Financial Need and Eligibility

• If your Family Contribution is less than your Cost of Attendance, you may qualify for need-based financial aid.
• If your Family Contribution is equal to or greater than the Cost of Attendance, you will not qualify for need-based aid.

Students who do not qualify for need-based aid may still have access to other financing options, including:

• Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
• Parent PLUS Loans
• Private Loans

Your family contribution is not necessarily the amount you will owe Northwestern. Your family contribution is an estimate of your family's total contribution each quarter or year, and financial aid is provided after your family contribution is first applied. If your financial aid package includes employment, this assistance will be paid to you in the form of paychecks for hours worked, and these funds can help you to pay for your books and personal expenses.

If your financial aid package doesn't cover all the directly charged costs on the University bill, then your family contribution will cover the remainder of the bill as well as the indirect costs (out-of-pocket expenses).

If your amount of direct financial aid covers only the directly charged costs, then your family contribution is expected to be used for those indirect or out-of-pocket expenses.

If the amount of your direct aid exceeds the amount of your University bill, you will have a credit balance, or financial aid refund, which you can use to help with your other expenses.

Your estimated family contribution is the same each quarter of the academic year.

You will need to apply for financial aid every year, but if your family's finances remain similar from year to year (e.g., same income/asset level, same number of dependents enrolled concurrently as undergraduates, etc.), you can expect a similar aid package each year.

Families cover their educational costs through income, savings, payment plans, education loans, or a combination of these things.

If you are considering borrowing to replace all or part of your family contribution, we encourage you to borrow wisely and only what you need. For example, if you are able to pay some expenses "out-of-pocket," such as books or transportation costs, you may be able to borrow a smaller amount, and ultimately pay less in loan fees or interest long-term. If you need assistance, please contact our office to discuss your budget and determine an amount.

If you are unable to manage the expected contribution due to changes in their financial circumstances (e.g., job loss, income reduction, etc.), you might request a Special Circumstances Review. Feel free to contact our office and speak with a financial aid counselor to discuss your circumstances prior to filing your special circumstances application.

Financial aid can be used to help with all the costs listed in the cost of attendance – not just the directly charged costs.

Financial aid might include scholarships, grants, loans, and part-time student employment (e.g., work-study).

Scholarships, grants, and loans are called "direct aid," and these will apply directly to your bill at Northwestern. Your bill will include your tuition, fees, and housing and meals if you live in University housing. In other words, your "direct aid" applies to your "direct costs" first. If there is a surplus of direct aid on the bill, this surplus may be used for indirect costs through the financial aid refund process.

Students who utilize work-study aid may use their earnings to assist with indirect costs, or save the funds to help submit payments towards the next term's directly charged costs on the student bill.