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Undergraduate Financial Aid  
 
Applying for Financial Aid
Application Procedures & Deadlines  

Please note that prospective freshman and transfer students should consult the Office of Admissions for information regarding application procedures and deadlines. Detailed information can also be found at Policies and Procedures for Regular Decision Applicants.

It is necessary to reapply for financial assistance, including loans and employment, each year. Reapplication forms for the upcoming academic year are made available on this website each February. If the student is currently receiving need-based aid or federal or institutional loans, a reminder to reapply for the upcoming academic year will be sent out to both the student and the parents in mid-February. Families who are unable to access the forms online should contact the Office of Financial Aid for assistance.

The Financial Aid Office is using a service offered by the College Board for collecting tax returns. Upon completion of the CSS Profile, families will receive instructions to submit taxes, W-2s and a verification worksheet to the College Board IDOC Service. These instructions will not be sent until after the CSS Profile has been completed. When mailing the requested items to IDOC they must be accompanied by a cover sheet that can be printed from the College Board website. The documents will be scanned into the College Board's secure environment and made available only to the University for viewing. Once the processing year is over, the College Board will destroy all paper documents submitted. This service will provide enhanced security for personal financial data and increased efficiency for our department. Please do not send tax forms to the Office of Financial Aid.

Students who wish to apply for all available forms of aid, need-based as well as non need-based, should complete the six items listed below. A complete application for current and returning students consists of:

     1) The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)  Complete Online
     2) The College Scholarship Service Financial Aid Profile  Complete Online
     3) The Northwestern University Aid Application (UAPP)  Complete Online
     4) Parents' Federal Income Tax Return and W-2s  Submit via IDOC
     5) Student's Federal Income Tax Return and W-2s  Submit via IDOC
     6) Federal Verification Worksheet  Submit via IDOC

Northwestern's Department of Education code for the FAFSA is 001739.
Northwestern's College Scholarship code for the Profile is 3593.

Families who are only interested in non need-based loans, namely the Unsubsidized Federal Stafford, the Federal PLUS or the NU Loan, do not need to complete all of these items. Please choose the loan(s) for which you wish to apply and follow the instructions below.

Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan:
To determine eligibility for the Unsubsidized Federal Stafford, students must first complete the FAFSA. Then follow the instructions for the Federal Stafford Loan Application.

Federal PLUS Loan:
Follow the instructions for the Federal PLUS Loan. It is not necessary to complete any of the application materials listed above.

NU Loan :
Follow the instructions for the NU Loan. It is not necessary to complete any of the application materials listed above.

Application Deadlines for Current & Returning Students 2008-09
Enrollment Period
Application Deadline
Aid Decision Completed
Full Academic Year or Fall Only May 1, 2008 On a rolling basis, beginning mid-June
Winter & Spring Quarters Only December 1, 2008 December 15, 2008
Spring Quarter Only March 2, 2009 March 16, 2009
 
Application Deadlines for Current & Returning Students 2007-08
Enrollment Period
Application Deadline
Aid Decision Completed
Full Academic Year or Fall Only May 1, 2007 On a rolling basis, beginning mid-June
Winter & Spring Quarters Only December 3, 2007 December 17, 2007
Spring Quarter Only March 3, 2008 March 17, 2008
 
 

Students intending to study abroad must apply for financial aid earlier than students remaining on campus, and should refer to the section entitled Study Abroad and Financial Aid for specific application deadlines. Additional application materials are required for Summer Quarter. See the section on Summer Session Financial Aid for further information. Please note that financial aid deadlines are critical. Late filers may jeopardize their chances of receiving aid.

 

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Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid 1801 Hinman Avenue Evanston, IL 60208-1270
Phone: (847)491-7400 Fax:(847)491-5969 e-mail: ug-finaid@northwestern.edu
Last updated 01/29/2008 World Wide Web Disclaimer and University Policy Statements© 2006 Northwestern University