Financial Aid Checklist
Month-by-month guide to staying on track with financial aid, billing, and enrollment requirements.
Your Step-by-Step Guide
Starting or continuing college takes planning, but you don’t have to figure it all out alone. This month-by-month checklist highlights the key tasks you’ll need to complete for financial aid, billing, and enrollment at NPRC. Whether you’re a new student preparing for your first semester or a returning student keeping your aid on track, use this guide to stay organized, meet important deadlines, and avoid last-minute surprises.
Checklist for New NPRC Students
As a new student, some tasks need to be done before attending college. Additionally, NPRC highlights the steps new students need to take in the following months once becoming a student.
October
Be sure you and your parents, if applicable, apply for Federal Student Aid FSA IDs.
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1st for maximum aid consideration.
The NPRC Federal School Code is 043159.
The FAFSA uses tax information from the previous two years.
Check with your state grant agency to determine if there are any applications you need to complete.
For Pennsylvania residents, the PHEAA state grant consideration deadline is August 1st.
Research and begin to submit applications for scholarships. You may also want to use scholarship search engines to locate private scholarships.
December
New students will begin receiving Financial Aid Award notifications via the student’s NPRC email address. Carefully review the email for instructions on how to review your financial aid offer. Contact NPRC with any questions.
February
If you have not done so already, complete the FAFSA by March 1 for maximum aid consideration.
Get organized: Keep all of your important student aid documents in one folder. Include copies of all application materials, tax information, and letters you receive. Review financing strategies.
If your financial aid application is selected for verification, don’t panic. The federal government selects approximately 30% of FAFSAs for verification.
Provide the additional documents that are requested, such as copies of your complete IRS Tax Return Transcripts, W2 and 1099 forms, and any other documentation requested.
Respond quickly to requests for additional documentation from the financial aid office and/or your state agency.
After you have reviewed your Financial Aid Offer, accept/decline your Federal loans on your student dashboard. Finally, "Complete Master Promissory Note," and "Entrance Counseling" for your Subsidized/Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loans at www.studentaid.gov.
April
If you are a Pennsylvania resident, submit the FAFSA, if you have not yet done so, to meet the August 1 deadline for the Pennsylvania State Grant Program.
May
State grant agencies begin to send aid notifications to qualifying students. Be sure to watch for yours.
Respond quickly to requests and return the necessary forms. When in doubt, contact us.
Notify NPRC of additional funding you’ll get for college (scholarships and loans, etc.), and enrollment changes.
Learn about borrowing responsibly
June
If you are a dependent student and your parents are interested in helping to cover your balance, they may be able to borrow a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan.
Begin to save money for the fall semester. You should be prepared to begin school with money for start-up expenses, such as your books and supplies.
Respond to requests from the college you will be attending. Keep copies of everything you send.
July
The Fall Semester bill notification will arrive in your school student account. Share this with your intended authorized payor if they are helping to pay the bill and make them an authorized user through the Payment Center. Your financial aid will appear as a credit on the bill.
If you wish to decrease your Federal Direct Student Loan(s), please complete that step on your financial aid dashboard.
Notify Financial Aid of additional funding you’ll get to pay for college (scholarships and loans, etc.). Complete the Outside Aid Disclosure Form.
Sign up through the Payment Center for our refund process. It is the quickest, safest, and easiest way to get your refund. To learn how to expedite the receipt of your refund, contact the Student Billing Office.
August
Financial Aid Awards will not be disbursed to your student account until after the schedule adjustment period has ended. (If all steps have been completed).
If there are excess student aid funds after the tuition bill is paid in full, you will receive a refund. Direct deposit expedites the refund process.
If you have a credit balance from financial aid after your bill is paid, you can use this credit to purchase your books prior to the start of the term through eCampus.
September/October as a Student
Fall semester tuition bill is due. Log into your My NPRC Student Portal to pay tuition.
Study, work hard, and enjoy your NPRC student experience.
In October, next year's FAFSA becomes available. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1 for maximum aid consideration.
November as a Student
Spring semester bill notification arrives in your school student account. Share this with your intended authorized payor if they are helping to pay the bill, and make them an authorized user through the Payment Center. Your financial aid will appear as a credit on the bill.
If you wish to decrease your Federal Direct Student Loan(s), please complete that step on your financial aid dashboard.
December as a Student
Spring semester tuition bill is due. Log into your My NPRC Student Portal to pay your tuition.
Financial Aid Awards will not be disbursed to your student account until after the schedule adjustment period has ended. (If all steps have been completed).
