Financial Aid Information
NEW This Year: FAFSA Simplification
The FAFSA application has changed in a big way! The U.S. Department of Education has implemented several changes meant to simplify and streamline the FAFSA application process.
Why did the FAFSA application change?
In December 2020, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, which included the FAFSA Simplification Act. The FAFSA Simplification Act reduces the number of questions on the application, makes changes to the Higher Education Act of 1965 to expand Pell Grant eligibility, and removes outdated restrictions to increase access to federal aid.
What changed?
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2024-2025 FAFSA Processing Timeline
Although the FAFSA is now open for students and families to complete, schools will be unable to view, receive, or process any FAFSA information until the beginning of February. After their first submission, students will be unable to update and/or make corrections to their FAFSA until February as well.
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Streamlined Application
- There will be fewer questions on the 2024-2025 FAFSA application. There will also
be an easier way to transfer your tax information directly from the IRS.
- There will be fewer questions on the 2024-2025 FAFSA application. There will also
be an easier way to transfer your tax information directly from the IRS.
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New Terminology
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Student Aid Index (SAI):
The Student Aid Index (SAI), a new need analysis formula used for awarding need-based grants and scholarships, replaces the term Expected Family Contribution (EFC). -
Contributors:
The new term that will be used for anyone who is required to provide information on the FAFSA (a student’s parent or spouse, for example) -
Consent:
Each contributor will need to consent to their information being included on the FAFSA. -
Family Size:
Your family size (previously called “household size”) will be determined by the number of exemptions claimed on federal tax returns from the IRS. There will be an option to change that number if it no longer reflects your accurate family size.
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How can you prepare?
1. Mark your calendar for early April to view your FAFSA summary and financial aid awards at your institution.
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced on January 30, 2024, that colleges and universities will receive FAFSA applicant data beginning in the first half of March — up to six weeks later than the expected January 31 date — which was already delayed by the later opening of the 2024-25 FAFSA.
According to the statement, the delay is due to the need to update the federal processing system to include the recently revised data tables used in the Student Aid Index calculation. The updated tables account for inflation and will yield approximately $1.8 billion in additional need-based federal aid, ED said.
2. Check — or set up — your FSA ID information.
Your FSA ID is crucial to completing the FAFSA application because it serves as your
consent and electronic signature. Make sure your FSA ID information is correct. If
you haven’t set up your FSA ID, make sure you do so prior to the FAFSA application
opening in December 2023. To get started, log in or create an account on the Federal Student Aid website.
NOTE: Anyone who might be a contributor on your FAFSA application will also need to
create an FSA ID.
3. Check here for updates.
We’ll update this page as additional information becomes available. You can also call or email us with questions.
Questions about financial aid?
Dawn Patak
Interim Financial Aid Director
dpatak@ncmich.edu
231-348-6698
Financial Aid Information
Attendance at Multiple Institutions
Students may not receive financial aid from two institutions concurrently. Students are responsible for any over-awards and will not be eligible for further aid until any funds are repaid.
Book Purchase and Award Payments
Eligible students with awarded federal aid may charge their books in the College Store against their semester aid. For students to use their Financial Aid at the College Store they must first complete the annual student authorization located in the MyNCMC portal. Students will then be able to use their Federal Financial Aid at the College store approximately 6 weeks before the semester begins. Financial aid award payments are applied to students’ accounts each semester of enrollment within two weeks following the add/drop final date at the beginning of the semester. Once this occurs, students no longer can use their Federal Aid awards at the College store. Student loans to first time borrowers are applied to students’ accounts approximately 30 days after the start date of the semester per U.S. Department of Education regulations. Refunds for aid that exceed tuition, fees, books and campus housing and food plan, if applicable, are issued to the students' selected refund preference with BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution powered by BMTX, Inc. For more information about BankMobile Disbursements, visit https://bankmobiledisbursements.com/refundchoices.
