Nova Southeastern is a bit of an odd duck, and that’s a good thing to understand up front. It’s a private research university in Davie, just outside Fort Lauderdale, with about 7,300 undergrads sitting inside a university of roughly 21,000 students. Most of the campus is graduate and professional students: medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry, law, psychology. That shapes everything about how NSU recruits undergrads, and it’s why programs that reserve a grad school seat for your freshman are the main event here.
Money-wise, NSU is not a “check the chart and know your number” school. The big award is set during admission review, and the extras are small and tied to applications and an on-campus interview weekend.
Holistic Dean's award; SAT 1200+ adds the Provost Award
Entry-level benchmarks for automatic merit.
Testing Policy
Test-required (SAT, ACT, or CLT)
Superscores ACT/SAT.
Key Deadlines
Priority: Feb 1 • FAFSA: Mar 15
Full-Tuition / Full-Ride
Presidential Scholarship (invitation only)
Honors College
Honors Program Available
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA Only
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Nova Southeastern (Read This First)
Test scores are back. Starting with fall 2026, NSU requires an SAT, ACT, or CLT score. It superscores all three, so a second sitting can only help.
Old brochures will mislead you. NSU’s older materials still floating around online show $20,000-plus Premier Program scholarships. Today those awards are $1,000 to $2,000 a year, added on top of the Dean’s Scholarship.
The Dean’s amount is set once. There’s no published chart, and NSU says the amount can’t be raised after your student enrolls. Ask your questions before the deposit.
“Full tuition” counts your state money. The invitation-only Presidential package fills tuition after federal and state grants are counted (Pell aside). For a Florida student, Bright Futures and EASE get folded in instead of stacking on top.
Scholarships only pay tuition. Housing and food run about $19,000 a year, and NSU auto-bills $2,674 for student health insurance unless you waive it every year.
Florida families have an extra form. No EASE, Bright Futures, or FSAG gets paid until you file NSU’s own State Aid Application with two Florida residency documents.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? No. Nova Southeastern University is test-required for admission.
Do you need test scores for scholarships at Nova Southeastern University? NSU requires SAT, ACT, or CLT scores for admission starting fall 2026 and superscores all three. The Provost Award is set by SAT score.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 19-28; SAT: 1030-1300.
Average net price? About $31,858/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
No. It is a private school, so everyone pays the same rate.
💰 Cost of Attendance at Nova Southeastern University: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Nova Southeastern University has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly $1,200 to $3,000 more than the total below.
✔ Same price for every student, no matter which state you live in.
All students: billed cost per year
$60,864
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$41,860
Housing & meals (typical)
$19,004
Total billed cost
$60,864
Average federal net price: $31,858 per year.
This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
📌 Regional Tuition & Waiver Options
Nova Southeastern University is private and charges the same published tuition and fees to every undergraduate regardless of residency.
How NSU’s Bill Actually Works
NSU charges tuition by the credit: $1,350 per credit hour, which is $40,500 for a normal 30-credit year, plus $1,360 in institutional fees. Everyone pays the same rate whether you live in Florida or not. Two things aren’t in the table above but will show up on your bill: student health insurance ($2,674 for 2026-27, charged automatically unless you waive it each year with proof of other coverage) and books, which NSU estimates at about $2,376.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Nova Southeastern University
What does a full year at NSU really cost?
NSU’s own 2026-27 estimate for a student living on campus comes to about $70,500 once you add tuition, fees, housing and food, books, health insurance, transportation, and personal expenses. The table above shows the billed part, which is about $60,900.
Do out-of-state students pay more?
No. NSU is private, so tuition is the same for everyone. The difference for Florida families is state aid like EASE and Bright Futures, which out-of-state students can’t get.
What do families actually pay after aid?
The federal average net price is about $31,900 a year. The surprising part is how flat it is across incomes: families earning under $30,000 paid about $26,600 on average, and families over $110,000 paid about $35,400. NSU’s aid is mostly merit, not need, so lower-income families don’t get the deep discounts they might see at schools that meet full need.
Is the student health insurance mandatory?
Your student is enrolled automatically and charged when they register. If they’re covered on your plan, you have to opt out every academic year by the waiver deadline, or the charge stays.
Can scholarships cover housing?
