Summer 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.

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. Find more information on Direct Loans.

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: 

• 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.

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.

You will receive a summer aid estimate in winter quarter, typically in February. Your estimate will outline your eligibility for institutional and federal aid based on the number of units you may enroll in.

Note: If your graduate date is extended from June or you are returning from a leave of absence over the summer, your estimate will not be automatically sent. Please reach out to our office to request an estimate.

Tuition is charged per unit during the summer. Your course load determines your total cost and aid eligibility.

At this time, if you would like to use a student loan for the summer term, you should reach out to our office.

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.

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.

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. The Books for 'Cats program is not available over the summer term. Students should plan carefully for the full cost of summer enrollment beyond tuition and fees.

Cost and Billing for Summer

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).

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.

Students can only receive financial aid for one summer study abroad experience during their 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.