Consortium Agreements
A consortium agreement is a written agreement between two or more eligible schools to provide financial aid to a student attending these schools. Under a consortium agreement, the student's enrollment at each school is factored in when awarding financial aid. This is required because Financial Aid can only be used at one college at a time. A student can only receive federal financial aid for courses that count toward the student's degree or certificate.
YES! An articulation Agreement (https://www.ncmich.edu/admissions/transfer-information/articulation-agreements.html) is an agreement between or among institutions of higher education that specifies the acceptability of courses in transfer toward meeting specific degree requirements.
Yes. Contact your “home” school financial aid office. Each college may have a different process/form. The financial aid office will assist you through the process.
“Home” school is the college you are seeking a degree or certificate from and is processing your federal financial aid. “Host” school is the college you are attending taking approved credits toward your degree at the “Home” college.
You will have charges at each college. Your “home” college will first apply your financial aid to your account at the “home” college. If you have excess funds, you will receive a refund to use toward your charges at the “host” college.
It is the student’s responsibility to pay the “host” college. You can pay the host college out of pocket. (If you receive a refund from your “home” college, you can reimburse yourself.) Some colleges offer payment plans or a deferment option for payment. You will need to check with your “host” college to make payment arrangements before the payment due date.
The “Home” college’s satisfactory academic progress (SAP) policy will be used to calculate your SAP and determine eligibility at their institution.
Yes, if you are seeking a degree or certificate from NCMC and need to take a required course at another eligible college. Contact our Financial Aid office to get more information: financialaid@ncmic.edu or 231-348-6698
Davenport University
Kirtland Community College
Lake Superior State University
Northwood University
Grand Valley State University
Ferris State University
Industrial Arts Institute
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Cost of Attendance
Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimated amount of expenses a student may incur to attend college for one year. This is broken down by indirect costs and direct costs.
- Direct costs are those paid directly to the college and include tuition and fees.
- See our Tuition Costs and Fees.
- Indirect costs are educational costs not paid directly to the college. They can include books and supplies, transportation costs and personal expenses.
- Housing and food may be considered either a direct cost (if you're living on campus) or an indirect cost (if you're living off campus).
For an estimate of your costs and aid available, please use the Federal Net Price Calculator.
Cost of Attendance - Fall and Winter Semester
ESTIMATED COST PER ACADEMIC YEAR (TWO SEMESTERS): $27,374
| ESTIMATED INDIRECT COSTS: | FALL: | WINTER: | TOTAL: |
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Books and Supplies An allowance for books, course materials, and equipment, which also includes all such costs required of all students in the same course of study, including a reasonable allowance for the rental or upfront purchase of a personal computer. Books, course materials, supplies, and equipment expenses prorate based on enrollment status. |
$1,385 Nursing Students $1,250 All Other Students |
$1,385 Nursing Students $1,250 All Other Students |
$2,770 Nursing Students $2,500 All Other Students |
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Transportation Transportation to include between campus, residences, and place of work. Transportation expenses prorate based on enrollment status. |
$1,092 | $1,092 | $2,184 |
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Miscellaneous Personal Expenses An allowance for personal care products and services and miscellaneous needs for a student attending the institution at least half time. Personal expense prorate based on enrollment status. |
$879 | $879 | $1,757 |
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Housing & Food An allowance for food and housing costs to be incurred by the student attending the institution at least half time, including a standard food allowance that provides three meals per day regardless of meal plan and housing allowances whether residing in campus housing, off campus, or living off campus with parents. |
$6,368 Commuter Student Living Off Campus or Off Campus With Parents
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$6,368 Commuter Student Living Off Campus or Off Campus With Parents
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$12,736 Commuter Student Living Off Campus or Off Campus With Parents
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| INDIRECT COSTS ESTIMATE TOTAL: | $9,589 | $9,589 | $19,178 |
| Direct Cost Tuition & Fees (Out of District) | $4,074 | $4,074 | $8,147 |
| TOTAL ESTIMATED COST OF ATTENDANCE: | $13,663 | $13,663 | $27,324 |
NOTE:
- Estimates for tuition and fees are based on enrollment in 15 credits per semester at the out-of-district tuition rate.