No. NSU’s academic scholarships pay tuition only, in fall and winter. Housing, food, and summer classes have to come from need-based aid, savings, or loans, so file the FAFSA even if you don’t expect much.
How much can parents borrow to fill the gap?
Starting July 2026, Parent PLUS loans are capped at $20,000 a year and $65,000 total per student. At a school where the full cost runs around $70,000, that cap matters. Run the Net Price Calculator before you commit.
Can we use Florida Prepaid at NSU?
Yes. NSU lists Florida Prepaid funds as an accepted way to pay. At a private school the plan pays a set amount rather than the full bill, so check what your plan covers.
At admission: The Dean’s Scholarship and Provost Award show up with the admission decision. No separate application.
February 1: Premier Programs supplemental application (Dual Admission, Razor’s Edge, Huizenga Business Innovation Academy).
November through March: Shark Preview weekends, where Premier interviews happen and attendees get the $1,000 Shark Success Award.
March 15: FAFSA priority date for limited federal grant money.
Before April 15: FAFSA and the NSU State Aid Application are required for Presidential Scholarship recipients.
March through June: Most NSU donor scholarships open and close in Scholarship Universe.
Parent rule of thumb: the admission letter sets the big number, so anything that improves it (a retake, a final transcript) has to happen before the letter comes, not after your student enrolls.
Automatic Merit Scholarships at Nova Southeastern University
Every admitted freshman is considered for the Dean’s Scholarship (up to $22,000 a year) with no extra application. The catch is that NSU doesn’t publish a chart, so you won’t know the amount until the admission letter. On top of that, the Provost Award adds up to $1,000 a year for a 1200+ SAT and up to $2,000 for a 1400+, based on NSU’s superscore. Florida residents will see their state aid listed first below.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
Start with your state. The awards in this first group come from the state, not the college. They are decided by residency and the FAFSA, and they stack on top of whatever automatic merit award the college gives below. If you live out of state, use the toggle above and these will step aside.
State AidAutomatic
Effective Access to Student Education Grant
📅 Deadline: Set by each college ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 5 yrs)
$3,500/yr
✔ Stackable
Florida resident at an eligible private nonprofit Florida college; 12 credit hours every term; not need-based; up to nine semesters; deadline set by each college
✚
Stacking & Combining
$3,500 a year for 2026-27 for being a Floridian at a private Florida college, no grades or income test. EASE Plus adds a stipend for upper-level students in teaching, nursing, allied health, agriculture, cyber security, and digital arts. Stacks with Bright Futures and the college's aid. Renewal takes a 2.0.
💡
Strategic Detail
NSU requires its own NSU State Aid Application, with two Florida residency documents, before any Florida aid is paid. NSU's grants page still shows the 2025-26 amount of $3,350; the state's 2026-27 amount is $3,500. Programs that graduate a student after 90 credits are not eligible.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Every full-time Florida resident at a participating private college. The two ways to lose a term are dropping below 12 hours and a state funding shortfall, which prorates the spring payment.
State AidAutomatic
Bright Futures Florida Academic Scholars
📅 Deadline: FFAA by Aug 31 after graduation; test by the same date ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 5 yrs)
$6,360/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA✎ ~29 ACT✎ ~1330 SATFlorida resident; 3.5 weighted GPA in 16 core credits; 29 ACT / 1330 SAT / 95 CLT; 100 service or paid work hours; FFAA by Aug 31 after graduation; no FAFSA needed
✚
Stacking & Combining
At a private Florida college FAS pays a flat $212 a credit hour in 2026-27, about $6,360 for 30 hours, instead of a share of tuition. Stacks with the college's own merit and with EASE. Renewal takes a 3.0.
💡
Strategic Detail
At NSU the student must also complete the NSU State Aid Application and list NSU on the Florida Financial Aid Application. Paid per credit for fall and winter. Money for classes dropped after drop/add must be repaid, and NSU's Presidential Scholarship cannot cover that repayment. Inside a Presidential package, Bright Futures counts toward the full-tuition total.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
3.5 students with a 29 ACT who logged the service hours and filed the FFAA. The hours are the quiet killer: a 1400 SAT does nothing without 100 documented hours, and the hours have to be in before graduation.
