Requirements
Students receive their aid offer based on demonstrated financial need and eligibility for federal and state aid programs.
The aid students are offered comes with certain requirements that must be met for students to receive their aid. Read more below about requirements and responsibilities for students to receive financial aid for their undergraduate education.
Keep in mind: a variety of other financing options, like loans, are available for those who are not eligible for need-based aid.
Academic Requirements
In addition to financial need, to be eligible for institutional assistance, students must be:- Working toward first bachelor's degree
- Enrolled at least half-time at Northwestern
- Maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress
- Within the Maximum Timeframe Requirements
Citizenship Requirements
In order to be eligible for federal student aid, students must meet the above requirements and they must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Loan Requirements
If a student or parent borrows federal student loans, they are beholden to all the above requirements, and they are required to complete:- Entrance counseling online through the StudentAid.gov website
- Master Promissory Note through the StudentAid.gov website
- Exit counseling through StudentAid.gov website before graduation or leaving the university
Outside Scholarships
A student who has an outside scholarship is required to report the scholarship to our office.
Northwestern will not enter into a financial or consortium agreement with another institution for the purposes of processing financial assistance.