- The nursing program utilizes a differential tuition rate.
- Summer semester tuition and fees are additional.
- All costs listed above are estimates and are subject to change, and may vary based on the number of credits/contact hours in the program of study.
Dates and Deadlines
Note the following dates and deadlines, which apply to Fall 2023, Winter 2024, and Summer 2024 semesters.
| FAFSA Application Opens: | October 1, 2022 |
| Information Needed to Complete FAFSA: | 2021 tax and income information |
| FAFSA Application Deadline: | June 30, 2024 |
Eligibility Requirements
Financial aid awards are determined and disbursed in compliance with established federal, state, and institutional regulations and may change without notice. General eligibility requirements for aid include the following:
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
- Have a high school diploma, GED certificate, or completed homeschooling
- Be accepted for admission as a regular student and be completing a degree or certificate in an eligible program of study
- Have financial need based upon the College's Cost of Attendance, the student's need as determined by the FAFSA, the program requirements set by the U.S. Department of Education or State authority
- Be making satisfactory progress
Students may access the U.S. Department of Education's website for further federal financial aid requirements at http://www.studentaid.ed.gov. You can also contact North Central's Financial Aid Office for further information on eligibility, award amounts and all financial aid programs.
It is the student's responsibility to read and become familiar with policies and procedures and respond to all correspondence concerning financial aid. Failure to do so does not excuse a student from the requirements or policies necessary in administering aid programs.
Enrollment Status
Every semester, eligibility and award amounts are finalized by reviewing enrollment status and other program requirements. Full-time enrollment is 12 credit hours and above; three-quarter time enrollment is 9 to 11 credit hours; half-time enrollment is 6 to 8 credit hours; and less than half-time enrollment is 5 or fewer credit hours. Program eligibility requirements and payments can vary depending on enrollment status. Financial Aid will cover only the courses in a student's declared program of study. The financial aid award is based on enrollment after the schedule adjustment (refund) period is over.
Financial Aid Refunds
North Central Michigan College delivers your refund with BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution powered by BMTX, Inc. For more information about BankMobile Disbursements, visit http://bankmobiledisbursements.com/refundchoices/.
To view our third-party servicer contract for refund management, click here.
Financial Aid Office Code of Conduct
Financial aid office employees follow North Central's Ethical Standards for Faculty, Staff, Administration and the Board of Trustees.
In addition, as a member of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), Financial Aid employees follow NASFAA's Code of Conduct for Financial Aid Professionals.
Guest Students
Students who are enrolled at North Central Michigan College as guest students are not eligible for federal financial aid or North Central Michigan College Foundation scholarships. A guest student is defined as someone with a home institution other than North Central where the student is pursuing his/her education credentials.
Return of Title IV Funds Policy - Withdrawals for Students with Financial Aid
If a student is the recipient of Title IV funding and totally withdraws from school "officially" or "unofficially" before the term is completed, the Financial Aid Office is required to calculate both the earned and unearned aid for the semester. Title IV funding includes financial aid in the form of Pell Grants, Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, Parent PLUS Loans and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG). If the student received more assistance than they "earned" by only attending a portion of the semester, the excess funds must be returned by North Central and/or the student to the U.S. Department of Education.
The federal return calculation requires a return of Title IV financial aid be completed if the student received any Title IV financial aid and the student withdrew before completing 60% of the semester. To calculate the amount of aid the student has earned up to the date of withdrawal for official withdrawals or the last date of attendance for unofficial withdrawals, divide the number of calendar days the student attended classes by the number of calendar days in the semester/term (scheduled breaks of 5 days or longer are excluded). The resulting percentage is then multiplied by the total Title IV funds that were awarded and disbursed or that could have been disbursed to the student. This is the earned amount of Title IV aid that the student can keep. The unearned amount must be returned to the U.S. Department of Education by the college and/or the student.