State AidAutomatic
Bright Futures Florida Medallion Scholars
📅 Deadline: FFAA by Aug 31 after graduation; test by the same date ✓ Renews (2.75 GPA, 5 yrs)
$4,770/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA✎ ~24 ACT✎ ~1190 SATFlorida resident; 3.0 weighted GPA in 16 core credits; 24 ACT / 1190 SAT / 82 CLT; 75 service hours or 100 paid work hours; FFAA by Aug 31 after graduation; no FAFSA needed
✚
Stacking & Combining
At a private Florida college Medallion pays $159 a credit hour in 2026-27, about $4,770 for 30 hours. Stacks with the college's own merit and with EASE. Renewal takes a 2.75.
💡
Strategic Detail
At NSU the student must also complete the NSU State Aid Application and list NSU on the Florida Financial Aid Application. Paid per credit for fall and winter. Money for classes dropped after drop/add must be repaid.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
3.0 students with a 24 ACT and the service hours. The 1190 SAT is the number that catches people: a 1180 with a 3.9 GPA gets nothing from Bright Futures, and there is no GPA-only path.
State AidAutomatic
Florida Student Assistance Grant
📅 Deadline: No separate application. File the FAFSA early, because each college awards from a fixed allocation until it runs out. ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 5 yrs)
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Florida resident undergraduate with substantial financial need on the FAFSA (Student Aid Index of 9,984 or less for 2026-27) at a participating private Florida college. The college sets each award from its state allocation.
✚
Stacking & Combining
NSU pays FSAG as a flat $2,000 a year ($1,000 per fall and winter term) to Florida residents with the highest need until the state allocation runs out. Stacks with Pell, EASE, Bright Futures and NSU's own aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
Awarded after the fall drop/add period to Florida residents with the highest need. Requires a complete aid file with no pending documents and the NSU State Aid Application.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Florida students with the lowest Student Aid Index who file the FAFSA early. The money is first come, first served at most private colleges, so a February filer has a far better shot than a June filer.
State AidAutomatic
Benacquisto Scholarship
📅 Deadline: NMSC first-choice designation deadline, then the college deadline ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Florida resident National Merit Finalist who also receives an NMSC, corporate-sponsored, or college-sponsored National Merit award; name the college as first choice with NMSC before the offer is mailed; non-residents have not been accepted since 2022-23
✚
Stacking & Combining
The full in-state cost of attendance, minus Bright Futures and the National Merit award itself, so the family pays nothing for tuition, fees, housing, or food. Stacks with Bright Futures by design. The first-choice designation with NMSC is permanent once the offer is mailed.
💡
Strategic Detail
NSU lists Benacquisto among its Florida programs. The NSU State Aid Application is required.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Florida National Merit Finalists who named a Florida school as first choice with NMSC in time. The whole award turns on that one designation, and a finalist who lists an out-of-state school first and changes their mind in April has usually lost it.
State AidAutomatic⚠ Upperclassmen Only
EASE Plus Stipend
📅 Deadline: Same NSU State Aid Application as EASE ✓ Renews
$850/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 UpperclassmenFlorida residents who qualify for EASE, have not earned a degree, are enrolled full time, and take at least one upper-level (3000 or higher) course in a listed major.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with EASE, Bright Futures, and NSU aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
First offered in 2024-25. Future awards are contingent on legislative approval.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Florida residents already receiving EASE who reach upper-level courses in nursing, teaching, allied health, cybersecurity, or digital arts. It is small, and future years depend on the legislature.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Automatic
Dean's Scholarship (Freshman)
📅 Deadline: Awarded at admission; no separate application ✓ Renews (2.2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$22,000/yr
✔ Stackable
First-time freshmen entering full time in traditional bachelor's programs on the Fort Lauderdale/Davie campus. NSU's scholarship listing excludes health profession programs, though the award continues for students who move into the Entry B.S.N. nursing program.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Premier Program awards (Dual Admission, Razor's Edge, Huizenga Business Innovation Academy) and the Provost Award are added on top of the Dean's Scholarship. The Presidential Scholarship replaces it instead of adding to it. Pays tuition only, in fall and winter terms, never housing or summer.
