Our financial aid commitment ensures that students can thrive here, regardless of their family's financial circumstances.
We aim to remove cost as a barrier to higher education, so you can focus on your education, not its price tag.
Northwestern meets the demonstrated financial need of students with scholarships, grants, and work-study. We're one of the only universities in the country able to meet 100% of a student's demonstrated need without loans.
Demonstrated need is the difference between the cost of attendance and the calculated family contribution. After the financial aid office calculates the family contribution, we prepare an aid package that covers the demonstrated need of the student with scholarships, grants, and work-study for eligible students.
Cost of Attendance – Family Contribution = Demonstrated Financial NeedNorthwestern's financial aid is strictly need-based. We use the information from your FAFSA and CSS Profile to calculate your family's expected contribution toward the total Cost of Attendance.
Our calculation takes into account your family's financial need, along with your enrollment and citizenship status.
I'm a first-generation college student coming from a single-parent household with three younger siblings. Northwestern's financial aid showed me that while I was finally away from home and on my own, my dream school would support me every step of the way.”