Access2Excellence

Breaking down financial barriers

As of fall 2023, NAU is guaranteeing tuition coverage for undergraduate Arizona residents who have a household income of up to $65,000. This is applicable at NAU’s Flagstaff and Statewide campuses (Online students are not eligible).

In addition, members of one of Arizona’s 22 federally recognized tribes will receive the full benefit of A2E, regardless of income or state of residency.

NAU is broadening access to higher education and increasing attainment of valuable postsecondary credentials for Arizona residents—fueling economic and social mobility in Arizona and throughout the nation.

Eligibility

Eligible students must complete the following steps to secure A2E:

Apply and be admitted to NAU.
Complete the FAFSA after it opens October 1 and submit any requested financial aid documents (this is how we verify your income).
Review your financial aid offer to confirm if you are an A2E recipient.
Enroll full-time in 12 or more credits each term.

What it covers

Eligible charges covered by A2E:

Your undergraduate tuition charges for fall and spring will be covered using a combination of tuition scholarships and other grant funds. (Summer and winter session tuition is not included. Fees are also not included.)

A2E does not cover other elements of your cost of attendance, such as mandatory and college fees, books, housing, food, transportation, or personal expenses. Students are encouraged to file the FAFSA by the April 1 priority date each year and apply for additional scholarships through ScholarshipUniverse each winter. The Arizona Promise Program is available for eligible students to help cover the cost of mandatory and college fees.

Frequently asked questions

NAU is broadening access to higher education and increasing the potential for all Arizonans to obtain valuable postsecondary credentials—fueling economic and social mobility in Arizona and throughout the nation.

A2E breaks down financial barriers and forges a pathway for every student in Arizona to come to NAU and pursue their dreams. Here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the program.

How is eligibility determined?

You’re eligible for A2E if you:

Are an undergraduate Arizona resident newly admitted as a freshman or transfer student to NAU for fall 2023 or later
You’ve filed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) using NAU school code 001082 by the April 1 priority filing date
You’re classified (by your FAFSA) as a dependent student whose parents’ combined Adjusted Gross Income is $65,000 or less; OR you’re classified (by your FAFSA) as an independent student with an Adjusted Gross Income of $65,000 or less
Your Student Aid Index (SAI), as determined by the FAFSA, is also 65,000 or less.

Online students are not eligible for A2E.

I’m a part of one of Arizona’s 22 federally recognized tribes. Does that qualify me for A2E?

If you are a registered member of one of Arizona’s 22 federally recognized tribes, you qualify for A2E, regardless of income or state of residence. To verify Tribal enrollment, a copy of your Tribal Identification Card or Certificate of Indian Blood (CIB) may be required.

How long can I receive A2E?

You may be eligible for four years if you remain on a Flagstaff or Statewide campus and maintain full-time enrollment.

What income year is being used to determine A2E?

Your income will be verified using the FAFSA that correlates with the academic year to which you enroll at NAU.

Students applying to NAU for the 2024-25 academic year will have their income verified through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that opened Dec. 21, 2023.
Students applying to NAU for the 2023-24 school year will have their income verified through the FAFSA that opened Oct. 1, 2022.

The FAFSA uses tax information from two years prior. Families who have experienced a significant change in income may be eligible to submit a Contribution Appeal to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.

Am I still eligible for A2E if I am a Lumberjack Scholars recipient?

As a Lumberjack Scholars recipient, your tuition is already covered so you are not eligible for A2E. However, you might be eligible for additional grant funds, so it is important to complete the FAFSA by the April 1 priority date each year.

If I have other tuition scholarships (Dean’s, President’s), am I still eligible for A2E?

Yes, up to your full cost of tuition. You might still be eligible for additional grants, so it is important that you complete the FAFSA by the April 1 priority date each year.

A2E-eligible aid is awarded in the following order and applied directly to the cost of tuition:

NAU in-state tuition scholarships (Lumberjack, President’s, Dean’s with Distinction, Dean’s, Opportunity, Jacks, 2NAU)
Federal Grants (Pell, FSEOG)
State/Institutional Grants (Financial Aid Trust, University)

Once the full cost of tuition has been met, any remaining grant funds and student loans (if accepted by the student) will apply to other institutional charges, such as fees, housing, and food.

Offered aid amounts and types are subject to availability of funds and student eligibility. NAU reserves the right to adjust students’ offered aid at any time based on changes to either criterion.

If I make more than $65,000, what am I eligible for?

For students with a household income above $65,000, NAU will continue to provide generous financial aid and scholarship packages. For all students, NAU’s cost of attendance will remain lower than other in-state options.

If I start school at NAU or attend during the spring semester instead of fall, am I still eligible?

Yes.

Do first-year and transfer students qualify?

Yes, this will be available to undergraduate first-year and transfer students who attend NAU’s Flagstaff or Statewide campuses.

For additional questions not found here, contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid at 928-523-4951.

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