💡
Strategic Detail
Renews with good academic standing, a 2.2 cumulative GPA, and 12 credits each fall and winter term, for up to eight consecutive fall and winter semesters. Graduate and professional coursework, including the graduate years of a Dual Admission program, is not covered.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Every admitted first-year student is considered, and the amount is set during the admission review rather than from a published chart. NSU does not post GPA or test cutoffs for each amount, so the admission letter is the only place to see the number. NSU's FAQ says the amount cannot be increased once the student enrolls, so any question about it has to come before enrollment.
Automatic
Provost Award (1400+ SAT)
📅 Deadline: Awarded at admission based on the SAT on file ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
✎ ~1400 SATFirst-time college and transfer students with a 1400 or higher SAT. NSU superscores the SAT. NSU publishes no ACT or CLT equivalent for this award.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks on top of the Dean's Scholarship and any Premier Program award. The 1400 level replaces the 1200 level; a student receives one Provost amount. Tuition only.
💡
Strategic Detail
Renews with a 3.0 cumulative GPA and full-time enrollment in fall and winter.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students whose superscored SAT reaches 1400. Because NSU lists the cutoff in SAT terms only, ACT and CLT students should ask their admission counselor how their score is treated before assuming they qualify.
Automatic
Provost Award (1200+ SAT)
📅 Deadline: Awarded at admission based on the SAT on file ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$1,000/yr
✔ Stackable
✎ ~1200 SATFirst-time college and transfer students with a 1200 to 1390 SAT. NSU superscores the SAT. NSU publishes no ACT or CLT equivalent for this award.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks on top of the Dean's Scholarship and any Premier Program award. Tuition only.
💡
Strategic Detail
Renews with a 3.0 cumulative GPA and full-time enrollment in fall and winter.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a superscored SAT of 1200 or higher. It is a small award, but a retake that moves a student from 1180 to 1200, or from 1390 to 1400, adds money every year for four years.
Automatic⚠ Transfer Only
Dean's Transfer Award
📅 Deadline: Awarded at admission; no separate application ✓ Renews
$20,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 TransferNew full-time transfer students in traditional bachelor's programs on the main campus. NSU's scholarship listing excludes health profession programs.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with the Provost Award. Tuition only, fall and winter terms.
💡
Strategic Detail
NSU lists this as a renewable award for fall 2026 transfers but does not publish separate transfer renewal terms on its scholarship page; confirm the GPA requirement in the award letter.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Transfer students admitted to traditional programs. Like the freshman award, the amount is set from the admission review rather than a published grid, so the offer letter is the only way to see it.
Data last verified Oct 31, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Note: NSU lists the Provost Award in SAT terms only and doesn’t publish an ACT or CLT equivalent. If your student tests on the ACT or CLT, ask your admission counselor how the score is treated. All NSU merit awards pay tuition only, in fall and winter terms.
How much is the Dean’s Scholarship?
Up to $22,000 a year for freshmen entering in fall 2026, and up to $20,000 for transfers. NSU sets the exact amount during the admission review and doesn’t publish the GPA and test cutoffs behind it.
Can the Dean’s amount go up later?
NSU says that once the award is finalized and your student enrolls, it can’t be increased. If your family’s finances change, the route is need-based aid through the financial aid office, not a bigger scholarship.
Do we need test scores to get merit money?
Yes, in practice. NSU requires an SAT, ACT, or CLT for admission starting fall 2026, and the Provost Award is set by SAT score. NSU superscores all three tests.
Can my student get both the Dean’s Scholarship and the Provost Award?
Yes. The Provost Award stacks on top of the Dean’s, and so do the Premier Program awards. Only the Presidential Scholarship replaces the Dean’s instead of adding to it.
What does it take to keep the awards?
The Dean’s renews with a 2.2 GPA and good standing. The Provost Award needs a 3.0. Your student has to take 12 credits every fall and winter term, and the money lasts up to eight consecutive fall and winter semesters.
Does Bright Futures stack with NSU’s merit?
For most students, yes. EASE and Bright Futures sit on top of the Dean’s and Provost awards. The exception is the Presidential package, which counts state grants toward its full-tuition total.
What if my student goes into nursing?
The Dean’s Scholarship continues for students who enter the Entry B.S.N. program. NSU’s scholarship listing notes that some other health profession programs aren’t eligible, so check before choosing a specialty track.
