Frequently asked questions

How do I apply for financial aid?

Do not wait for your tax forms to be filed or until you have been admitted to apply for financial aid. If you fail to meet your financial aid deadline, notification of your aid decision will be delayed or funds may be entirely committed. To apply for financial aid, you should

  1. Indicate on the application for admission that you are requesting consideration for financial aid.
  2. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Northwestern University School Code 001739.
  3. Complete the College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS Profile). Northwestern University School Code 1565.
  4. Upon completion of the CSS Profile you will be contacted by the College Board's Institutional Documentation Service (IDOC) to submit copies of your parents' and, if you are filing, your own federal income tax returns, W-2s and schedules.

The application process must be completed by the deadlines listed below. For students meeting our deadlines, financial aid awards are sent with or soon after your acceptance letter. This allows you to make an informed decision about Northwestern with full knowledge of the financial commitment necessary from your family.

Freshman filing deadlines Early Decision Regular Decision
CSS Financial Aid Profile Application December 1 February 15
FAFSA February 15 February 15
Federal Tax returns and W-2 forms March 5 March 5

What does it cost to attend Northwestern?

Tuition for the 2008-2009 academic year is $36,756. Total expenses (including fees, books, room and board, and personal expenses but not transportation) are estimated at $51,720.

Average financial aid package

How does Northwestern determine my financial aid?

The difference between the estimated cost of attendance and the expected family contribution is the amount of financial aid you will receive at Northwestern.

Expected family contribution

The expected family contribution is the amount that parents and students are asked to contribute toward the cost of attendance. Actual expected family contributions and financial aid packages may vary based on individual family circumstances.

To determine your expected family contribution, Northwestern uses both the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Financial Aid Profile and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Information provided on these forms allow the University, using both institutional and federal guidelines, to consider your eligibility for Northwestern grant assistance as well as for federal loans, college work-study, and federal and state grants. The FAFSA is also required to be able to disburse any federal aid for which you are eligible.

Some of the factors used to determine eligibility for federal aid are

  • taxable and nontaxable income
  • federal and state taxes
  • assets
  • asset protection/educational savings allowance
  • family size
  • income protection allowance
  • number of family members in college
  • expenses related to the employment of both parents

Some of the factors that determine eligibility for aid from Northwestern are

  • home equity
  • private elementary and secondary school costs
  • nondiscretionary expenses (such as nonreimbursed medical expenses)
  • business losses
  • depreciation expenses
  • special circumstances reported by your family

The expected family contribution toward freshman-year expenses includes a portion of the student's summer earnings as well as 25 percent of his or her savings. The balance of any savings and assets will be applied to the cost of your remaining undergraduate years.

You can estimate your family contribution for college using the College Board's expected family contribution worksheet. Your actual expected family contribution may vary based on the results of the CSS Financial Aid Profile and institutional analysis.

Your financial aid package

The average financial aid award consists of a student loan, part-time employment through the Federal Work-Study Program, need-based Northwestern Scholarship and/or Federal or state grants. Half of our undergraduates receive Northwestern scholarships, while 60 percent receive some form of financial aid. Grants from federal (Pell Grant or Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant) or state sources are included in the aid package for all eligible students. Northwestern scholarship assistance is generally the final component of an aid package, bridging the gap between what Northwestern has determined your family can afford and the other aid for which you have qualified. The University does not award its scholarships based on academic merit; it reserves this assistance for students who otherwise would not be able to afford to attend.

During the 2008-2009 academic year, Northwestern will award $78 million in assistance from its own funds.

Who is eligible for a Northwestern Scholarship?

The Northwestern Scholarship is awarded to students based solely on demonstrated financial need. Because all students admitted to the University have proven themselves both in academic settings and in extracurricular activities, we do not offer merit-based scholarships. Students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and who complete the financial aid process are considered for a Northwestern Scholarship.

Renewal of a Northwestern Scholarship is based upon the annual review of a student's demonstrated financial need as long as a student is making satisfactory academic progress at the University. Typically, students need to be enrolled full-time to receive Northwestern Scholarship assistance. Students enrolling less than full-time will want to consult with the Financial Aid Office regarding their eligibility.

Students who do not receive a Northwestern Scholarship as they enter the University are encouraged to apply for financial aid in subsequent years if they feel their family has experienced a change in financial circumstances.

Am I eligible for student loans?

Northwestern offers the Northwestern University Loan for Parents (formerly known as the University Parent/Student Loan or UPSL program) for families with adjusted gross incomes above $40,000. Through this program you may borrow up to the amount of tuition at interest rates below market levels; interest rates are variable annually.

The Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) is a federal program that allows parents to borrow up to the cost of attendance minus any financial aid. Repayment of principal and interest begins as soon as funds are disbursed.

You are not required to accept a loan or a job, but each is considered a part of the financial aid required to meet your need. Loans are available through University and government sources. Student loans are available to all who apply for federal assistance. Students who do not qualify for need-based federal student loans may be eligible for other federal loans.

Can I earn money through work-study and/or part-time employment?

The Office of Financial Aid offers about 2,300 undergraduates work on campus in the University bookstore, libraries, and department offices or in community service offices. Jobs to cover meal costs are also available. Through such programs students may earn between $1,500 and $2,500 per academic year. Most students work between 8 and 12 hours per week; we have found that this commitment does not adversely affect academic performance.

Students in the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science are eligible to participate in the Walter P. Murphy Cooperative Engineering Education Program. Alternating quarters of off-campus employment with their academic work, students can earn a substantial sum during the five-year program.

Do other financing options exist?

Northwestern participates in the National Merit and National Achievement scholarship programs. It currently ranks No. 6 among all colleges in the number of National Merit freshmen enrolling.

To qualify you must be a National Merit finalist and name Northwestern as your first-choice school (as to where you plan to attend if admitted). The amount of National Merit awards will range from a minimum of $500 up to $2,000. For students who have also applied for need-based assistance, and are deemed eligible, the National Merit award will be included as part of the applicant's financial assistance.

Northwestern's Office of Student Accounts offers a convenient monthly tuition payment plan called 9PAY. No interest is charged, though there is a $45 application fee.

Does Northwestern offer ROTC?

Yes. The Reserve Officers Training Corps scholarship program is a source of financial aid for students interested in careers in the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Army, or Air Force. Aid can cover all or some portion of tuition, books, fees, and a stipend for four years. NROTC is available at Northwestern for the Naval Reserve or Marine Corps Reserve. Northwestern students can also participate in Army ROTC through the University of Illinois at Chicago, or Air Force ROTC through the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago.

Where can I find additional information on financial aid?

The Office of Financial Aid offers a comprehensive Web site that includes printable forms, online resources, scholarship search services, answers to commonly asked questions, and links to other useful sites. A wide range of additional information on financing your college education is available from the Financial Aid Information Page.

> Aid calculators and tools

Special Feature

Myths about Financial Aid

Myths about Financial Aid