Unearned Title IV aid must be returned in the following order:
- Unsubsidized Direct Loans
- Subsidized Direct Loans
- Parent PLUS Loans
- Pell Grants
- FSEOG Grants
- Other Title IV Aid
As required by the U.S. Department of Education regulation, all required Return of Title IV calculations are processed within 30 days of the date stamped on the student's record for students who officially withdrew using the drop function in the Student's Portal or the date of the student's notification, whichever is later. For students who unofficially withdraw, Return of Title IV calculations are also processed no later than 30 days after the end of the period of enrollment for students who unofficially withdrew by using the date given by the instructor as the last date of attendance. The college is required to return the unearned portion of the student's Title IV aid to the U.S. Department of Education within 45 days of the date the college determined was the official drop date on the student's record or date of student's notification to withdraw for official withdrawals and for unofficial withdrawals using the date instructor listed as last date of attendance.
If a student did not initially receive all of the funds they earned, the student may be due a post-withdrawal disbursement. If a student's post-withdrawal disbursement includes Pell and FSEOG Grants, the funds will be transferred into the student's college account to pay outstanding charges. If the post-withdrawal disbursement includes loan funds, the college has 30 days from the withdrawal date to obtain the student's written permission and/or parent's written permission in the case of a Parent PLUS Loan prior to transferring into the student's college account. The student may choose to decline the loan funds so as not to incur additional debt.
Once the determination of earned and unearned aid has been made, withdrawn students will be notified via U.S. Postal Mail or student email of their eligibility for funds and the amount to be returned.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
In order to receive financial aid, students must meet individual financial aid program requirements and make satisfactory progress toward completing a degree or certificate. North Central Michigan College's Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy applies to all students who receive financial aid from any financial aid program administered by the college, unless exempt by the program. Federal regulations require that colleges review all enrollment periods and credit hours taken whether or not Title IV financial aid was received.
Satisfactory Academic Progress is monitored at the completion of each period of enrollment. This includes the fall semester, winter semester, and summer term.
As of June 22, 2021, this Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy supersedes any previous policies.
A student must meet all three of the following requirements:
- Minimum grade point average (GPA) requirement:
All financial aid students must have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA to be eligible for financial aid for the following semester/term; AND - Minimum completion factor requirement:
All financial aid students must successfully complete a minimum of 67% of all credit hours attempted, whether or not financial aid was received for those attempted credits. Successful credit hours completed include all transfer credits accepted and all grades recorded on the transcript of 4.0 through .67. When calculating the completion factor the following designations are considered attempted but not successfully completed: Incompletes (I), 0.0 grade (E), withdrawals (W), and repeated courses (R). Note: Students cannot receive financial aid for audited (AU) classes and these credits are not included in attempted hours. AND - Maximum time to complete Degree (150% Rule):
All financial aid students cannot attempt more than 150% of the official North Central Michigan College academic program requirements or 90 credit hours (whichever is lower). Aid eligibility concludes after this time frame, pending mitigating circumstances. Attempted credit hours include credits transferred from another college; incompletes; 0.0 grade (E); withdrawals; and repeated courses. All of these designations of attempted credit hours are included in the 150% Rule calculation and will impact how quickly the student reaches their maximum credits allowed for their academic program requirements.
Students who have exceeded the maximum attempted hours (150% Rule) to complete their degree, have changed their program of study, or wish to pursue a second degree program must submit an appeal. Note: North Central Michigan College students may only earn one of the following degrees: Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS), or Associate of General Studies (AGS).
Students who have exceeded the maximum attempted hours (150% Rule) to complete their degree, have changed their program of study, or wish to pursue a second degree program must submit an appeal. Note: North Central Michigan College students may only earn one of the following degrees: Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS), or Associate of General Studies (AGS).
In the event a student has a grade change after official grades have been posted to their transcript, the financial aid office should be notified by the student so a recalculation of satisfactory academic progress can be calculated and reevaluated for eligibility.
Financial aid recipients who are not meeting the academic progress policy eligibility requirement will be notified of their status by letter or email.
All developmental courses are included in the satisfactory academic policy calculations for GPA and completion rate.
- A student may repeat a previously passed course once and receive financial aid for it. The student must appeal for consideration of this condition.