NSU’s competitive money comes in two very different sizes. At the top is the Presidential Scholarship, an invitation-only package that brings tuition up to full. Below that are the Premier Programs: Dual Admission, Razor’s Edge, and the Huizenga Business Innovation Academy. Each requires a supplemental application by February 1 and a weekend on campus called Shark Preview. Be honest with yourself about what you’re applying for. These awards used to be worth $20,000 or more a year, and today they’re $1,000 to $2,000. The real prize in a Premier Program is the opportunity, especially a reserved seat in an NSU medical, dental, pharmacy, or law program.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at NSU?
Aid Type
Stacks with Dean’s?
NSU Parent Translation
Provost Award
Yes
Adds up to $1,000 or $2,000 a year based on SAT.
Premier awards (Dual Admission, Razor’s Edge, HBIA)
Yes
Added on top of the Dean’s. Razor’s Edge also stacks with Dual Admission.
Presidential Scholarship
Replaces it
Takes the place of the Dean’s and fills tuition to full. Premier awards don’t add on top.
Florida aid (EASE, Bright Futures, FSAG)
Yes
Stacks with the Dean’s. Inside a Presidential package it counts toward the full-tuition total instead.
Pell Grant
Yes
Always on top, even with Presidential.
About Dual Admission: NSU offers roughly 40 programs that reserve a graduate seat while your student earns a bachelor’s degree, including the M.D., D.O., D.M.D., Pharm.D., O.D., P.A., physical therapy, occupational therapy, and law. Your student can hold only one. Each program sets its own minimums, so check the program page before February 1.
Full TuitionAutomatic
Presidential Scholarship
📅 Deadline: FAFSA and, for Florida residents, the NSU State Aid Application before April 15 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Full Tuition
✘ Not stackable
First-time freshmen entering full time in the fall who submitted test scores. Selection is by invitation from Undergraduate Admissions, and NSU's current pages do not publish the selection criteria.
✚
Stacking & Combining
The package tops the student up to full tuition, and NSU counts institutional scholarships plus federal and state grants, everything except Pell, toward that total. Premier Program awards do not stack on top of it.
💡
Strategic Detail
Renews with a 3.0 cumulative GPA and 24 credits across fall and winter (2.5 for students who entered before fall 2025). Tuition only. NSU's Presidential Scholars program page still refers to fall 2025; the award itself appears in the fall 2026 scholarship FAQ. Presidential funds cannot be used to repay Bright Futures money for dropped classes.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Top domestic applicants NSU chooses to invite, with test scores on file. Because the package fills tuition after state and federal grants are counted, a Florida student's EASE and Bright Futures pay part of the tuition bill instead of adding extra money. A student who falls below the 3.0 renewal GPA drops back to the original Dean's amount.
Admitted first-year students who submit the Premier Programs supplemental application, attend Shark Preview, and are accepted into one of NSU's Dual Admission programs. Each program sets its own GPA and test minimums. A student can hold only one Dual Admission seat.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks on the Dean's Scholarship and Provost Award, and NSU's Razor's Edge page confirms it stacks with Razor's Edge. Not added on top of Presidential. Undergraduate tuition only; graduate years are not covered.
💡
Strategic Detail
Renews while the student stays in good standing and keeps seat eligibility in the Dual Admission program. Losing the seat removes the award.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who already know their professional path and meet that program's minimums. The $2,000 is the small part; the real value is a reserved seat in an NSU graduate or professional program for as long as the student keeps that program's benchmarks.
🏫 3.0+ GPA✎ ~25 ACT✎ ~1200 SATTwo tracks: Leadership and Research. Minimum 3.0 GPA and 1200 SAT, 25 ACT, or CLT equivalent. Students may apply to both tracks and are guaranteed an interview for their first choice at Shark Preview. Scholars are encouraged to live on campus freshman year and graduate with a minor in Experiential Leadership or Research Studies.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with the Dean's Scholarship, the Provost Award, and the Dual Admission Award. Not added on top of Presidential.
💡
Strategic Detail
Renews with a 3.0 cumulative GPA plus program participation requirements spelled out in the acknowledgment letter.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a real leadership or research track record who clear the 3.0 and 1200/25 minimums and interview well. Families who remember Razor's Edge as a $20,000-plus scholarship should know the current award is $1,000 a year; the value now is the minor, the cohort, and the network.
