Financial aid is made available to students, who, without such help, would be unable to attend the University.

The philosophy of the Federal government is that the primary responsibility for financing a college education lies with the student and his or her family. University aid is viewed only as a supplement to the family support.

The amount of the student's financial need is based on the difference between anticipated educational expenses for the school year and a reasonable contribution from the total family and student financial resources. In determining the resources of the student and his/her family, the four major sources are: (1) family income, (2) family assets, (3) student's income and (4) student's assets.

Financial aid falls into one of four categories: grants, loans, employment or scholarships:

• Grants - gifts of money that do not have to be repaid.
• Loans - borrowed money which must be repaid with interest.
• Employment - allows students to work and earn needed money.
• Scholarships - gifts (usually cash) awarded on the basis of academic performance and potential.

Most financial aid recipients expect to receive more than one of these types of aid. The Student Financial Aid Office awards aid based upon an evaluation of the applicant’s eligibility for a particular type of aid and the availability of funds under the various aid programs.

Coursework that does not count toward the graduation requirements at UND (i.e. Math 102 Intermediate Algebra, all audited coursework) are also not counted for federal financial aid eligibility.

Files containing information regarding individual students are not open to the general public under the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. The release of such information shall only be made in conformance with the University’s policy as contained in the Code of Student Life and the Student Financial Aid Office’s Release of Records Policy.

The Financial Aid Award Process