Admitted Students FAQs

Yes, you may apply for aid and/or submit special circumstances to our office after the application deadlines. Please note that to receive a financial aid decision before the May 1 deposit deadline, our office recommends submitting all materials before April 17.

Your aid for your term(s) of non-enrollment will simply be cancelled. It is not possible to reallocate this aid to other terms.

Yes, you must reapply for financial aid each year. The required base forms are the FAFSA and an additional Northwestern Aid Application. Renewal application information is sent in the winter quarter and the materials are typically due May 1st.

Northwestern uses the freshman year aid decision as the basis for subsequent years. Because educational costs do rise each year, families who have not experienced a significant change in their financial situation can expect an annual increase in both the family contribution and financial aid. Families who have had substantial changes in eligibility (increase or decrease) from one year to the next have usually experienced the following: a change in the number of dependents enrolled in undergraduate education, a change in the number of family members in the household, or a change in income. If any of these changes are foreseen, we encourage you to contact a counselor in our office for more information.

Northwestern offers only need-based scholarship assistance, with the exception of a very limited number of talent competition scholarships in music and some assistance to offset debate expenses for our competitive national debate team. Recipients of such awards are notified at the time of admission.

You should immediately complete the FAFSA, CSS Profile, and send in federal tax information via IDOC. Depending on the timing of your late application, it may not be possible for you to receive an aid decision prior to the May 1 deposit deadline. Northwestern will consider you for any resources that are available, including scholarship assistance. Additional application information is available on our website.

If you are submitting a special circumstances review request, please submit your materials no later than April 17. We cannot guarantee a response before May 1 for materials submitted after this date, and we are unable to extend the deposit deadline for pending reviews.

Yes, if you are a domestic student and your circumstances change, such as the loss of a job or income, you may apply. Additional documentation beyond the normal application materials may be required.

The Work-Study Office will send information over the summer instructing work-study eligible students how to use the work-study website to find a job. There are usually more positions available than there are students to fill them; finding a job should not be a problem. Review the online student work-study orientation for additional information.

Yes, though we recommend that students do not work more than 15 hours a week. Students typically work an average of about 6-10 hours a week to earn the work-study allotment on the financial aid award.