Admitted first-year students accepted into the Huizenga Business Innovation Academy through the Premier Programs supplemental application and Shark Preview. Students earn a bachelor's degree and an M.B.A. in four years.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with the Dean's Scholarship and Provost Award. Not added on top of Presidential.
💡
Strategic Detail
Renews with a 3.0 cumulative GPA plus Academy participation requirements. Includes 20% off M.B.A. tuition in the fourth year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Business-minded students who want to run a student business and finish an M.B.A. in four years. The $1,000 is modest; the bigger savings is the 20% M.B.A. tuition discount in the fourth year and skipping a separate graduate year.
Data last verified Oct 31, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Flagship and Competitive Scholarship FAQs
How does a student get the Presidential Scholarship?
By invitation from Undergraduate Admissions. NSU’s current pages don’t publish the selection criteria, but it requires test scores. Recipients must also file the FAFSA, plus the NSU State Aid Application if they’re Florida residents, before April 15.
Does “full tuition” mean NSU pays the whole tuition bill?
It means NSU fills the gap up to full tuition after counting your other scholarships and grants, except Pell. If your Florida student brings Bright Futures and EASE, those cover part of tuition and NSU covers the rest. It doesn’t pay housing.
When is the deadline for Premier Programs?
February 1. Your student applies to NSU first, then submits the supplemental Premier Programs application and picks a Shark Preview date.
What is Shark Preview?
A two-day on-campus event for admitted students, running from November through March, where Premier Program interviews happen. Your family covers travel and hotel, and every in-person attendee gets a $1,000 Shark Success Award.
Can my student apply to more than one Premier Program?
Yes. They can combine Dual Admission, Razor’s Edge, and the Business Innovation Academy, and apply to both Razor’s Edge tracks (Leadership and Research). They can be admitted to only one Dual Admission program.
What does Razor’s Edge require?
A 3.0 GPA and a 1200 SAT, 25 ACT, or CLT equivalent, plus an interview. Scholars are encouraged to live on campus freshman year, and they earn a minor in leadership or research.
Is the Business Innovation Academy worth it for $1,000?
The scholarship is small, but students finish a bachelor’s degree and an M.B.A. in four years and get 20% off M.B.A. tuition in year four. That saved year is where the real money is.
Getting admitted to NSU gets your student the Dean’s Scholarship. The smaller money that closes the gap takes three more steps that a lot of families skip:
Scholarship Universe: NSU’s new matching tool for fall 2026. Log in with the NSU credentials your student gets after admission and answer every question. Most donor awards open in March and close in May or June.
NSU State Aid Application (Florida families): a separate form, with two residency documents, that unlocks EASE, Bright Futures, and FSAG. The 2027-28 version opens in early November 2026.
FAFSA by March 15: NSU’s priority date for limited federal grant money. Need-based scholarships in Scholarship Universe also require it.
Parent translation: skip these and you still keep the Dean’s award, but you leave the $1,000 to $3,500 pieces on the table, and at a $70,000-a-year school those pieces add up.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These aren’t headline awards, but they’re real money most families overlook. The Shark Success Award just takes showing up in person. Scholarship Universe takes patience with a long questionnaire. NSU’s federal grant amount is quietly bigger for out-of-state students.
App Required
Shark Success Award
📅 Deadline: Attend an in-person Shark Preview (sessions run November through March) Non-Renewable
$1,000
✔ Stackable
Admitted students who submit the Premier Programs supplemental application and attend Shark Preview in person.
✚
Stacking & Combining
NSU does not publish stacking rules for this award; confirm how it appears on the aid offer.
💡
Strategic Detail
NSU does not say whether it renews, so plan on it once. The March virtual Shark Preview is limited to international applicants, and the award is tied to in-person attendance.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Any admitted student who applies for a Premier Program and shows up in person at Shark Preview, whether or not they win the program. The two most recently updated NSU pages say $1,000; an older Premier Programs page still says $2,000.
📅 Deadline: Most NSU awards open in March and close in May or June ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All UndergradAdmitted and current NSU students. Log in with NSU credentials, answer the matching questions, and apply to every match. Awards that require financial need also require a FAFSA.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can combine with other NSU scholarships and aid depending on each award's rules. Total aid cannot exceed the cost of attendance, and institutional scholarships pay NSU tuition charges only.
