Other Financial Assistance

Education is a meaningful investment. It’s important that you take the time to explore all your options when considering how you’ll pay for your education. Please let us help you research the different loans, grants, scholarships, and other sources that will make your schooling a little less expensive.

Federal Pell Grant

You may receive this grant if you’re an undergraduate student pursuing your first bachelor’s degree for up to 12 semesters (or its equivalent of 600%). The amount of the grant is based on the EFC number, your need, estimated cost of attendance, your enrollment status, and the money available from the Federal Government.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

You may receive this grant if you’re eligible for a Federal Pell Grant. SEOG is a campus-based program. You should submit the FAFSA by the priority deadline of May 1.

Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant

You may receive this grant if you maintain a 3.25 GPA and agree to teach fulltime (for at least four years within eight years of graduation) at a school serving a high percentage of low-income students. You must agree to teach a specific subject (math, science, technology, engineering, a foreign language, bilingual education, or as a reading specialist). The grant provides up to $4,000* a year (not to exceed $16,000 for undergraduates). However, if you don’t fulfill the teaching requirement, the grant funds become a Direct Unsubsidized Loan, which you must repay.

*Note: Due to sequestration, there have been reductions to the maximum award amount.

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant (IASG)

You may receive this grant if your parent or guardian died because of U.S. military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001. If you have a Pell-eligible EFC, you will be awarded a maximum* Pell Grant and all federal financial (Title IV) aid will be based on an EFC of zero. If you’re not Pell-eligible, you’ll receive an IASG award equal to a maximum* Pell Grant for the award year. All other Title IV aid must be based on your calculated EFC.

*Note: Due to sequestration, there have been reductions to the maximum award amount.

North Dakota Student Financial Assistance Program (or State Grant)

The Student Financial Assistance Program, also known as the State Grant, gives non-repayable need-based grants to North Dakota residents who are first-time undergraduate students. Students must be pursuing an eligible program at a qualifying North Dakota institution and must be enrolled at least quarter-time.

You may receive this grant from the North Dakota University System (NDUS) if you’re a U.S. citizen, a resident of North Dakota, and haven’t received a State Grant for more than eight semesters. The grants are pro-rated (based on enrollment status) and depend on the availability of funds. Therefore, the awards may be downward adjusted based on unmet need and/or to reflect the right enrollment status.

You apply by submitting the FAFSA before May 1.

Click here for more information.

You must pay back loans.

Direct Loans (subsidized and unsubsidized) and Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) are available at Dickinson State University.

Note: Before the release of the first Direct Loan payment, you must complete entrance loan counseling, accept the loan, and complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN). You must complete the promissory note before you can receive loan funds.

You can find Forbearance, Deferment, and Cancellation of Loan information on the Master Promissory Note.

Loan funds that you receive electronically are credited directly to your account. We will credit loan funds that arrive in the form of a check to your account after you endorse the check.

Any funds greater than the amount you owe the university at the time of disbursement are considered “excess aid” and may be paid to you in the form of a check or direct deposit. Disbursement could be delayed if you haven’t completed your entrance loan counseling, aren’t enrolled at least half-time, or have a “hold” on your file.

Direct Subsidized Loan

You may receive this loan if you’re enrolled at least half-time and have need. If eligible, you can borrow:

  • As a freshman: up to $3,500
  • As a sophomore (or in a two-year program): up to $4,500
  • As a junior or senior: up to $5,500.

The largest amount you can borrow is $23,000. Repayment begins six months after graduation or when you are no longer enrolled at least half-time.

A new borrower is eligible to receive Direct Subsidized Loans up to 150% of the time it takes to complete the educational program. For example, a student enrolled in a two-year program will have three years’ worth of subsidized loan eligibility and a student in a four-year program will have six years’ worth of subsidized loan eligibility. You become responsible for the total accruing interest as of the date you exceed the 150% limit.

Direct Unsubsidized Loan

You may receive this loan if you’re not eligible for (any or all of) the Direct Subsidized Loan. You are responsible for the interest payment while enrolled.

The additional annual loan limit for:

  • Dependent undergraduate students is $2,000.
  • Independent undergraduate students (or students whose parents are unable to get Direct Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students) is $6,000 a year for the first and second years of study and $7,000 for the third and fourth years of study.

The total loan amount for dependent students is $31,000 and $57,500 for independent students. Repayment begins six months after graduation or when you are no longer enrolled at least half-time.

Note: You must complete exit loan counseling when you graduate, drop below half-time status, or withdraw from DSU.

Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)
This loan allows your parents to borrow money to help pay for your education if you’re a dependent. The maximum loan amount that a parent may borrow for each dependent student is the difference between the cost of attendance and any other financial aid. The PLUS loan requires a separate application.

If the period of enrollment is more than one semester, there will be multiple disbursements. Generally, the loan enters repayment within 60 days of the final disbursement. Parents can complete the PLUS Request Process here and a Master Promissory Note.

Nursing Student Loan (NSL)

You may receive this loan according to availability of revolving funds. It’s a 5% interest loan with a $3,300 per year limit for the first two years and a $5,200 per year limit for following years (maximum $17,000). If eligible for this loan, the minimum amount is $400. NSL regulations require verification of student information. You need to complete a Nursing Student Loan Master Promissory and Entrance Loan Counseling. Repayment (through Student Loan Service Center, Dept. 3180, PO Box 6050, Fargo ND 58108-6050) begins nine months after you are no longer enrolled at least half-time in a nursing program.

Nursing Education Loan

You may receive this loan from the North Dakota Board of Nursing (NDBON) if you’re accepted or enrolled in a nursing program approved by the NDBON. The loan amounts are up to $2,000 for the Associate in Science in Practical Nursing program and up to $3,000 for bachelor’s programs. Repayment is by nursing employment in North Dakota after graduation and/or by monetary repayments. The application is available at the NDBON website. The deadline is July 1.

Private Loans

https://choice.fastproducts.org/FastChoice/home/298900/1

Native American Assistance

Application forms are available from a Tribal Agency or from our Financial Aid office.

Rehabilitation Consulting and Services

Rehabilitation Consulting and Services helps students with physical limitations or health problems. If you wish to apply, you must contact your local Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Office at Bismarck, Dickinson, Jamestown, Fargo, Minot, Grand Forks, Devils Lake, or Williston.

North Dakota Job Service

North Dakota Job Service may have funds available through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) for economically disadvantaged students in need of vocational training or retraining. Contact the nearest Job Service office.

Veterans, National Guard, and Veteran Tuition Waiver

The recipients need to contact the nearest Veterans Service Office or the Dickinson State University VA Certifying Official in the Office of Academic Records. Any dependent (child, spouse, widow, or widower) of a resident veteran killed in action, totally disabled, deceased from service-connected causes, or declared missing in action, may also be granted a waiver of tuition.

Note: The Veterans Administration provides financial aid programs for the education and training of eligible veterans having completed military service. These programs encourage self-improvement and offer financial help to such veterans in raising their education level.

The Veterans Administration and the State of North Dakota also provide financial aid for the education of sons, daughters, spouses, and surviving spouses of veterans who died or were permanently and totally disabled as a result of a service-connected disability arising out of active service in the Armed Forces or who died from any cause while disability was in existence.

In processing an application for training, the Veterans Administration will determine the applicant’s eligibility for benefits. Evidence of eligibility will be provided to the applicant in the form of a Certificate of Eligibility and/or an Award Notification.

For more information, contact your nearest Veterans Service office or Dickinson State University’s Office of Academic Records. To remain eligible to receive Veteran’s Administration Benefits, students must maintain satisfactory progress as set forth by university policy.