- A student may repeat a failed or withdrawn course until it is passed.
- Aid will be re-calculated based on the student’s adjusted enrollment status regardless of whether the student received aid for previous course enrollments.
- Repeated courses are considered attempted but not successfully completed.
All of the above apply as long as the student is meeting the three eligibility requirements listed above under “Eligibility Requirements."
With the exception of the 150% Rule, a student may be reinstated after meeting one of the following conditions. Classes taken at institutions other than North Central are not considered for reinstatement purposes.
- The student has taken, without funding from the financial aid office, at least six credit hours and has passed those six credit hours with a grade of “C” or better and informed the financial aid office. The student will be given aid on a Warning Status for the next semester/term the student attends NCMC.
- The student has taken, without funding from the financial aid office, enough credit hours to meet the GPA and completion rate requirements and informed the financial aid office. The student will be reinstated without Warning Status.
Financial Aid Probation Status is assigned to a student who fails to make satisfactory academic progress, is terminated, has appealed, and then has had eligibility for aid reinstated for one semester/term. Specific conditions (e.g., reduced course load) may apply to the student’s probation period. The student’s responsibilities during the Probation semester/term include following the academic plan developed with an advisor and ensuring successful completion of courses to meet the GPA and completion factor requirements.
A termination appeal can only be considered if it is an extraordinary event that prevented the student from achieving satisfactory academic progress. A student whose financial aid has been terminated may appeal in writing to the Director of Financial Aid. The written appeal must:
- Explain any mitigating, extenuating or special circumstances. Examples include but are not limited to: injury, illness, or death of immediate family member.
- Tell why the student failed to make satisfactory academic progress.
- Describe what has changed in the student’s situation that will allow the student to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress at the next evaluation.
- Contain an academic plan, developed with an advisor.
- Include appropriate documentation. Acceptable documentation includes letters from a physician, attorney, social service agency, parole officer, or an obituary notice, divorce decree and/or academic records.
Appeals can result in a) denial of reinstatement and students must then follow the “Reinstatement after Ineligibility” conditions to regain eligibility, or b) Probation Status with reinstatement of the student’s financial aid for one semester/term. The result of an appeal will be communicated to the student and recorded in the student’s financial aid file. A student may file a satisfactory academic progress appeal multiple times. However, a student cannot use the same situation more than once.
Special Circumstances/Financial Aid Adjustment
Financial Aid may adjust a student’s financial aid award package based on special circumstances. A special circumstance is used on a case-by-case basis when there has been involuntary, permanent income changes, unusual expenses, or changes in personal circumstances that occurred in the past year. The special circumstances can be re-evaluated for both a dependent or independent student and also for a dependent student's parents. This may include:
- Loss of employment/Retirement
- Separation/Divorce
- Death/Disability
- Loss of untaxed income, other income, or benefit
- Unusual expenses
If you have had special circumstances you would like our office to consider, please take the following steps:
- Print and complete the Special Circumstances form below.
- Provide supporting documentation.
- Submit the completed form and supporting documentation to our office.
- Allow 2-4 weeks for processing.
See the Special Circumstances Form.
Study Abroad
Students may be eligible for federal financial aid for attending a study abroad program that is approved for credit by North Central Michigan College. The college does not currently offer any study abroad programs. Contact the Financial Aid Office for more information.
Unusual Circumstances
An unusual circumstance occurs when a student cannot answer yes to one of the dependency questions on the FAFSA, but also is unable to obtain and provide parental data on the FAFSA. The law allows you an opportunity to petition the financial aid administrator for an unusual circumstance. The financial aid administrators may grant overrides for students with “unusual circumstances” on a case-by-case basis and must document the “unusual circumstances”. Once processed the unusual circumstance may carry over from year to year at that institution.
If a student is no longer in an unusual circumstance, they would need to notify the Financial Aid office. The U.S. Department of Education recognizes examples of “unusual circumstances” to be, but are not limited to, an abusive family environment or abandonment by parents.
