FINANCIAL AID POLICY & ADVICE:

APPLY TO STUDY ABROAD EXPENSES:
NMSU is permitted to release federal, state, and all other aid (scholarships, grants, and loans) for payment towards a study abroad program for eligible students who have filled out the FAFSA. The program must be approved for credit applied to a major, minor, general education, and elective credits that fulfill requirements for a degree. Students need to enroll full time to receive their full financial aid on study abroad. Aid can cover transportation, tuition and fees, living costs, passport and visa, and health insurance costs. Aid packages for any given academic year cover the period Fall through the next Summer. For more information on eligibility of financial aid for study abroad, contact the Financial Aid Advisor for study abroad programs: Educational Services Center, Suite F, 505-646-6119.

AVAILABLE FOR PROGRAMS WITH TUITION PAID OUTSIDE NMSU:
Students may use their financial aid for programs for which NMSU tuition is not charged as long as the student has been approved to attend a study abroad program with an affiliation agreement on file, or the student has completed and returned the NMSU Visiting Student Consortium Agreement (the host institution will verify to NMSU that they are not providing you financial aid assistance).

PREVIOUS SEMESTER BALANCES AFFECT ON AID:
Financial Aid expected for the upcoming semester cannot be used to pay off previous semester balances in order to complete enrollment. All previous charges made to a student's account with the Office of University Accounts Receivables must be paid in full each semester. THE STUDY ABROAD OFFICE CANNOT ENROLL STUDENTS IN A STUDY ABROAD COURSE IF THE STUDENT HAS A PAST BALANCE ON ACCOUNT.

RELEASE OF AID:
Financial aid should be released starting a few days prior to the beginning of each semester, but this is not guaranteed. Also, some programs, especially in the Southern Hemisphere such as Brazil or Australia, start their semesters prior to NMSU's release date. When aid is approved for disbursal, University Accounts Receivables should pay off everything owed to NMSU for the current semester first. Afterward, the check made out to the student is mailed to the address on file with NMSU (either the billing address, the mailing address, or the permanent address listed on the student's Banners account) or direct deposited into the student's bank account if this has been arranged. ALWAYS CHECK WITH FINANCIAL AID AND ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLES TO DETERMINE WHEN AND HOW FINANCIAL AID WILL BE DISBURSED. ALSO MAKE SURE BEFORE YOU LEAVE CAMPUS THAT ALL FINANCIAL AID ACCEPTANCE PAPERS AND PROMISSORY NOTES HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, SIGNED, AND TURNED INTO THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL AID.

VERIFYING PREVIOUS SEMESTERS PROGRESS :
In order for financial aid to be released the semester after a student has studied abroad (whether returning to NMSU or continuing to study abroad), the student must arrange for the host institution to submit a transcript or an official statement that shows the student was enrolled full time and passed the courses. Until this is received, aid disbursement will be delayed.