Financing Your College Education

State and Federal Financial Aid

The most commonly used source of college funding is state and federal financial aid. Disability - related expenses, such as, special equipment and assistive technology related to the disability; cost of services for personal use, not covered by other providers; medical supplies and other expenses not covered by insurance that relate directly to the individual’s disability and expenses previously covered by the family budget, such as, food and veterinary bills for guide dogs or batteries for hearing aids.

Be sure to inform the financial aid counselor of the disability-related expenses to be covered. Contact the UND Financial Aid Office at (701) 777-3121, or on the web at: http://und.edu/admissions/financial-aid/

The state of North Dakota offers students who are residents of North Dakota or who live in other states but graduated from high school in North Dakota grants and academic scholarships. In addition, the State offers a loan forgiveness program for teachers and a loan repayment program for graduates in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics occupations who work in the state. For information and applications go to: http://www.ndus.edu/students/paying-for-college/grants-scholarships/

Scholarships

Each year, UND awards thousands of dollars in academic scholarships to students with outstanding GPA’s. Check the UND Financial Aid website for applications and deadlines: http://und.edu/admissions/financial-aid/

DSS awards scholarships to pre-freshmen, new transfer students and currently enrolled, undergraduate, students with disabilities who have earned 12 credits at UND.

DSS also maintains a list of scholarships that only includes scholarships for currently enrolled students who have a disability. They are grouped by type of disability for easy use. Scholarships are typically awarded in the spring for the following year, so students are encouraged to start researching opportunities in the fall semester.

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION

The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation's goal is to develop, improve, or restore the ability of people with disabilities to become gainfully employed. VR is an eligibility program, not an entitlement program. To qualify, an individual must have a physical or mental disability that causes a barrier to employment and who can benefit from the services VR has to offer in regard to employment and/or participation in a training program (for example, a college degree.) VR may be able to help a student with expenses not covered by other resources, such as federal financial aid, insurance benefits, other agencies or the college.

To find out if you qualify, contact the regional office near your home. The North Dakota VR offices are listed in the blue pages of the phone book under State Government. In Minnesota, VR is listed under Rehabilitation Services.

Money for college is available. Take the time to find it!