Financial Aid Policies

All financial aid awards are based on full-time enrollment (12 or more credits per semester). If you enroll in fewer than 12 credits, your award will be adjusted (prorated) based on your actual enrollment. To receive financial aid, you must also be enrolled in an eligible program of study.

You can view your financial aid offer at any time in your MyNorthshore account. Be sure to check your account and your NSCC email regularly, as your financial aid may change throughout the year.

Your financial aid offer and billing information are available online through your MyNorthshore account. There are no paper bills mailed, so it is your responsibility to review your eBill and ensure your aid covers your balance.

Your financial aid offer may include a Federal Direct Loan. You must choose to accept, reduce, or decline the loan in your MyNorthshore account. Remember, loans are funds you must repay.

To be eligible to borrow, you must be enrolled in at least 6 credits. First-time borrowers at NSCC must complete Entrance Loan Counseling and a Master Promissory Note (MPN) at studentaid.gov. Check your MyNorthshore account for any required loan steps and additional information about loan limits and fees.

Grants are funds you do not need to repay. If eligible, they will appear in your award as grants or scholarships. Your grant eligibility may change based on your enrollment and the types of courses you take. Common changes include:

• Losing MassGrant eligibility if you drop below 12 credits
• Adjustments to tuition waivers (some waivers may replace others, such as Veterans, Senior Citizen, or Mass Rehab benefits)

You are required to report any outside scholarships, grants, or education benefits to NSCC. These funds may affect your financial aid eligibility and must be included in your Cost of Attendance (COA). Your COA is based on full-time enrollment and will be adjusted if your enrollment changes, which may result in updates to your financial aid.

Each semester, your enrollment is locked about one week after the add/drop period. This is called the “Freeze Date.” Changes made after this date will not adjust your financial aid.

However:

• If you drop below 6 credits before your loan is disbursed, you will no longer be eligible for the loan
• If you withdraw from all classes after the Freeze Date, the college may be required to return a portion of your financial aid
• If you never attend a course, your aid will be adjusted

These changes may result in a balance owed on your account.

To continue receiving financial aid, you must meet federal Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards:

• Maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA

• Successfully complete at least 67% of the credits you attempt

• Finish your program within 150% of the required credits

You may receive financial aid to repeat a course you failed or withdrew from until you pass it. You may also receive aid for one additional attempt of a previously passed course. All repeated courses count toward your SAP completion rate.

If your financial aid creates a credit balance on your account, you may be eligible for a bookstore credit. You will be notified via your NSCC email if you qualify. Bookstore credits can be used on campus or online and must be used by the deadline provided in your notification email.

Tuition and fees are charged based on your enrolled credits. If your financial aid does not fully cover your balance, you are responsible for paying the remaining amount or enrolling in a payment plan. If your financial aid results in a credit balance after charges (including bookstore purchases), you may receive a refund. Refunds are issued:

• First, back to any credit card used for payment
• Then, to your eRefund (ACH) account if set up
• Otherwise, by mailed paper check to your address on file

After each semester, your academic record is reviewed to ensure you are making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), which is required to continue receiving financial aid at NSCC. Federal regulations require all schools to monitor the progress of students receiving aid to ensure they are successfully working toward their program of study. To meet SAP, you must:

• be in good academic standing (not on Academic Suspension),
• maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0, and
• successfully complete at least 67% of the credits you attempt.

Courses with grades of F, FN, W, IP, and repeated courses count as attempted but not completed credits. In addition, you may receive financial aid for up to 150% of the credits required for your program (for example, up to 90 credits for a 60-credit program). If you exceed this limit, you may lose eligibility for aid.

Several factors can impact your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and financial aid eligibility:

Repeated Courses

If you repeat a course you previously failed, you may continue to receive financial aid until you pass it. If you already passed a course (grade of D or higher), you can receive financial aid for one additional attempt only. All repeated courses count toward your attempted credits, which can affect both your completion rate and your maximum credit limit.  See table below for a couple of examples:

Developmental Courses

Developmental courses (course numbers starting with 0, such as COM010) are eligible for financial aid up to a maximum of 30 attempted credits. Developmental ESL courses do not count toward your degree and are excluded from the maximum credit limit. However, all developmental courses are still included in your GPA and completion rate calculations.

Non-Credit Courses

Courses offered through the Corporate and Professional Education Division are not eligible for financial aid. These courses do not count toward your degree and are not included in SAP calculations.

Withdrawals (W Grades)

Withdrawing from a course may impact your future financial aid eligibility. W grades count as attempted but not completed credits, which lowers your completion rate. Before withdrawing, consider reaching out to your professor, academic advisor, or tutoring services for support. If you are on an approved appeal, withdrawing may also affect your continued eligibility.

F Waivers and Fresh Start

Courses with F waivers are still counted as attempted credits and are included when determining your financial aid eligibility.