According to the Department of Education, an Unusual Circumstance cannot be performed for the following reasons:
- Parents refuse to contribute to student’s education.
- Parents are unwilling to provide information on FAFSA or for verification.
- Student demonstrates total self-sufficiency.
See the Unusual Circumstance Form.
Verification for Financial Aid
Verification documents you may need to submit
- 2024-2025 Verification Form 1 Dependent
- 2024-2025 Verification Form 2 Independent
- 2023-2024 Verification Form 1 Dependent
- 2023-2024 Verification Form 2 Independent
See Question 5 below for how to electronically submit your verification documents.
FAFSA Verification is the process of reviewing a student’s FAFSA for accuracy. In this review, the financial aid staff compares the student’s FAFSA with information provided on the required verification documents. The information that is verified includes income, household size and if requested, high school completion status. If differences are found, North Central Michigan College will correct the FAFSA and re-submit it to the U.S. Department of Education for reprocessing. North Central Michigan College will then recalculate the financial aid awards using the corrected FAFSA.
Note: Students selected for verification cannot receive any federal aid, including student loans until they have completed the verification process.
Many students selected for verification are chosen randomly by the U.S. Department of Education. However, you are more likely to be selected for verification if the information you provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) was inconsistent, if the FAFSA you submitted was incomplete, or if your FAFSA contained estimated information. The verification process ensures that eligible students receive all the financial aid to which they are entitled and prevents ineligible students from receiving financial aid to which they are not entitled.
If your FAFSA is selected for verification, you will be notified by North Central to your student My Mail account. The email will be titled “Additional FAFSA Information Required." The email will contain a “TO DO LIST:” that lists the documents required to complete FAFSA Verification. This verification document list is also available at My Financial Aidunder the Students tab in the My North Central section of the Student Portal. Once we receive all the required documents, we will complete your FAFSA Verification review. If any differences are found between the information you provided on your FAFSA and your verification paperwork, we will correct your FAFSA and re-submit it to the U.S. Department of Education for reprocessing. It is important to regularly check your My Mail account and My Financial Aid for accurate verification updates and comments.
Generally, a verification worksheet and documentation of Federal tax information are required. The specific listing of required verification documents will be included in the email that you receive from North Central Michigan College. The verification worksheets that are required will be listed in the “Additional FAFSA Information Required” email that we send to your My Mail account and those worksheets are available at the top of this webpage.
Verification documents can be submitted using any of the following options, including taking a picture with a smartphone and emailing the picture. If you are submitting a picture, please ensure the entire document is captured and in focus.
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Electronic Upload: Find instructions for electronically uploading and sending your verification documents in the Student Portal. You will need to log in with your Portal username and password.
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Mail: North Central Michigan College
Attn: Financial Aid Office
1515 Howard St.
Petoskey, MI 49770
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Email: New regulations from the U.S. Department of Education state that emailing documents is not a secure method of delivery. All emailed documents must be encrypted for security and any emailed documents received by Financial Aid not encrypted are sent at the student’s risk.
While there is not a fixed deadline, verification must be submitted in the academic year in which the student is continuously enrolled. However, it is in the student's best interest to complete FAFSA Verification as soon as possible. We encourage those selected for FAFSA Verification to submit their documentation within 20 days after notification of your verification selection. Our verification process can take approximately two weeks to complete from the receipt of all required documentation. This means financial aid may not be awarded for approximately two weeks after we receive all of the required verification paperwork.
Note: If a student or their parents have a unique income tax situation including divorce, death, tax-related identity theft, 401k rollover, or amended tax return, please notify our financial aid office. We will explain how to provide the required documentation in these unique situations.
Yes, you can elect to NOT complete the FAFSA Verification process. However, making this decision means that you forfeit access to all federal aid including student loans. All financial aid in these categories will be placed on hold.
Should this decision be reversed at a later time in the same academic year, then the verification review process would proceed. Once the verification review is successfully completed, all aid for which the student is still eligible would be reinstated.
Contact the Financial Aid Office by email at FinancialAid@ncmich.edu or by phone at 231-348-6605.