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Applying for Financial Aid

You must apply for financial aid each academic year.  To apply for financial aid at Christopher Newport University, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  The FAFSA cannot be completed until January 1 preceding the academic year.

CNU, like many schools, has a priority consideration date.  Our priority consideration date is March 1.  Students who complete their FAFSA and have the results sent to CNU by March 1 will be considered for all types of financial aid available.  Applications are accepted and encouraged after this date, but funding may be limited.

There are other requirements students must meet in order to be eligible for financial aid.  Students and their parents are encouraged to review all of the information available on this website, and to contact a counselor if they have any questions.

2008 - 2009 Application Process

1.  As soon after January 1, 2008, as possible, obtain a FAFSA and complete it.  A limited number of paper FAFSAs are available in our office.  High school students may also ask for FAFSAs at their local high school.  The FAFSA can also be completed online.  We encourage you to review our tips for filing.

2.  Include CNU's Title IV school code- 003706- to ensure we receive the results.

3.  Review the results of the Student Aid Report (SAR) you received electronically or in the mail.  Make changes as necessary, especially if you estimated your information.

4.  Respond to requests for additional information from us as soon as possible.

5.  The CNU Priority Consideration Date is March 1, 2008.  Students who have valid SARs sent to the school by this date will be considered for all available aid.

6.  Award notices are sent to students.  Freshmen receive award notifications in time to make informed decisions concerning school choices.  Returning students receive award notifications in April, at their campus address.

7.  Sign the award notification and return one copy to the our office as soon as possible.  Grant funding is very limited, and students who fail to return award letters in a timely fashion may lose grant funds.

8.  Portions of tuition, fees, and room and board covered by qualified forms of financial aid are used as a credit towards tuition.  However, you must pay the difference between financial aid and your bill by the appropriate deadline to avoid late fees and cancelled classes.

9.  For returning students who have returned award letters and completed all necessary paperwork, loan funds are credited to accounts during the first week of classes.  For first-time freshmen, loan funds cannot be received by the University until 30 days after the start of classes.  Grant funds are credited to accounts as soon as possible following the completion of the first week of classes.

10.  For students who have loans or grants in excess of tuition and fees, the Office of Student Accounts prepares a refund check.  Please note that excess grant funds are not available until after the first week of classes.  Therefore, students should make arrangements to purchase books and supplies.