Frequently Asked Questions About Financial Aid
Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College believes that a college education may be the most important investment a student will ever make. The investment of time, money and commitment to obtain a good education will be a critical factor in determining the kind of career a student will have in addition to lifestyle and future. A student should not be denied the opportunity to achieve educational and career goals because of financial resources. All students have different needs. NLTCC Office of Student Financial Aid feels strongly that the student’s need should be met with a distribution of grants, scholarships, and waivers.
PELL Forms
2022-2023
- Ability to Benefit Certification Form
- Authorization Form
- Dependency Override Request Form
- High School Completion Status Form
- Loan Discharge Form
- Low Income Form
- Parent Marital Status Form
- Professional Judgement Form
- Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal Form
- Special Consideration Dependent Form
- Special Consideration Independent Form
- Statement of Educational Purpose
- Student Marital Status
- Title IV Authorization Form
- Unusual Enrollment History Form
All students who wish to be considered for federal financial aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Please review the chart below to see if you may be eligible for financial aid.
Federal Financial Aid Eligibility Requirements
| Eligibility | PELL | FWS |
|---|---|---|
| Demonstrate financial need | • | • |
| High school diploma or GED certificate or pass a test approved by the US Dept. of State | • | • |
| Enrolled/accepted at an eligible school | • | • |
| Enrolled/accepted in a degree or certificate program | • | • |
| US citizen or eligible non-citizen | • | • |
| Valid Social Security number | • | • |
| Make satisfactory academic progress, as determined by the school | • | • |
| Sign statement of educational purpose (on FAFSA) | • | • |
| Sign statement that you are not in default on a federal student loan and do not owe money back on a federal student grant (on FAFSA) | • | • |
| Registered with the Selective Service, if required | • | • |
| Not convicted of possession/selling drugs while receiving federal financial aid | • | • |
Caution: Some information may change as the US Department of Education continues to issue new regulations. Stay in contact with the Campus’ Financial Aid Officer at your campus.
Complete the FAFSA as soon as possible. The preferred date at NWLTC for applying and successfully submitting the FAFSA correctly (award year and school code) for financial assistance and submitting ALL requested documents to your campus’ financial aid officer is 10 business days prior to the first day of class each semester of the award year (fall through summer semesters).
Priority consideration for aid is given to students whose files are complete by June 1st of each year for the fall semester, October 1st for the spring semester and March 1st for the summer semester.
In order to have your financial aid processed in time for registration/fee payment, you must submit ALL requested documents according to the preferred deadline date for the semester in which you are enrolling.
If you are unable to meet these deadlines, be prepared to self-pay your outstanding balance.
Of course – there are exceptions – natural disaster/inclement weather which results campus/college unexpected closure, personnel unavailable unexpectedly, technical difficulties, etc. These will be handled on a case by case basis.
Financial aid is awarded one academic year at a time. Students intending to use financial aid in future terms will need to file a FAFSA that corresponds with the appropriate award year. FAFSA’s become available for the new aid year on October 1st.
HOW DO I APPLY?
Financial Aid Checklist (section above)
Common Mistakes
Here are some of the most common mistakes students/parents make — and that you can avoid.
- Remember to sign the application. Be sure both, student and parent (if applicable due to dependent status) use the FSA ID to sign the FAFSA at the time the application is complete.
- Students/Parents often forget to report all required sources of untaxed income.
- Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to transfer your (and parent/spouse) income directly into your FAFSA from the IRS.
- Select YES to answer remaining questions about your income in order to fully download your tax data from the IRS into your FAFSA application.
- Divorced parents sometimes include their ex-spouse’s income. They should list only their own income and that of their current spouse.
- Be sure to round numbers to the nearest dollar (to help with this, use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool within the FAFSA).
- Make sure you follow the instructions!
The IRS Data Retrieval Tool allows students and parents to access the IRS tax return information needed to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and transfer the data directly into their FAFSA from the IRS Web site.
