Financial Aid

Welcome!

We know that the ins and outs of paying for college can seem daunting. We are here to help you as much as we can with the process. If you are interested in receiving any type of financial aid for school, please start by filling out the FAFSA Form. In addition, if you have any special circumstances you would like us to know about, you can fill out and submit this Special Circumstances Review form.

The information below covers a wide range of financial aid topics that may or may not apply to you. Once we receive your FAFSA, our Financial Aid department will be in touch with you about next steps.

Net Price Calculator

Click the link below to use the Net Price Calculator tool, which can help some students estimate the total cost of attending Great Northern University, including living expenses, books and supplies, travel expenses, etc.:

https://greatnorthernu.edu/assets/net-price-calculator.html

Veterans

We accept all Veteran's Benefits (chapters 31, 35, 38, 39) with some restrictions on chapter 31. For more details on Veteran's Benefits, see our Academic Catalog.

Scholarships

For those interested in internal scholarships, contact Kathy Hills at khills@gnu.edu.

External scholarships can be found in many places, but here are a couple of helpful links to lists and databases of scholarships: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search and https://leadershipspokane.org/what-we-do/scholarships/.

Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans

Direct Loans are given directly from the U.S. Department of Education, without going through a bank or other lender. The Department of Education will assign your loan to a servicer once it is disbursed. More information about the Federal Direct Loan program is available through Federal Student Aid. You can view and manage your loans at www.studentaid.gov.

Repayment

Loan repayment on Federal Direct Loans typically begins 6 months after a student has graduated or dropped below half-time attendance. It is important you understand your responsibilities as a borrower and repayment options for your student loans to build a solid financial foundation.

Many different repayment options are available for your loans, with pros and cons for each type. These plans were designed to help make loan payments for students more manageable. You will need to work with your loan servicer to help determine which plan will benefit you the most in repaying your loans.

For Washington State residents seeking information and resources about student loan repayment or seeking to submit a complaint relating to your student loans or student loan servicer, please visit www.wsac.wa.gov/loan-advocacy or contact the Student Loan Advocate at loanadvocate@wsac.wa.gov.

Cancellation

In certain circumstances, your loan may be canceled, forgiven, or discharged.

Some circumstances that may be eligible for loan cancellation:

• Teacher cancellation
• Public Service loan forgiveness
• Total and Permanent Disability forgiveness

Deferment/Forbearance Options

Deferment and forbearance options are available if you are having difficulty making your loan payments. Choosing one of these options will help you avoid defaulting on your loans while alleviating the financial strain you may be experiencing during a time of hardship. Be sure to continue making payments while your deferment or forbearance request is being processed and be sure stay in contact with your servicer during this time. 

Default

Once your loan goes into repayment, if you do not make your scheduled loan payments, you run the risk of your loan going into default. If your loan has defaulted, a hold will be placed on your Gonzaga transcripts and diploma until the default has been cleared. You are also ineligible to receive any federal financial aid while you have a loan in a defaulted status.

Consolidation

Consolidation is a process where you take out a new loan to pay off some or all of your existing federal student loans. There are many pros and cons to consolidation and you should do your research before pursing consolidation to see if it is the right choice for you. Beware of companies offering to lower your interest rate or get your loan canceled; these companies usually charge for loan consolidation, which you can do for free on your own. More information regarding loan consolidation can be found on the following sites:

• FinAid.org
• Debt.org

If you choose to consolidate, you can complete the processes at www.studentloans.gov. Once you have logged in, you will need to "Complete Direct Consolidation Loan Application and Promissory Note".

Federal Student Aid Code of Conduct

All agents of Great Northern University responsible for management of Federal Financial Aid and loan processes are held to high standards that prohibit conflict of interest, and are specifically prohibited from:

• Revenue-sharing arrangements with any lender
• Receiving gifts from a lender, a guarantor, or a loan services
• Contracting arrangement providing financial benefit from any lender or affiliate of a lender
• Directing borrowers to particular lenders, or refusing or delaying loan certifications
• Offers of funds for private loans
• Call center or financial aid office staffing assistance
• Advisory board compensation