💡
Strategic Detail
Renewable awards renew annually for up to four years when their own requirements are met. NSU employees using a tuition waiver are not eligible for institutional scholarships.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who fill out the whole profile. Many NSU donor awards match automatically, but the ones tied to leadership, service, or a specific major only appear after those questions are answered. Scholarship Universe replaced the old Annual Scholarship Profile for fall 2026, so older advice about the scholarship profile now means this tool.
Data last verified Oct 31, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Money the college does not control. Federal programs, city promise funds, foundations, and employers. The college may help you apply, but someone else writes the check, and these almost always stack with the college's own awards.
Outside MoneyAutomatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
📅 Deadline: March 15 FAFSA priority date ✓ Renews
$1,500–$3,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 All UndergradPell-eligible undergraduates who complete the FAFSA and every verification item. Funds are limited and awarded in the order files are completed.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with Pell, state aid, and NSU scholarships.
💡
Strategic Detail
Students enrolled in fewer than 6 credits receive half the award. Reapply each year with a new FAFSA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Pell-eligible students who file early and clear verification fast. At NSU the full-time award is $1,500 for Florida residents and $3,000 for out-of-state students, an unusual split that favors families from outside Florida. A March 15 FAFSA does not guarantee it.
Data last verified Oct 31, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
What is Scholarship Universe?
NSU’s scholarship matching tool, new for fall 2026. It replaced the old Annual Scholarship Profile. Your student answers questions, and the tool shows the NSU and outside scholarships they qualify for. Some NSU awards match automatically, while others need a short application.
When should we look?
NSU says most institutional scholarships open in March and close in May or June. New ones get added all year, so check back during freshman year too.
Does my student have to win a Premier Program to get the Shark Success Award?
No. It goes to students who apply for a Premier Program and attend Shark Preview in person. Plan on it as a one-time $1,000.
Why do out-of-state students get more federal grant money at NSU?
NSU awards its Federal SEOG at $1,500 for Florida residents and $3,000 for out-of-state students who qualify for Pell. Florida students have state grants to fall back on, and out-of-state students don’t.
Is there a cap on how much aid my student can get?
Yes. Total aid can’t go over NSU’s cost of attendance, and NSU’s institutional scholarships can only pay tuition charges.
Farquhar Honors Program at Nova Southeastern University
You may see it called the Farquhar Honors College in older NSU materials. It’s now the Farquhar Honors Program, housed in NSU’s Halmos College of Arts and Sciences. Membership is by application only and goes to top students in each major. There’s no extra cost to be in Honors.
When to apply: after your student is admitted to NSU, since the application requires NSU login credentials.
Deadline: May 1, 2027 for incoming students (current NSU students apply by March 1, 2027). Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so earlier is better.
Admission minimums: NSU doesn’t publish a GPA or test cutoff for Honors.
📅 Deadline: Application details announced in winter semester; awarded at the Honors Spring Celebration Non-Renewable
$1,000
✔ Stackable
👥 ~1 winners/yr🎓 All UndergradFarquhar Honors Program students in good standing with at least six Honors credits completed. Applicants must attend the Honors Spring Celebration.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Honors awards are separate from the Dean's and Presidential scholarships, and a student can hold several institutional scholarships, which may be capped at total tuition.
💡
Strategic Detail
Applies toward undergraduate tuition for the following school year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: One Honors student a year who can show how transdisciplinary Honors work shaped their academic, professional, and civic growth.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Honors Area Awards
📅 Deadline: Application details announced in winter semester; awarded at the Honors Spring Celebration Non-Renewable
$500
✔ Stackable
🎓 All UndergradHonors students in good standing who applied their Honors work in Community Engagement, Humanities and Arts, STEM, Social Sciences, or Business and Entrepreneurship. Applicants must attend the Spring Celebration.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Separate from the Dean's and Presidential scholarships. A student can hold several institutional scholarships, which may be capped at total tuition.
💡
Strategic Detail
Applies toward undergraduate tuition for the following school year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Several Honors students each year, one or more per area, who can point to a concrete project in their category.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Honors Travel Study Assistance
📅 Deadline: Case by case; contact the Honors Program director Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All UndergradHonors students pursuing the Honors Transdisciplinary Studies minor or an honors citation who want to join an NSU travel study course.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Separate from other NSU scholarships.
