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
October - prior to attending college
- 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 1 for maximum aid consideration.
- The NPRC Federal School Code is 04315900.
- 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 1.
- Research and begin to submit applications for scholarships. You may also want to use scholarship search engines to locate private scholarships.
December - prior to attending college
- 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.
February - prior to attending college
- 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 - prior to attending college
- 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 - prior to attending college
- State grant agencies begin to send aid notifications to qualifying students—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 - prior to attending college
- 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 - prior to attending college
- 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.
- 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 - prior to attending college
- Your 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 your tuition
- Study, work hard, and enjoy your NPRC student experience!
- In October next year FAFSA becomes available to complete. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1 for maximum aid consideration.
November - as a student
- Spring 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
December - as a student
- Spring semester tuition bill is due. Log into your My NPRC Student Portal to pay your tuition.
- Your 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.
CHECKLIST FOR RETURNING NPRC STUDENTS
October
- FAFSA is available in October 2025.
- The NPRC Federal School Code is 04315900.
- For Pennsylvania residents, the PA State Grant consideration deadline 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 you are interested in the Summer PA State Grant, you can apply directly through PHEAA between April 1 and August 1. Please note this will count as one term of grant eligibility.
May
- 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.
- If this is the first time you are borrowing from the Federal Direct Student Loans after you have reviewed your Financial Aid Offer and accepted your aid, "Complete Master Promissory Note," and "Entrance Counseling" for your 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
- http://www.studentaid.gov/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.
- 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 your tuition.
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1 for maximum aid consideration. This is the next academic year's FAFSA! 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.
- Your 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
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“Attending NPRC was truly life-changing for me and provided a foundation to pursue my passion for early childhood education. I gained the knowledge and skills needed to excel in this field. But it was bigger than just academics; my professors taught me valuable life lessons and instilled important values that have shaped who I am today. Overall, my college journey has not only prepared me for a successful career but has also equipped me with the mindset and tools to make a positive impact on the lives of young children.”
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