If there are excess student aid funds after the tuition bill is paid in full, you will receive a refund. Direct deposit expedites the refund process.
Have Questions?
NPRC's Financial Aid Office is ready to help.
Checklist for Returning NPRC Students
Get familiar with the important deadlines and checklist items that need to be completed as a returning NPRC student.
October
FAFSA is available in October 2025.
The NPRC Federal School Code is 043159.
For Pennsylvania residents, the PA State Grant consideration deadline is August 1.
February
Access information on the NPRC payment plan through your My NPRC Student Portal.
March
If your financial aid application is selected for verification, don’t panic. The federal government selects approximately 30% of FAFSAs for verification.
Provide the additional documents that are requested, such as copies of your complete IRS Tax Return Transcripts, W2 and 1099 forms, and any other documentation requested.
April
If you are a Pennsylvania resident and interested in the Summer PA State Grant, you can apply directly through PHEAA between April 1 and August 1. Please note that this will count as one term of grant eligibility.
May
Students will begin receiving Financial Aid Award notifications via the student’s NPRC email address. Carefully review the email for instructions on how to review your financial aid offer. Contact NPRC with any questions.
If this is your first time borrowing from the Federal Direct Student Loans, after reviewing your Financial Aid Offer and accepting your aid, complete the "Master Promissory Note" and "Entrance Counseling" for Subsidized/Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loans.
Notify us of additional funding you’ll get for college (scholarships and loans, etc.), and enrollment changes.
Respond quickly to requests for additional documentation from the financial aid office and/or your state agency.
The application deadline for PA State Grant consideration is August 1 (Pennsylvania residents only) for the academic year. State grant agencies begin mailing aid notifications to qualifying students.
June
If you are a dependent student and your parents are interested in helping to cover your balance, they may be able to borrow a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan.
Begin to save money for the fall semester. You should be prepared to begin school with money for start-up expenses, such as your books and supplies.
If there are excess student aid funds after the tuition bill is paid in full, you will receive a refund. Direct deposit expedites the refund process.
If you have a credit balance from financial aid after your bill is paid, you can use this credit to purchase your books prior to the start of the term through eCampus.
July
Fall semester bill notification arrives in your school student account. Share this with your intended authorized payor if they are helping to pay the bill, and make them an authorized user through the Payment Center. Your financial aid will appear as a credit on the bill.
If you wish to decrease your Federal Direct Student Loan(s), please complete that step on your financial aid dashboard.
August
Notify Financial Aid of additional funding you’ll get to pay for college (scholarships and loans, etc.). Complete the Outside Aid Disclosure Form.
Sign up through the Payment Center for our refund process. It is the quickest, safest, and easiest way to get your refund. To learn how to expedite the receipt of your refund, contact the Student Billing Office.
September/October
Fall semester tuition bill is due. Log into your My NPRC Student Portal to pay tuition.
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1 for maximum aid consideration. This is the FAFSA for the next academic year. It is time to begin the process again. See the steps you completed from last October.
November
Spring semester bill notification arrives in your school student account. Share this with your intended authorized payor if they are helping to pay the bill, and make them an authorized user through the Payment Center. Your financial aid will appear as a credit on the bill.
If you wish to decrease your Federal Direct Student Loan(s), please complete that step on your financial aid dashboard.
December
Spring semester tuition bill is due. Log into your My NPRC Student Portal to pay your tuition.
Financial Aid Awards will not be disbursed to your student account until after the schedule adjustment period has ended. (If all steps have been completed).
See What Our Students Have to Say
“It was a wonderful experience here at NPRC. I learned so much and my instructor was amazing. He was knowledgeable and made sure that everything we need is uploaded online and communicates well with us. He also held us accountable to make sure we were learning and ready. I enjoyed working alongside my amazing classmates and all the different experiences they brought to the course. Everyone in our class was eager to learn and was proactive about staying up to date on what is being asked of us.”
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“From the first time I found out about NPRC, I knew attending college was something I wanted to pursue because of how genuine the first interaction was. I’m proof that finding the right path can be done. It’s worth it to find ways out of situations you do not want to be in for better ones. I can’t say enough about how NPRC’s employees have empowered and advocated for me.”
- Amanda, NPRC Student
"NPRC’s faculty, staff, and professors do everything they can to see the students succeed and provide us with exactly what we need to do our best both inside the classroom and out. The early childhood education program is phenomenal. It was a school that aided me in balancing class, schoolwork, and my career. From the start and throughout my time, NPRC made me feel like I was at the right place.”
- Savannah, Early Childhood Education Graduate
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