💡
Strategic Detail
Amount varies by trip.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Honors students already on the minor or citation track who ask early. It is decided case by case, so the students who get it are the ones who contact the director before booking a trip.
Data last verified Oct 31, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Honors awards are separate from the Dean’s and Presidential scholarships. NSU says a student can hold several institutional scholarships, though the total may be capped at tuition.
Set Expectations: Honors at NSU is about the experience (smaller classes, research, an honors thesis), not a big scholarship. The Honors awards are small, up to $1,000 or $500, and they go to students already in the program. NSU’s current Honors page doesn’t list a first-year Honors scholarship.
Bigger Help for Honors Students Comes From Outside NSU
National fellowships: The Honors Program mentors students applying for awards like the Goldwater, Truman, Marshall, Fulbright, and Jack Kent Cooke.
Travel study: Honors students on the transdisciplinary minor or an honors citation can request help paying for NSU travel study courses.
Honors Program FAQs (Nova Southeastern University)
Is Honors admission automatic?
No. Your student fills out a separate Honors application after being admitted to NSU.
Does Honors come with a scholarship?
Not up front. The Honors awards are small and go to current Honors students through applications each winter, announced at the Spring Celebration.
Does being in Honors cost extra?
No. NSU says there’s no additional cost to being an Honors student.
Can Honors students also do a Premier Program?
Yes. Honors is separate from Dual Admission, Razor’s Edge, and the Business Innovation Academy, and NSU holds Honors information sessions during Shark Preview.
Why do some sites still say “Honors College”?
The name changed. Older pages and brochures use “Farquhar Honors College,” while NSU’s current pages say “Farquhar Honors Program.” It’s the same program.
NSU is built around health care and graduate school, and that’s the lens to view it through. It has two medical schools (the Dr. Kiran C. Patel Colleges of Allopathic and Osteopathic Medicine) plus colleges of dental medicine, pharmacy, optometry, nursing, psychology, and law, all on the same campus as the undergrads. The Carnegie Classification lists NSU as a doctoral university with high research activity.
Nationally Known Program: Dual Admission is what sets NSU apart. Your student can reserve a seat in one of about 40 NSU graduate programs, from medicine and dentistry to physician assistant studies and law, while still in high school. Then they move straight into that program after undergrad as long as they hit the benchmarks. For a student who’s sure about a health career, that takes a lot of the grad-school-application stress off the table.
Pre-health sciences: Biology is NSU’s biggest bachelor’s program, and nursing and psychology are close behind, with neuroscience as a growing option.
Marine biology: NSU Ocean sits on Port Everglades, and the Guy Harvey Research Institute’s shark and coral research gives undergrads real field work.
Business: The Huizenga College of Business is AACSB-accredited, with finance, marketing, and business administration as solid majors and a four-year bachelor’s-plus-M.B.A. track.
Campus life: About 7,300 undergrads on a campus that’s mostly grad students, which means smaller undergrad classes (a 16-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio) and easy access to labs and professional schools.
🔗 Official Nova Southeastern University Links
Use NSU’s official pages below to double-check deadlines, scholarship terms, and costs. NSU updates these pages throughout the year, and in a few places they disagree with each other, so treat the award letter as the final word.
NSU does not publish a Common Data Set. Admissions and net price figures on this page come from federal data at College Navigator.
✅ Wrapping It Up
Here’s the honest version. NSU is a school you pick for the path, not the price tag. On paper it costs about $70,000 a year, and most families end up paying somewhere around $27,000 to $35,000 after aid, no matter their income. The Dean’s Scholarship does most of the heavy lifting, and you won’t know that number until the admission letter shows up.
Where NSU really earns its keep is for the student who already knows they want to be a doctor, dentist, pharmacist, PA, or lawyer. Dual Admission lets them lock in a grad school seat at 17, and for the right kid that’s worth more than any scholarship. If that’s your student, apply early, get the test score where you want it before the admission review, get the February 1 Premier application in, and go to Shark Preview in person. If you’re in Florida, don’t forget NSU’s own state aid form. And if your student isn’t sure about grad school yet, compare that net price carefully against schools that will give you a bigger number up front.
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Written by Leo Dimilo. Leo founded CollegeReadyParent after working through the college money maze with his own daughter. He digs through each school’s own pages so other parents get the plain-English version, including the parts colleges don’t put on the brochure.
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