Applying for Aid

Eligibility for federal student aid is determined based on financial need in conjunction with several other factors. The Office of Scholarships and Student Aid determines what you are eligible to receive based on your expected family contribution (EFC). To receive financial aid, you must meet certain eligibility criteria.

• Be a US citizen or eligible non-citizen.
• Have a valid social security number.
• Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate or have completed homeschooling. 
• Be enrolled in an eligible program as a regular student seeking a degree or certificate.
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress.
• Not owe a refund on a federal student grant or be in default on a federal student loan.
• Register (or already be registered) with the Selective Service System.
• Not have a conviction for the possession or sale of illegal drugs for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid (such as grants, work-study, or loans).

Note:  Students admitted to the University as “special or visiting” are not eligible to receive financial aid.  

Apply for a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID). The FSA ID is a unique username and password that will act as your electronic signature for certain Department of Education websites.  The student and at least one parent will need to create an FSA ID online at https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch

File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on or after October 1 of each year online at https://studentaid.gov.

Big changes are coming to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application for the 2024–2025 aid year!

2024–2025 FAFSA Changes

Students who complete the FAFSA will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) detailing the results of the application.  It is recommended that students view their status by accessing Banner SSB through myEOL. 

Any student who submits a FAFSA application may be subject to a process called verification.  Verification is the process in which the institution reviews the information provided on the FAFSA application for accuracy.  Approximately 30% of students are selected for verification.  If selected, you will be required to submit documents such as tax returns, W2s, and verification of non-filer letters.

Please allow 2–3 weeks for the verification process once all requested documents have been submitted to the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid. 

Cost of Attendance (COA)

The cost of attendance reflects the maximum amount of financial assistance (grants, scholarships, work assistance and loans) a student may receive for the enrollment period.  Students often confuse the cost of attendance or budget with the actual cost of attending North Carolina Central University.

The cost of attendance is the sum of the following:

• Actual tuition and fees or the school’s average tuition and fees
• Cost of room and board or estimated living expenses for students who do not live in on-campus housing
• The estimated cost of books and supplies
• Allowance for transportation
• Allowance for miscellaneous expenses

2023-2024 Estimated Tuition and Fees Schedule

Dependent/Independent Resident*

*Actual costs are determined based on each student’s actual expenses and enrollment status.

Dependent/Independent Non-Resident*

*Actual costs are determined based on each student’s actual expenses and enrollment status.

Less Than Half-Time Student*

* Actual costs are determined based on each student’s actual expenses and enrollment status

Graduate*

*Actual costs are determined based on each student’s actual expenses and enrollment status.

Graduate – Master of Public Administration*

*Actual costs are determined based on each student’s actual expenses and enrollment status.

Graduate – Master of Business Administration*

*Actual costs are determined based on each student’s actual expenses and enrollment status.

Graduate - Master of Information and Library Science*

*Actual costs are determined based on each student’s actual expenses and enrollment status.

Professional/Law*

*Actual costs are determined based on each student’s actual expenses and enrollment status.

Graduate/Professional - PhD in Integrated Biosciences*

*Actual costs are determined based on each student’s actual expenses and enrollment status.

The SAI is a number calculated by the information on your FAFSA provided by the student and other contributors. It determines a student’s eligibility for certain types of federal aid such as student loans and Pell grants.

• The SAI is used in the below formula to determine a student’s financial need. 
• Cost of Attendance (COA) – Student Aid Index (SAI) – Other Financial Assistance (OFA) = Need

Use the link below to request an appointment for FAFSA submission help, as students are urged to apply for financial aid electronically for rapid processing via the FAFSA website.

Request FAFSA Assistance