Summer

Summer is a great time to take classes, stay on track for graduation, or explore new academic interests. If you receive financial aid during the regular academic year, you may also be eligible for summer financial aid. This page explains who qualifies, what aid is available, and how summer funding works, including important changes starting in Summer 2026. This page provides information about summer financial aid for regular coursework taken at Northwestern. For details on financial aid policies related to summer study abroad programs, please visit our Summer Study Abroad page.

What's New for Summer 2026

There are several updates to Northwestern’s summer financial aid process and policies that you should be aware of. These changes have been made to simplify the aid process and increase access for students with financial need. Here are some of the key changes from last year:

No separate summer aid application. If you already completed the FAFSA and CSS profile in the beginning of the academic year, you will automatically be reviewed for summer aid eligibility.
Institutional aid is only available to cover tuition and fee charges. Institutional financial aid may help cover up to 4 credits of coursework taken over the summer. Pell Grants and federal loans may be available to help cover costs beyond tuition and fees for those who qualify.
Aid will be based on your financial need and the number of units you enroll in. Unlike in previous years, eligibility for institutional aid may start with as few as 1 unit of enrollment over the summer. Your summer aid offer may change if your enrollment changes.
Students no longer need to request an estimate. A summer aid estimate will automatically be sent to any student who is eligible for institutional aid during the academic year and is not graduating in June. Estimates will be emailed to students’ Northwestern accounts in early 2026.
Multiple summers covered. Students are no longer limited to just one summer of Northwestern aid eligibility.

Who Is Eligible for Summer Aid

Eligibility for financial aid over the summer depends on the type of aid (institutional, federal, SIGP, or external scholarships) and the number of units you are enrolled in.

Institutional Need-Based Aid

You may be eligible if:

You are a current degree-seeking undergraduate student at Northwestern, and
You received Northwestern institutional grants and scholarships during the academic year, and
You enroll in at least one Northwestern summer credit bearing course or program such as Engage Chicago or Chicago Field Studies

Please note that your institutional summer aid award will likely differ from your regular academic year’s financial aid award over the Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters. Your institutional aid award will be based on summer tuition, mandatory fees, and enrolled units. For students who qualify for institutional summer aid, eligibility starts once the student enrolls in one unit and generally caps out at four units of enrollment. Small exceptions to this rule may be granted if a student’s summer enrollment is slightly greater than four units, for example, 4.2 units due to a mandatory lab. These exceptions will be automatically granted. Institutional aid will never be greater than your summer tuition and mandatory fee charges.

Federal Aid (Pell Grant and Direct Loans)

You may be eligible for federal aid if:

You have completed the FAFSA for the academic year, and
You enroll in at least one summer course for credit for Pell Grants and at least two summer courses for Direct Loans

Pell Grants will automatically be reviewed and applied to eligible students based on information provided on the FAFSA as determined by the Department of Education. Students who wish to use Direct Loans need to be enrolled in at least 2 or more units of coursework over the summer and must notify our office of your intent to borrow a direct loan. If you used your full loan eligibility during the regular academic year, your eligibility may be reduced or limited over the summer quarter. More information on Direct Loans may be found here(https://undergradaid.northwestern.edu/types-of-aid/loans/).

Northwestern SIGP Grants

The Summer Internship Grant Program (SIGP) is a Northwestern-funded program designed to support undergraduate students who pursue unpaid or low-paid summer experiential learning opportunities. SIGP funding helps offset basic living expenses so that financial considerations do not prevent students from engaging in meaningful summer experiences.

While SIGP commonly supports unpaid or low-paid internships, funding may also be used to support other qualifying experiential opportunities, such as:

Research experiences (including faculty-mentored or independent research)
Public service or nonprofit work
Community-based or civic engagement programs
Creative, artistic, or entrepreneurial projects
International or domestic experiential learning opportunities that are not credit-bearing

SIGP is generally available to undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need and meet program eligibility and application requirements established by the University.

Please note that SIGP is not administered by the Office of Financial Aid, and funding through this program is separate from federal, state, and institutional financial aid. While SIGP support may be considered when reviewing a student’s overall summer resources, questions about eligibility, applications, timelines, and award amounts should be directed to the program administrators.

For full details about the program, including eligibility criteria, application instructions, and deadlines, students should visit the Northwestern Career Advancement website: What is SIGP?: Northwestern Career Advancement - Northwestern University

Outside Scholarships

If you receive an outside scholarship that applies towards your summer quarter:

You must notify the Undergraduate Office of Financial Aid
Outside aid may reduce the amount of institutional funding you receive, depending on your total eligibility.