Students who have been absent from North Shore Community College for two years or longer may request to re-enroll under the terms of the Fresh Start program. Under this program, a returning student with a poor academic history may request to be re-admitted as if he or she were a transfer student. Fresh Start policies do not apply to financial aid. Fresh Start Applications are available in the Student Support and Advising Center and must be completed in consultation with an Academic Advisor. Please reach out to one of our professional academic advisors, advising@northshore.edu  or financial aid counselors sfs@northshore.edu for help.

After your SAP review, your status will be updated in your myNorthshore account:

• Making Satisfactory Progress: You are meeting all SAP requirements and remain eligible for financial aid. No action is needed.
• Financial Aid Warning: You are not currently meeting SAP standards, but you were meeting them in the previous semester. You may continue to receive aid for one semester. To regain good standing, aim to complete all courses and earn at least a C or better.
• Financial Aid Denial: You did not meet SAP requirements after your warning semester (GPA below 2.0 and/or completion rate below 67%). You are no longer eligible for aid but may submit an appeal.
• Maximum Credits: You have reached or are close to the 150% credit limit for your program. You may be able to appeal to continue receiving aid.
• Approved Probation Semester: Your appeal has been approved for one semester. You must successfully complete all attempted courses and avoid withdrawals (W), failing grades (F), or incomplete grades (IP).

If you lose financial aid eligibility, you may be able to appeal:

• If you are on Academic Suspension, you must first meet with an academic counselor through Navigate before your appeal can be reviewed
• Submit a FAFSA if you have not already done so
• Submit a Financial Aid Appeal Form by the posted deadline

Appeal decisions are typically made within 7–10 business days. You will be notified through your NSCC email. If your appeal is approved, you will be placed on an “Approved Appeal” status. Your progress will be reviewed again after the semester ends. You may continue on appeal in future semesters if you meet the required progress standards. If you do not meet those standards, you will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension.

Be sure to check the Academic Calendar for important deadlines and stay on track with your academic progress.

If you withdraw, stop attending, or are dismissed before completing 60% of the semester, North Shore Community College is required to recalculate your financial aid eligibility. This process, called Return of Title IV (R2T4), determines how much of your federal and state financial aid you earned based on how long you attended. If you complete more than 60% of the semester, you earn 100% of your financial aid. If you withdraw earlier, you only earn a portion. For example, if you received $1,000 in aid but withdrew 30% into the semester, you would earn $300.

Financial aid only pays for courses you attend. If you never attend a class or fail to officially drop or withdraw, your aid will be adjusted, and you may owe a balance. In some cases, students who withdraw may be eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement. If this applies to you, the college will notify you, and you will have 14 days to accept or decline any loan funds offered.

If you believe you have extenuating circumstances that warrant an appeal of our withdrawal policies please reach out to one of our professional academic advisors, advising@northshore.edu  or financial aid counselors sfs@northshore.edu to explain your situation.  We may be able to assist.

Our eRefund process is set up to refund the credit card(s) that were used to make web payment(s) first when possible. If we have no sufficient credit card payment(s) on file, the refund will be sent to the verified ACH profile or processed as a paper check. 

View refund dates for Summer 2026
View refund dates for Spring 2026

North Shore Community College provides refunds for tuition and fees up to specific deadlines each semester. It is your responsibility to withdraw from any courses you do not attend or stop attending through your myNorthshore account. If you do not withdraw by the end of the add/drop period, you will be responsible for the cost of those courses, even if you never attended.

If changes to your enrollment result in a credit balance, Student Financial Services will review your account to determine if you are eligible for a refund. Refunds are typically issued first to the credit card(s) used for payment, then to your eRefund (ACH) account if set up, or by paper check mailed to your address on file.

If you receive financial aid or payments from an outside agency, your account will be reviewed after you withdraw to determine whether any funds must be returned. In some cases, a portion of your financial aid may be reduced, and payments made by outside agencies may be refunded directly to those organizations.

You can sign up for direct deposit (eRefund) through your myNorthshore account by selecting Web Payment/e-Bill, then Electronic Refunds under My Profile Setup. You can update or cancel your banking information at any time.

To receive a refund, students registered for Professional Education (non-credit) workshops and courses must withdraw in writing by emailing professional@northshore.edu at least three days before the first class session. A full refund of tuition is issued minus a 6% processing fee. All other charges are nonrefundable. After this deadline, no refunds are provided.

North Shore Community College is responsible for collecting amounts owed on student accounts. The college may contact students through billing statements, phone calls, emails, and final notices.

If an account becomes delinquent due to non-payment, the balance may be referred to the state for collection. Under Massachusetts General Law (MGL) C.62d and C.7a, the state can intercept payments such as tax refunds, lottery winnings over $600, or other state disbursements to cover the debt. Delinquent accounts may also be sent to an outside collection agency under MGL C.7a and 815 CMR 9.00, with a 16% collection fee added to the total balance. Students are responsible for paying the full amount, including any collection fees.

Important: Student account debt is considered an “educational benefit overpayment or loan” under U.S. law 11 U.S.C. §523(a)(8) of the Bankruptcy Code and cannot be discharged in bankruptcy.