Financial Aid

Important Information

The FAFSA Has Changed
Passed by Congress in 2020, The FAFSA Simplification Act marks a major overhaul of the processes and systems used to award federal student aid (such as the Pell Grant). This overhaul makes significant changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, the calculations used to determine eligibility for Federal Aid programs, and even the terminology we use to explain it all.  Bear with us as we work to implement all the changes, learn the new processes, and communicate them with students, parents, and partners.  It is a whole new world for Financial Aid Offices everywhere.

Federal Student Aid (FSA) has provided several quick videos to help explain these changes, you can watch those here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtr3wy4M_CJ2Hrd0UwCAWJOgOPu8l_ZLf

Enrollment Intensity for Pell Awards

A pell eligible student will receive their max award amount if they are enrolled in at least 12 credit hours. A student enrolled in less than 12 credit hours will receive a percentage of their award (rounded to the nearest whole percent) based on the enrollment intensity calculation. 


The following chart does a great job showing the calculation for enrollment intensity:


Enrollment Intensity
Credit Hours Enrollment Intensity Formula Enrollment Intensity
12 or more 12/12 = 1.0 100%
11 11/12 = 0.917 92%
10 10/12 = 0.833 83%
9 9/12 = 0.75 75%
8 8/12 = 0.667 67%
7 7/12 = 0.583 58%
6 6/12 = 0.50 50%
5 5/12 = 0.417 42%
4 4/12 = 0.333 33%
3 3/12 = 0.25 25%
2 2/12 = .0167 17%
1 1/12 = 0.083 8%

Financial Aid

Many students think higher education is financially out of reach, but that is not the case at North Arkansas College. The college has awarded more than $500,000 in scholarships in the last five years.

North Arkansas College also has one of the lowest tuition rates in the country.

The Financial Aid Office is here to help you find a financial strategy that you can afford through scholarship programs, work-study programs, grants and loans.

To apply for financial aid at North Arkansas College you should:North Arkansas College’s OPE six-digit Federal School Code or Title IV School Code is 012261.

The FAFSA should be completed as soon after October 1st as possible. Priority deadlines to guarantee federal aid eligibility is processed by the payment deadlines are as follows:
  • Fall Semester Priority Deadline - August 1st
  • Spring Semester Priority Deadline - December 1st
  • Summer Semester(s) Priority Deadline - May 1st
Applications and documentation received after these priority dates will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis with priority given to students with the most financial need.

To learn what financial aid you are eligible for, contact a representative at 870-391-3266, email them at financial-aid@northark.edu or stop by at 1515 Pioneer Drive, Harrison, AR, Office M186 (South Campus.)






Go Top