Step-by-step guide to financial aid for parents and families

Helping your student navigate financial aid options

College is a big step for students and families. Understanding how financial aid works at NAU helps you support your student with confidence from day one. Here's how to get started.

Step 1: Complete the FAFSA early

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first (and most important!) step in the financial aid process. Filing early gives your student access to the most funding options.

Here are some important things to know about filing a FAFSA:

• Your student will file a FAFSA every year they are enrolled to remain eligible for financial aid.
• FAFSA opens for filing every October 1.
• NAU’s priority deadline is April 1.
• Students can file their FAFSA before they're officially admitted to NAU.
• Use NAU's school code: 001082.
• You'll want to have tax and income info from the last two years ready to include in your student's FAFSA application.

Note: If your student isn't eligible for FAFSA, they may qualify for aid by submitting the CSS Profile (NAU’s code: 4006).

Step 2: Know key dates

From applications to aid, staying ahead of deadlines helps everything go smoothly. Bookmark our important dates and deadlines page and set reminders to avoid last-minute stress.

Step 3: Estimate total cost

Want to see what NAU could really cost? Try our Net Price Calculator for a personalized estimate to help you budget and plan with confidence.

Step 4: Review your student's financial aid with them

Once the FAFSA is submitted and your student is admitted, they’ll receive a financial aid offer with all eligible aid, potentially including work-study, scholarships, loans, and more.

Step 5: Search for more scholarships

Your student will be considered for merit scholarships automatically, but there’s more available! ScholarshipUniverse helps match them with even more funding opportunities.

If your student gets scholarships from outside organizations, have checks sent to NAU by July 1 for the fall semester and December 1 for the spring semester.

Step 6: Stay in the loop

Encourage your student to monitor their LOUIE To-Do List and NAU/personal email accounts for updates and upcoming requirements. Quick responses to verification and document requests keep the process moving smoothly.

How parents and families can stay involved

Lumberjack Family Hub

The Lumberjack Family Hub is built just for families. Get updates, tips, event info, and financial aid reminders, right when you need them.

Understand how financial aid is applied

Aid is applied to your student’s account in this order: 1. tuition and fees 2. housing 3. meal plans. If there is any money left over, your student will receive a refund. Encourage them to set up direct deposit to receive funds faster.

Academic progress requirements

Students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to keep their aid. Know the requirements so your student can stay eligible each year.

Learn the LOUIE system together

LOUIE (Lumberjack Online University Information Environment) is NAU’s online hub for grades, tuition, class schedules, and more. Learning the system together can help your student stay organized and on top of key deadlines throughout their college journey.

Still have questions? We're here to help!

NAU’s Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid are here to support you and your student throughout this process. Contact our office with any questions by calling 928-523-4951 or emailing financial.aid@nau.edu.