We highly recommend using the tool for several reasons:
- It’s the easiest way to provide your tax data.
- It’s the best way of ensuring that your FAFSA has accurate tax information.
- You won’t need to provide a copy of your or your parents’ IRS tax return transcripts.
To order a tax return transcript (no charge), you can access the IRS Get Transcript Online website or call the IRS at 1-844-545-5640 to schedule for an appointment or have it mailed. Remember – need to get the Tax Return Transcript for the correct year, not the Tax Account Transcript.
Will my parents’ contribution be less if any of my brothers or sisters are also continuing their education beyond high school?
Generally speaking, yes. Your parents’ contribution might be lower if both parents are working, and about 50% lower if they are helping more than one of their children through college or career school at the same time.
My parents are divorced (separated). Which parent should complete the financial aid application?
The parent who should complete the application is the one with whom you lived for the longest period during the last 12 months. If you didn’t live with either parent, or lived with each parent for an equal number of days, the application should be filled out by the parent who provided the most support for you during the last 12 months. “Support” means money for such things as housing, food, clothes, transportation, medical and dental care, and school.
If I have a guardian, is he or she supposed to file a financial aid application? No. Grandparents, foster parents and legal guardians are not considered parents on the FAFSA unless they have legally adopted you.
If I live with a grandparent, should he or she file a financial aid application for me?
It depends on the situation, but usually not. Please consult with your campus’ financial aid officer (Hyperlink). If you are simply living apart from your parents but they still support you, they should file the application for you.
Is a step-parent's income required to included in the financial aid application even though they feel no responsibility to support my education?
Yes, if your parent has remarried after being widowed or divorced, you are required to include your step-parent's income. For information about whose information to provide on the FAFSA, click here.
What is satisfactory academic progress?
The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, mandates institutions of higher education establish a standard of satisfactory academic progress for students who receive financial aid. This standard applies to the student’s entire academic history, whether Title IV aid was received or not. In order to remain eligible to receive aid at Northwest Louisiana Technical College, students must meet the standards specified for acceptable academic performance and for Satisfactory Academic Progress toward the completion of their program of study.
Don’t fall through cracks — NLTCC financial aid officers may be able to help with your difficult real-life situations. Sometimes the application process does not reflect a family’s real situation – due to special circumstances such as:
- Death
- Divorce or separation
- Disability
- Natural disasters
- Loss of Income, etc.
In such a case, NLTCC Financial Aid Officer may use his/her “professional judgment” so that your aid package will reflect the family’s real situation. Contact your campus’ financial aid officer for more information regarding special circumstances.
Review your Student Aid Report (SAR)
After your FAFSA is processed you will receive a SAR from the federal processor. If you complete your FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA online, you will receive a SAR acknowledgment. When you apply online, provide your e-mail address and meet certain criteria, you will receive an e-mail from Central Processing Service (CPS) that provides a link to a web page where you can view and print your SAR. If your SAR is rejected or requires correction, you should read the instructions carefully and take appropriate action. If corrections are necessary, you must send the corrected SAR back to the federal processor. When sending your corrections, whether on paper or electronically, including all necessary signatures and/or your FSA ID.
Completing Documents
Read your email: When the Financial Aid Office receives your SAR, you will receive an email instructing you to access our student self-service web area, LOLA. The Financial Aid section of LOLA will display a menu with several options. You should select “Eligibility Requirements” to view the information our office will need to complete the financial aid process. You may be required to complete documents that are found on our website.
Sometimes the Department of Education will require the Financial Aid Officer to collect personal financial information from the student (and parents/spouse if applicable) to verify the information included on the FAFSA. This process is called Verification. Therefore, you may be required to submit a copy of your (and/or your parent’s) Federal IRS Tax Return Transcript, and/or provide us your Unexpired Identification Card (ex: Driver’s License), your high school diploma, etc…Financial Aid Officers will make copies.
