Eligibility and Aid Applications FAQs
Eligibility and Aid Applications
Northwestern determines your family's financial contribution towards college expenses, called the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), based on information provided to us on two forms: the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The formula used to calculate the EFC considers the following factors: student earnings and savings, parental income, nonretirement assets, taxes paid, family size, number of family members in college, private K-12 school costs, nondiscretionary expenses and any special circumstances.
Families whose EFC is less than the total Cost of Attendance (COA) for one year at Northwestern have what is known as "demonstrated financial need." Northwestern's financial aid package equals the difference between the COA and the EFC. Demonstrated financial need is covered with scholarships and grants, not loans. Students and families may, however, use student loans as a means to pay for costs not covered by any offered scholarships and grants.
Some of the factors used to determine eligibility for federal aid are:- Taxable and nontaxable income
- Federal and state taxes
- Assets
- Asset protection/educational savings allowance
- Family size
- Income protection allowance
- Number of family members in college
- Expenses related to the employment of both parents
Some of the additional factors that determine eligibility for aid from Northwestern are:
- Non-discretionary expenses (such as non-reimbursed medical expenses)
- Business losses
- Depreciation expenses
- Special circumstances reported by your family
The expected family contribution toward freshman-year expenses includes a portion of the student's summer earnings as well as 25% of his or her savings. The balance of any savings and assets will be applied to the cost of your remaining undergraduate years.
You can estimate your family contribution for college using the College Board's expected family contribution worksheet. Your actual expected family contribution may vary based on the results of the CSS Financial Aid Profile and institutional analysis.
Financial aid awards are typically released about one week after admission decisions. If you have been admitted but have not yet received your financial aid award, check your financial aid checklist (CAESAR > Tasks > To Do List) for missing items. If you completed your application late or very recently, please note that applications are reviewed in the order in which they are received. Our office is typically unable to extend the tuition deposit deadline for admitted students who apply late for financial aid.
Northwestern provides on-campus support for students with demonstrated financial need, such as assistance in obtaining books and other supplies (Books for Cats) and $3,000 stipends for those with unpaid summer internships (Summer Internship Grant Program).
Students with high financial need may be eligible for additional assistance programs once they begin taking classes, such as Emergency Aid. Students with high need may also qualify for Student Enrichment Services programs that provide additional support, such as Northwestern's Purple Pantry, Winter Gear program, and more. The Career Advancement Office also has resources for professional attire for interviews.
Admitted students can learn more about all that is offered to Northwestern undergraduates during campus visits and throughout orientation events.
An education at Northwestern is more affordable than you might think. To see an early estimate of what your loan-free financial aid package might look like, visit Estimate Cost and Aid. Our two available calculators can provide an estimate of what an admitted student aid offer may look like, and you can use these tools to estimate any changes to the financial aid package that may occur in future years.
Yes. About 2,200 undergraduates work on campus in libraries, departmental offices or in community service offices. Students may earn between $500 and $4,000 per academic year through these programs. Most students work between 8 and 12 hours per week and do not find that this commitment adversely affects academic performance.
Students in the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science are eligible to participate in the Walter P. Murphy Cooperative Engineering Education Program. Alternating quarters of off-campus employment with their academic work, students can earn substantial income during the five-year program.
Yes. The Reserve Officers Training Corps scholarship program is a source of financial aid for students interested in careers in the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Army or Air Force. Aid can cover all or some portion of tuition, books, fees and a stipend for four years. NROTC is available at Northwestern for the Naval Reserve or Marine Corps Reserve. Northwestern students can also participate in Army ROTC through the University of Illinois at Chicago or Air Force ROTC through the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago.
Weighing the costs of college is a highly personal process, so we invite you to reach out and ask us questions. The Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid offers a comprehensive website that includes printable forms, online resources, scholarship services, answers to commonly asked questions and links to other useful websites. Call or email our financial aid office to get into specifics and learn more about our process.
You might be eligible for federal student loans if you are a US Citizen or permanent resident. Domestic and international students may also be eligible for private student loans, as private lenders have a variety of different requirements to be considered. Use our Loans page as a starting point to learn more about student loan options.
For the vast majority of our applicants, we review their candidacies without regard to how much financial aid they may need, and we can admit any student regardless of how high their demonstrated need. In fact, we encourage domestic applicants to apply for financial aid; Northwestern's generous need-based aid program can assist in defraying the costs of your college education.
Given limited funding for non-domestic applicants, international applicants requesting financial aid are evaluated as a separate group. Financial need is a consideration in the admission decision for international students. For more information, visit our International Student Aid page.
At Northwestern, we want to make sure that application fees do not pose a barrier for any student who wishes to apply for admission. Our colleagues in the Office of Undergraduate Admission have provided the following information regarding application fee waivers:
The Application Fee Waiver page has more information regarding who may qualify and how to request the fee waiver while applying for admission.
For the CSS Profile application, the College Board will automatically offer fee waivers to first-time applicants that meet their requirements, based on the financial information entered into the Profile. Northwestern does not offer fee waivers or fund codes for submitting the CSS Profile.
Current rates for tuition, fees, housing, food, and other expenses are listed on our Cost of Attendance page. Any scholarships or grants offered will count as credits towards the directly charged costs, which can lower the out-of-pocket attendance expenses.
How much Northwestern costs varies on your family's financial circumstances; no two families' finances are exactly alike. Using federal guidelines and University policies and procedures, Northwestern's financial aid staff reviews each family's situation carefully to meet 100% of a student's full "demonstrated financial need".
Northwestern does not award scholarships based on academic merit. As part of our commitment to affordability, we reserve assistance for students who otherwise would not be able to afford to attend; last year, we spent over $200 million on financial aid support for undergraduate students.
Yes. If you already submitted your FAFSA with Northwestern listed, that copy of your FAFSA will be sent to Northwestern. After submitting your FAFSA online, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) via email within 3-5 business days, after it has been processed and sent to your first 10 schools. Once you receive your SAR, log back in to your FAFSA and click "Make FAFSA Corrections." Remove one or more of the colleges listed, add the additional school codes, and resubmit. Beginning with the 2024-25 FAFSA, students will be able to add up to 20 schools.
Northwestern expects that both biological/adoptive parents will contribute to your educational expenses to the extent that they are able. Your custodial parent must complete the FAFSA and CSS Profile with information on the custodial household (including stepparent, if applicable). Your noncustodial parent must complete a separate Noncustodial CSS Profile. If you have no contact with your noncustodial parent, you may complete the Noncustodial Parent Waiver request form.
Students receiving athletic scholarships may receive need-based aid for which they qualify. Any athletic scholarship will counts as a resource to meet a student's financial need. For more information regarding athletic scholarships, please speak with your coaching staff or the athletic compliance office.
To apply for financial aid, you should first indicate on the application for admission that you are applying for aid; then submit the FAFSA, CSS Profile and federal tax returns or non-filing statements for both the parents and the student. For detailed instructions and deadlines, visit our Apply for Aid page.