GI Bill

Post-9/11 GI Bill Website Step-By-Step Guide

WI Veterans Education Online Application

Chapter 33 Transferability Process for Dependent
or Spouse

National Guard Application

WI GI Bill Updates for January 2010

National Guard Tuition Grant

Guide for Federal Veterans Benefits (USDVA)

WI GI Bill Certification Status

  

Veterans Seeking Employment /
Training Services

 COUNTY LINK
 

 List of County Veterans Service Officers

 

 

 

Many veterans of military service are eligible for educational assistance in the form of financial aid, tutoring, and counseling through the U.S. Veterans Administration, the Wisconsin Dept. of Veterans Affairs, and Nicolet College. Disabled veterans are eligible for additional benefits.

Children and spouses of veterans who died, became totally disabled, M.I.A., or captured as a result of military service may be eligible for educational assistance.

It is the responsibility of the student receiving veteran educational benefits to promptly notify the Financial Aid/Veterans’ Office of changes in enrollment, dependents, or address. For further information, contact the Financial Aid/Veterans Office, phone 715-365-4423.

A new Wisconsin Veterans program called the Wisconsin GI Bill allows Wisconsin Veterans to receive a 100% tuition remission and spouses or dependents of eligible veterans to receive a 100% tuition remission. Contact the Financial Aid/Veterans Office for specific details.

 

Scholarships

 

Over 200 scholarships totaling $188,000 have been awarded to Nicolet College students this year through the Nicolet College Foundation. Click here for more information on scholarships.


Federal Title IV Funds Return Policy and
Refund of Federal Funds Distribution

 

IMPORTANT - Review this policy before withdrawing from courses or discontinuing attendance.

If a student has received federal or state financial aid assistance and has officially or unofficially withdrawn (commonly known as ‘dropout’) from Nicolet Area Technical College, a percentage of the financial aid received, may need to be returned. Click here for more information on Title IV Funds.

 

 

Forms

 

2010-2011 FORMS

Application for Financial Aid
FAFSA on the Web Worksheet
Special Circumstances/Professional Judgment Request
Dependent Verification Worksheet 2010-2011
Independent Verification Worksheet 2010-2011
Income Explanation
Selective Service Verification
Bachelor Degree Enrollment/Certification
Consortium Agreement
Additional Loan Request

 

2011-2012 FORMS

Dependent Verification Worksheet 2011-2012
Independent Verification
Homeless, Orphan, Ward of the Court
Income Explanation
Default Clearance
Selective Service Verification
Discharged Loans
Bachelors Degree Enrollment/Certification
Citizenship Verification
SSN – DOB Student
SSN - DOB Parent
Special Circumstances


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