It is very important that you view the “unsatisfied requirements” and provide the requested, required, correct information/documents to your Campus’ financial aid officer as quickly as possible to avoid delays in awarding your financial aid.
After 3-5 business days that you’ve submitted your FAFSA:
1. Log into LoLA
2. Choose Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College link under the Self Service Banner section
3. Select the ‘Student’ Tab
4. Select the ‘Financial Aid’ Tab or ‘Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College’ link under Financial Aid
5. Make sure that your AWARD YEAR in upper right hand corner is the correct award year. If not, click on the drop down arrow button and click on the correct award year.
6. Review Student Requirements under the Home tab. You will see both ‘unsatisfied’ and ‘satisfied’ requirements.
7. If you have any unsatisfied requirements:
- You will need to complete the required forms
- Then, either upload the completed forms and required supporting documents via secured portal; or,
- Bring completed forms and required supporting documents with you if meeting with your Campus’ Financial Aid Officer by appointment.
- Please have all completed forms/required supporting documentation with you before scheduled meeting with your Campus’ Financial Aid Officer.
8. Please review Terms and Conditions under Special Message Section under the Home tab.
9. Once all documents have been submitted and reviewed by your campus financial aid officer, you will see them populate under ‘Satisfied Requirements.’
You cannot be awarded financial aid until you have submitted all necessary, required paperwork and it has been reviewed by your campus Financial Aid Officer. You will be awarded financial aid, if eligible.
Financial Aid Offer
After all financial aid data has been collected and you are admitted to Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College, financial aid officer can begin to review your application along with all submitted documentation to determine your eligibility. Once the review (or verification) process is completed and it is determined that you are eligible for financial aid, NLTCC financial aid will post your awards to your LoLA account account. After your financial aid is packaged and budgeted, then you will receive an electronic award notification.
You will need to remain in good standing for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP); see Satisfactory Academic Progress for details. You will only need to complete the FAFSA for each academic year.
Complete the FAFSA as soon as possible. The preferred date at NWLTC for applying and successfully submitting the FAFSA correctly (award year and school code) for financial assistance and submitting ALL requested documents to your campus’ financial aid officer is 10 business days prior to the first day of class each semester of the award year (fall through summer semesters).
Priority consideration for aid is given to students whose files are complete by June 1st of each year for the fall semester, October 1st for the spring semester and March 1st for the summer semester.
In order to have your financial aid processed in time for registration/fee payment, you must submit ALL requested documents according to the preferred deadline date for the semester in which you are enrolling.
If you are unable to meet these deadlines, be prepared to self-pay your outstanding balance.
Of course – there are exceptions – natural disaster/inclement weather which results campus/college unexpected closure, personnel unavailable unexpectedly, technical difficulties, etc. These will be handled on a case by case basis.
Financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships and waivers will first be applied toward your outstanding semester balance owed to the college.
It is important to note that federal financial aid can only pay for coursework fully acceptable to the eligible degree program in which you are enrolled. If you do not begin attendance in any class, your financial aid may be reduced. This may happen before or after disbursement.
If financial aid is reduced after disbursement for non-attendance, you may owe a repayment back to the federal student aid programs. Failure to repay can lead to ineligibility for federal student aid nation-wide.
Refunds for the semester for the Federal Pell grant will begin after the census class day. Refunds for the semester for other funds such as TOPS, GO Grant, Veteran’s Benefits will begin once the funding has been received. NOTE: “Disbursement” does not mean “Refund.” “Disbursement” means the financial aid awards have been applied to your NLTCC student account. “Refund” means the credit balance owed to you will be sent to BankMobile. Refunds are available to students whose financial aid has been processed by the NLTCC Financial Aid Office and who have awards posted and accepted on LOLA.
