Aid Eligibility & Applying

To qualify for U.S. federal student assistance you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
• Be enrolled as a regular student working towards a degree.
• Be enrolled at least half-time, i..e, 8-15.99 credit hours for fall or spring semesters, or 4.5-8.99 credit hours for March or summer terms. (When a student drops to less than half-time study, she or he becomes ineligible for federal aid and enters the student loan grace period.)
• Be making satisfactory academic progress according to the College’s Student Handbook.
• Qualify for aid according to federal need analysis.
• Not be in default on a previous education loan or owe a repayment of an education grant.
• Have a valid social security number.

When to Apply

These deadlines apply to all students, no matter the NECO program you are entering.

• Financial Aid Application Deadline: April 1
• Forms to use: 2024-2025 FAFSA
• NECO Health Professions Loan Application(optional loan program)

FAFSA Simplification

In 2020, the FAFSA Simplification Act was enacted into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. The FAFSA Simplification Act represents a significant overhaul of federal student aid, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, need analysis, and many policies and procedures for schools that participate in the Title IV programs.

Key FAFSA Changes

• The 2024-25 FAFSA will be available by the end of December. The exact date is still to be determined.
• A more streamlined application process with fewer questions (was over 100, but now fewer than 50), and an easier way to transfer your tax information directly from the IRS.
• The term Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is replaced by Student Aid Index (SAI).

• The option to include parental information will no longer be available to students in graduate level programs.
• Each contributor (student and student spouse) will have to provide consent.

• If any contributor does not provide their consent, the Student Aid Index (SAI) will not be calculated, and we will not be able to determine your eligibility for financial aid.
• Students can list up to 20 schools on their FAFSA via the online application.

For additional information about FAFSA Simplification and the enhancements to the 2024-2025 FAFSA, please review the Department of Education FAFSA Simplification webpage.