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Review and Respond to Your Aid Letter

After your financial application is processed, you'll receive an email from our office containing your financial aid offer and how to access it through your CAESAR account.

Read and Review Your Aid Letter

Understanding the different aspects of your financial aid offer allows you to make an informed decision about Northwestern with full knowledge of the financial commitment necessary from your family. See our Sample Aid Letter for guidance on understanding the different parts of your offer.

Respond to Your Offer

Once you've reviewed your offer, you can accept, reduce or decline any loan assistance through your CAESAR portal. You'll complete this process at least once every school year, and again if you request additional aid or if you report a change in circumstance. Follow the steps below to accept or decline your offer:

  1. Log onto CAESAR

    Log onto CAESAR using your Northwestern NetID and password.

    If you have lost or forgotten your NetID information, you may contact the NUIT Information Center Help Desk at (847) 491-4357 for assistance.

    Note: Admitted students will receive this information from the applicable admissions office.

  2. Find Your Loan Offer

    Click on "Financial Aid" and then select "Accept/Decline Financial Aid" from the left-hand navigation and select the appropriate aid year.

    Note: If you are completing this process on a mobile device, the left-hand navigation may be hidden. You will need to click on the double bar on the left to expand the left-hand navigation.

  3. Accept, Reduce, or Decline Your Loan Offer

    Check "Accept" or "Decline".

    To reduce your loan offer, check the "Accept" button. You will then be able to type in the amount you want to accept in the "Accepted" box.

    Note: Scholarships and grants are automatically accepted. If you were offered federal work-study, it's best to leave it as accepted. Accepting federal work-study is not a commitment that you'll use it, nor is it a guarantee that you'll earn all those funds. Keeping it marked as accepted helps maintain your eligibility for the program, in case you decide later on that you do want to use it.

  4. Submit Your Response

    When you submit your financial aid offer, we recommend that you select "Yes" to the Statement of Authorization.

    Note: This may be rescinded at any time by contacting the Office of Student Finance.

  5. Check Your To-Do List

    Check your "To-Do List" in CAESAR to see if you have any additional items that require your action.

    If you are borrowing loans, there will be additional items required before you can receive the loan:
    Navigate to: "Tasks" on the homepage, or click on "Financial Aid" from the home page, and then "To-Do List" from the left-hand navigation of that page.

    Required loan materials may include Master Promissory Note, Entrance Counseling.

    Note: Outstanding loan materials will affect the disbursement of your accepted loans. If the term ends and you did not complete your loan requirements, you may no longer be eligible for that loan for that term.

Statement of Authorization

Current federal regulations require that we obtain your authorization to use Title IV assistance (i.e., federal loans) to pay University charges other than tuition, fees, room and board. Such charges might include the student health plan, library fines, parking charges, room damage charges, and health service fees. Not providing the authorization means that you will have to make a payment for these charges yourself once you receive the refund of Title IV aid.