Refund Timelines
We will begin applying financial aid to student accounts after the 14th/7th class day. All admissions checklist items MUST be submitted in order for funds to be applied to your student account. Refunds for Federal Pell grnats are processed within 21 business days after the 14th/7th class day or within 14 calendard days after the scheduled disbursement date,. Refunds for other funds such as TOPS, GO GRANT, and Veteran’s Benefits will begin once the funding has been received, if applicable. Once the funds have been applied to your student account, and it is determined that you are due a refund, NWLTC will electronically submit the refund information to BankMobile. BankMobile will disburse your refund to the student account according to the refund preference the student chose.
EXCEPTION: Aid funds will not be disbursed until you have started class. If you are enrolled in “late start” classes, your disbursement will be delayed or reduced until you have begun attendance in all classes. Note, per Dept of Education:”…must confirm that: if the disbursement occurs on or after the first day of classes, that the student has begun attendance.”
After 3-5 business days that you’ve submitted your FAFSA:
- Log into LoLA
- Choose Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College link under the Self Service Banner section
- Select the ‘Student’ Tab
- Select the ‘Financial Aid’ Tab or ‘Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College’ link under Financial Aid
- Make sure that your AWARD YEAR in upper right hand corner is the correct award year. If not, click on the drop down arrow button and click on the correct award year.
- Review Student Requirements under the Home tab. You will see both ‘unsatisfied’ and ‘satisfied’ requirements.
- If you have any unsatisfied requirements:
- You will need to complete the required forms
- Then, either upload the completed forms and required supporting documents via secured portal: or,
- Bring completed forms and required supporting documents with you if meeting with your Campus’ Financial Aid Officer by appointment.
- Please have all completed forms/required supporting documentation with you before scheduled meeting with your Campus’ Financial Aid Officer.
- Please review Terms and Conditions under Special Message Section under the Home tab.
- Once all documents have been submitted and reviewed by your campus financial aid officer, you will see them populate under ‘Satisfied Requirements.’
You cannot be awarded financial aid until you have submitted all necessary, required paperwork and it has been reviewed by your campus Financial Aid Officer. You will be awarded financial aid, if eligible.
1. Log into LoLA
2. Choose Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College link under the Self Service Banner section
3. Select the ‘Student’ Tab
4. Select the ‘Financial Aid’ Tab or ‘Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College’ link under Financial Aid
5. Make sure that your AWARD YEAR in upper right hand corner is the correct award year. If not, click on the drop down arrow button and click on the correct award year.
6. Click on Award Offer tab.
7. Please review Terms and Conditions under Special Message Section under the Home tab.
- After you’ve registered for your classes online and it has been 2 business days:
- Log into LOLA
- Click on Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College link under Self Service
- Click on Student Tab
- Click on Student Account
- Select Refund Choice (last option)
- Locate your Student ID # (Your L# or H#)
- Follow the instructions provided by BankMobile in order to select your refund preference
- If you attended to a previous institution that used BankMobile, please contact BankMobile to double check that your profile is now associated with Louisiana Technical Community College.
- If you are a new student and cannot get your refund set up after you’ve registered and it has been longer than 2 business days, please see your Financial Aid Officer
- Any inquiries about your profile with BankMobile, please contact them directly at BankMobile. The name of our institution is Louisiana Technical Community College
NOTE **It is the student’s responsibility to monitor their academic progress every semester. Your SAP status is posted to your LOLA account after grades are submitted each semester. If you are failing SAP, you will need to submit a SAP appeal with documentation to be considered for financial aid again. NLTCC SAP policy can be found on NLTCC Website under Financial Aid Policies.
- Log into LOLA
- Select NLTCC under the self service section
- Select ‘Student’ Tab
- Select ‘Financial Aid Tab’ or ‘Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College’ link under Financial Aid
- Make sure that your AWARD YEAR in upper right hand corner is the correct award year. If not, click on the drop down arrow button and click on the correct award year.
- Slect 'Satisfactory Academic Progress' tab