Current Students Aid
The current students of Northwestern University can access many forms of financial aid. The school recognizes that the cost of attendance can be prohibitive for some, and they have a variety of programs in place to help alleviate this burden.
Northwestern University Current Students Aid serves students who want to learn about financial aid. The website suggests information on loans, grants and scholarships, as well as applications for those who are eligible for each type of aid. It also provides information about federal student loans and repayment options
Apply for Aid
You must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for aid. You can do this online at fafsa.gov or by printing a paper copy and mailing it in.
The FAFSA is available every year; however, you can apply anytime after October 1st of the previous year until June 30th of the current school year. The earlier you use it, the better your chance of getting funding!
Once federal and state agencies have processed your FAFSA, Northwestern will receive your information within two weeks. Once we receive all necessary documents from these outside sources and have evaluated them against our criteria (including the cost of attendance), we will send an award letter detailing our decision regarding financial aid eligibility.
First-time & Renewal Application Instructions
The first step in applying for financial aid is to create a MyNorthwestern account and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can also use the College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS Profile) instead of the FAFSA, but Northwestern does not require it.
Once you have completed your application, submit any required documents and wait to hear back from us with more information about the next steps in our process. We will send an email with instructions on how to log into MyNorthwestern so that we can access your information there when necessary!
Task | Date Due |
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) | May 1 |
Complete the Northwestern University Aid Application (UAPP) via CAESAR | May 1 |
Submit Parent W-2 Forms | May 1 |
Submit any Additional Requested Forms | May 1 |
International Student Application Instructions
International students must apply for aid by completing a FAFSA. If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, please visit the International Student Financial Aid website for more information about applying for financial aid.
In addition to completing your FAFSA, you must complete an international student application (ISAP) and submit it by December 1st of your senior year in high school or the fall semester of your first year at Northwestern University.
Summer Aid
Summer financial aid awards are available to eligible students who have completed at least one semester of continuous enrollment at Northwestern and still need to complete their degree. Students may also qualify for federal work-study employment opportunities. In addition, several scholarships available for summer only do not require any additional paperwork or application process other than submitting the FAFSA form before March 1st each year (the priority deadline). These include:
- The Freshman Scholarship Award is a one-time award given to incoming first-year students who need financial assistance during their first year at Northwestern University; it’s awarded based on merit (high school GPA) and need (demonstrated through the FAFSA).
- The Transfer Scholarship Award is also a one-time award given to transfer students who need financial assistance during their first year at Northwestern; it’s awarded based on merit (grade point average) and need (demonstrated through the FAFSA).