Calculating Your Financial Aid
When North Park University prepares your financial aid package, we use an equation to help determine your financial need.
Cost of Attendance (COA) – Student Aid Index (SAI) = Need
The Cost of Attendance in this calculation includes items like tuition, housing and food, personal expenses, books, transportation, and living expenses. COA is usually higher than your direct costs (tuition, housing and food), which allows you to borrow money to help cover additional expenses. Your financial aid award, including student loans, cannot exceed your totally COA.
The Student Aid Index (SAI) is a figure generated by your FAFSA. A lower SAI indicates higher financial need. We use this number when creating your financial aid package, but you can anticipate that your educational expenses will be greater than the SAI generated by the FAFSA.
The final step of this equation—need—is what we try to meet to the best of our ability, through scholarship, grants, loans, and work-study. Learn more about each of these types of financial aid.
What will your financial aid package be?
While you are considering all the details about tuition and other college costs, you can also get a better picture of your own potential financial aid by using our Net Price Calculator. This online tool is free and can be used multiple times.