Northwestern University's Undergraduate Financial Aid Office


*Undergraduate Financial Aid Office*
*Policies and Procedures for Regular Decision Applicants*
*Federal and Institutional Methodology* All of Northwestern's financial aid is need-based. A student's financial aid eligibility is determined by the Committee on Financial Aid upon performing a needs analysis of the required application materials. The basic equation for need-based financial aid is as follows: *Estimated Cost of Attendance - Expected Family Contribution = Demonstrated Financial Need* Northwestern University is committed to meeting *100%* of every eligible student's demonstrated financial need - first by utilizing any federal funding the student may be eligible for, then by covering the difference with institutional grant money. The distribution of federal funding is dependent on available resources, but the entire demonstrated need will be met. When determining a student's Expected Family Contribution *(EFC), the Committee looks first to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Federal grant eligibility is based strictly on the EFC* calculated by the *FAFSA. When determining a student's eligibility for institutional grant money, however, the Committee may consider additional information contained on the College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS Profile)* and supporting documentation in order to assess a contribution that may differ from the federal *EFC. If you are unsure as to whether you would qualify for need-based assistance due to your family's finances, you are encouraged to use the College Board's EFC Calculator. If your EFC* exceeds the cost of attendance, you may not be eligible for need-based financial aid. The estimated *EFC* should neither serve as a guarantee of eligibility nor a deterrent to applying, as extenuating financial circumstances can affect eligibility. *Core Requirements and Deadlines* *Due February 15, 2008:* The following materials are required of all applicants. They must be completed online by the student and the custodial parents. The links below will take you directly to the respective application websites. Free Application for Federal Student Aid *(FAFSA)* Northwestern University School Code: *001739* College Scholarship Service Profile *(CSS Profile)* Northwestern University School Code: *1565* *Due March 5, 2008:* All applicants are required to submit signed copies of the *2007 federal tax return, W-2s and schedules* for themselves and their custodial parents to the College Board's Institutional Documentation Service *(IDOC). You will be contacted by the College Board with filing instructions upon completion of the CSS Profile. Do not send these forms directly to Northwestern's Undergraduate Financial Aid Office.* If either you or your custodial parents are not required to file a federal tax return for 2007, the appropriate box needs to be checked on the Verification Worksheet. Additionally, the appropriate Non-Tax Filer's Statement needs to be mailed to the College Board's *IDOC* service. Custodial parents not filing taxes should also send a written explanation of the circumstances to Northwestern's Undergraduate Financial Aid Office. If your custodial parents indicated on the *CSS Profile* that they operate a business or a farm, they will be prompted by the College Board to complete the Business / Farm Supplement. If your custodial parents operate more than one business or farm, a separate supplement will need to be submitted for each. The completed forms need to be mailed to the College Board's *IDOC* service along with the required tax documents detailed above. College Board will not accept *IDOC* submissions without the appropriate cover sheet, so be sure to include it in your mailing. *Noncustodial Parent Requirements and Deadlines* *Due March 5, 2008:* If you indicated on the *CSS Profile* that your biological parents are divorced or separated, you will be prompted by the College Board to have your noncustodial parent complete the *Noncustodial Profile Application (NCP). Login information and instructions for completing the form online will be provided by the College Board for you to share with your noncustodial parent. If your noncustodial parent chooses not to file electronically, the Noncustodial Parent Statement needs to be submitted to Northwestern's Undergraduate Financial Aid Office. If you have no contact with your noncustodial parent, please contact Northwestern's Undergraduate Financial Aid Office. Contact Information* Nicholas J. Lazzara Northwestern University Coordinator of Financial Aid for Entering Students Undergraduate Financial Aid Office 1801 Hinman Ave. P.O. Box 3060 Evanston, IL 60204-3060 n-lazzara@northwestern.edu 847-491-8000