Information For
Undergraduate Financial Aid
Your first stop for aid-related questions and procedures
Admitted Students
Welcome to Northwestern! If you are a newly admitted student and would like to learn more about financial aid, we encourage you to review our online Financial Aid Orientation and visit our Admitted Student FAQ page.
2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
The FAFSA application is normally available October 1. However for the 2025-26 academic year, the Department of Education has announced that the application will be available to the public on or before Dec. 1, 2024. Please know that our deadline dates for the 2025-26 year have been adjusted to accommodate the changes and delays caused by the new form.
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Financial Aid Brochure
The Financial Aid Brochure provides an overview of Northwestern's Financial Aid Process.Resources
Application Deadlines
Regular Decision
| What's due? | Date |
|---|---|
| FAFSA | February 1 |
| CSS Profile | February 1 |
| Tax Materials (via IDOC) | February 5 |
| Any Additional Requested Forms | February 1 |
Current Students
| What's due? | Date |
|---|---|
| FAFSA | May 1 |
| CSS Profile | May 1 |
| University Aid Application (UAPP) | May 1 |
| Tax Materials | May 1 |
| Any Additional Requested Forms | May 1 |
Early Decision
| What's due? | Date |
|---|---|
| CSS Profile | December 1 |
| FAFSA | January 1 |
| Tax Materials (via IDOC) | December 5 |
| Any Additional Requested Forms | December 5 |
International Students
| What's due? | Date |
|---|---|
| CSS Profile | February 1 |
| Tax Materials | February 1 |
| Any Additional Requested Forms | February 5 |
Transfer Students
| What's due? | Date |
|---|---|
| FAFSA | March 1 |
| CSS Profile | March 1 |
| Tax Materials | March 5 |
| Any Additional Requested Forms | March 5 |