How Summer Aid Works

Review your Summer Aid Eligibility
- You will receive a summer aid notification at least once during the current year, beginning in early 2026.
- Your estimate will outline your eligibility for institutional and federal aid based on the number of units you may enroll in
- Reach out to our office if you intend to use Direct Loans
- Note: If your graduate date is extended from June or you are returning from a leave of absence over the summer, please reach out to our office for an estimate
Register for Summer Classes
- Tuition is charged per unit during the summer
- Your course load determines your total cost and aid eligibility
We Review Your Aid Eligibility
- Our office automatically reviews your award eligibility based on your enrollment and the estimate provided to you. Summer aid is applied to your account during the start of summer classes
- If additional documentation is needed, we will notify you
Monitor Your Enrollment Changes
- Adding, dropping, swapping, or withdrawing from courses after your aid is finalized may change your funding.
- If your enrollment decreases, your institutional or federal aid may be reduced, and you may owe a balance on your account
- If you swap our classes after they have begun, you may be assessed a partial charge for the dropped course and a new charge for the added course. Financial aid will not be available to cover partial charges due to swapped coursework.
- If your enrollment increases, our office will automatically review and adjust your aid based on your enrollment change, up to 4 units of coursework

Cost and Billing for Summer

Institutional financial aid is only available to help cover tuition and required fees associated with regular coursework taken through Northwestern during the summer. Institutional aid is not available to cover additional expenses such as housing, food, books, or personal costs, and it does not apply to study abroad programs, which follow a separate financial aid process. Students should plan carefully for the full cost of summer enrollment beyond tuition and fees.

In addition to tuition, students may experience other summer-related expenses, including housing, meals, books, transportation, and personal expenses. Students who are eligible for Pell Grants will be automatically considered for summer funding and notified if awarded. Any refund received from a Pell Grant may be used to help cover these additional costs. Students eligible for Federal Direct Loans may also use loan funds to assist with summer living and educational expenses. Additionally, students participating in experiential learning opportunities, such as unpaid or low-paid internships or externships, may be eligible to apply for supplemental support through the Summer Internship Grant Program (SIGP).

Studying Away From Northwestern During Summer?

If you plan to study abroad during the summer, financial aid may be available to help cover costs beyond tuition and required fees, such as room and board associated with your study abroad program, travel expenses, and other related costs. Unlike summer financial aid for coursework taken directly through Northwestern, study abroad financial aid is coordinated in partnership with Global Learning Office (GLO) and Study Abroad staff and is based on the approved cost structure of your program. Please note that financial aid for a summer study abroad experience is limited to one aided program during your time at Northwestern.

Students considering a summer study abroad experience are encouraged to review the Study Abroad and GLO websites for detailed program information, timelines, and eligibility requirements. To learn how financial aid may apply to your specific program, including how to request a summer study abroad cost estimate, please visit the Study Abroad Financial Aid website . These resources will walk you through the process and help you understand what funding may be available to support your experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if I plan on changing courses after the summer quarter has begun?

Please contact the Office of Financial Aid if you plan to make any changes to your course enrollment after the start of the Summer quarter, including adding or dropping courses. Depending on when a course is dropped or withdrawn, you may be subject to a refund calculation and could be required to return financial aid for which you are no longer eligible. The following enrollment changes may impact your financial aid award:

Adding, dropping, swapping, or withdrawing from courses after your aid is finalized may change your funding.
If your enrollment decreases, your institutional or federal aid may be reduced, and you may owe a balance on your account
If you swap out classes after they have begun, you may be assessed a partial charge for the dropped course and a new charge for the added course. Financial aid will not be available to cover partial charges due to swapped coursework.
If your enrollment increases, our office will automatically review and adjust your aid based on your enrollment change, up to 4 units of coursework

Do the policies on this page include summer study abroad experiences?

No. Please visit our study abroad website for more information on our summer study abroad policies. Please note that eligibility for financial aid towards a summer study abroad experience is limited to one summer of assistance.

Do I need to submit a separate application for summer aid?

No. Starting Summer 2026, there is no separate application. Aid is based on your FAFSA and your summer enrollment.

When will my aid package reflect my summer enrollment?

Shortly before your summer courses begin, after you register for classes and your enrollment is confirmed your summer aid will be packaged.

Will my summer aid match my regular-year aid?

No. Summer costs and enrollment vary, so aid amounts may differ. Summer institutional aid, for example the Northwestern Scholarship, will never exceed your summer tuition and fees or create a refund.

What happens if I drop a summer class?

Your aid may be reduced based on your new enrollment level, and you may be responsible for any resulting charges.

Can I get work-study during the summer?

Work-study availability varies by year and funding levels. Check with the financial aid office for current opportunities.

I am graduating at the end of the Spring quarter. Can I take additional summer coursework and receive financial aid?

No. Students who have already graduated or completed all of their degree and program requirements are not eligible for institutional or federal aid over the summer.

Need Help?

If you have questions about your summer aid eligibility or need help planning for summer enrollment, please contact us:

Undergraduate Office of Financial Aid

Phone: 847-491-7400

Email: undergradaid@northwestern.edu

We encourage students to reach out early so we can help you understand your options and avoid unexpected costs.