Overaward Policy

An “overaward” is when the need-based awards exceed financial need, or the total of financial aid awards exceeds the cost of attendance. If a student has been overawarded, federal regulations require Notre Dame of Maryland University to adjust awards which may result in a bill. Need-based aid includes grants, scholarships, Federal Work Study, Federal Perkins Loans, Federal Direct Subsidized Loans, and outside resources (i.e. faculty/staff tuition benefits, scholarships, etc.). Non-need based aid includes Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Federal Parent PLUS Loans, Federal Graduate PLUS Loans, and Alternative Loans.

Possible reasons an overaward can occur are:

• Additional awards are received after the final award letter was sent.*
• Housing status changes after the final award letter was sent.
• The verification process results in changes made to FAFSA data.

If a need-based overaward occurs, the financial aid department will reduce or cancel federal aid in the following order. A Federal Pell Grant is never reduced.

• Direct Subsidized Loan
• Perkins Loan
• Federal Work Study
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

For new Women’s College students who begin their enrollment fall 2011 or later-Notre Dame Grant and/or Residence Grant will be reduced or cancelled if student’s expected family contribution has drastically increased from their first year at Notre Dame. 

If a non-need based overaward occurs (student’s cost of attendance was exceeded), the financial aid department will reduce or cancel federal aid in the following order.

• Alternative Loan
• PLUS or Graduate PLUS loan
• Direct Unsubsidized Loan
• TEACH Grant
• Direct Subsidized Loan
• Perkins Loan
• Federal Work Study
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

If student’s tuition is paid by other sources, institutional scholarships will be reduced or cancelled to avoid the excess of the funds awarded toward the tuition.

If a new student receives a late Educational Assistance Grant from the state of Maryland, other aid will be reduced accordingly.

The combined amount of aid from all the sources can never exceed student’s cost of attendance.

*It is the student's responsibility to provide documentation of external sources of aid such as scholarships and tuition benefits to the office of financial aid as soon as the information is received.