Resources for International Students

Explore financial aid eligibility, application requirements, important policies and resources to help you navigate the process.

While international students are not eligible for federal financial aid or federal loans, Northwestern has a variety of other options for financial assistance.

If you're a current or returning student, jump down to our resources for current students.

Need-aware Admission

We have a need-aware admission review for international students, meaning that a request for financial aid and the amount of financial aid you require may factor into your admission decision.

We review all admitted students who have applied for financial aid, and students with demonstrated financial need will receive institutional aid in the form of scholarships and grants.

Required Annual Application

• You must apply in your first year: As part of the need-aware aid policy, you must apply for and receive financial aid for your first year if you plan to apply for assistance in later years. This means if a student does not apply for aid as a first-year student, they cannot apply in subsequent years.
• Reapply each year: If a student receives financial aid their first year, they must apply again for their second, third, and fourth years. Application requirements vary between the first year and subsequent years; more information about this can be found on our continuing students' financial aid application page.

What International Students Can Expect

Need-Based Aid Awards

International students who apply for financial aid will be considered for need-based aid by indicating on their admissions application that they wish to be considered for this limited assistance program.

Each year, a small group of first-year international students receive need-based aid. These packages:

• Meet 100% of a student's demonstrated financial need
• Consider the full cost of attendance (tuition, room and board, fees, health insurance, books and supplies, personal expenses, visa renewal costs and travel allowance)
• Consist only of grants and scholarships, which do not need to be repaid
• Are loan- and work-free
• Apply only to undergraduate study

Please note: Need-based aid is not available to international transfer students.

Other Sources of Funding

• Certain Academic and Institutional scholarships and grants
• Outside scholarships
• Student employment

Permanent Residency Status Impacts Eligibility

• Students in the process of obtaining permanent residency in the United States are not eligible for federal financial aid and are considered for admission in a need-aware manner.
• For students whose permanent residency is finalized, students qualify for aid under Northwestern's domestic aid budget.

Northwestern cannot assume responsibility for economic changes such as currency fluctuation, and we cannot replace lost support that a student may have expected to receive from friends, relatives or government and corporate grants.