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Application Instructions for Early Decision Prospective Students

Below you will see an overview of the financial aid application process. Click on the steps listed below for more detailed instructions:
  1. Complete the CSS Profile online by December 1
  2. Northwestern's Committee on Financial Aid will determine your financial aid eligibility and aid package
  3. Sign and return the award letter
  4. Complete the FAFSA online by February 15
  5. Submit tax materials to College Board's IDOC Service by March 5
  6. If necessary, complete additional forms by March 5

1. Complete the CSS Profile online by December 1

All students (and their custodial parents) must complete the College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS Profile):

  • Visit the College Board web site and register with the site (there will be
    registration fee). Complete the CSS Profile.
  • Designate Northwestern as the recipient of the
    information; our CSS code is 1565 for prospective students.
  • When it is processed, you will receive a Data Confirmation Report
    summarizing your information. Any corrections must be submitted
    directly to Northwestern's Office of Financial Aid.

2. Northwestern's Committee on Financial Aid will determine your financial aid eligibility and package

The basic equation for need based financial aid is as follows:
Cost of Attendance - Expected Family Contribution = Demonstrated Institutional Need

When determining a student's Expected Family Contribution, the Committee performs a needs analysis on the required application materials. Northwestern will meet 100% of a student's demonstrated institutional need, first by utilizing any federal funding the student may be eligible for, then by covering the difference with institutional grant money.

Early decision applicants will receive a decision based on the current academic year expense budget and the estimates provided by the family on the CSS Profile. Adjustments to the expense budget and, if necessary, the award will be made after the FAFSA and tax returns have been received and reviewed.

3. Sign and return the award letter

You will receive your financial aid decision shortly after your admission decision. If you have demonstrated institutional financial need, your financial aid package may include a combination of student loans, scholarship or grant assistance and student employment. Sign and return your financial aid award letter even if you are going to appeal the decision. Do this so we can keep track of our committed funds so that we will know what funds are still available. The financial aid award letter is not a contract but a confirmation that you have received and reviewed the information it contains.

If you have been offered a loan, you will receive a loan information packet in June with instructions on how to apply for it.

If you would like to appeal an aid decision, see Appeal an Aid Decision for instructions.

4. Complete the FAFSA online by February 15

All students (and their custodial parents) must complete the following the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

  • Visit the FAFSA web site and complete the online form. (Or see your
    high school college counselor to obtain a paper FAFSA)
  • Designate Northwestern as the recipient of the
    information; our federal school code is 001739.
  • When it is processed, you will receive a SAR (Student Aid Report)summarizing your information. Resolve any incorrect information via the FAFSA web site (or by returning the corrected and signed SAR).

5. Submit tax materials to the College Board's IDOC service by March 5

After completing the CSS Profile, the College Board will provide instructions for filing the following materials:

These signed forms will be mailed to the College Board's Institutional Documentation Service (IDOC), not to the Northwestern Office of Financial Aid. A cover sheet (printed out from the College Board web site) must accompany them.

Exceptions: Students and/or custodial parents who are not required to file a 2009 Federal Tax Return must complete all of the following steps:

  • Check the appropriate box when completing the Federal Verification
    Worksheet and complete the appropriate Non-Tax Filer's Statement.
    Send both to IDOC services.
  • Send a written explanation of your circumstances to Northwestern's
    Office of Financial Aid.

6. If necessary, complete additional forms by March 5

Based on the information you submitted in the CSS Profile, College Board may request that you fill out one or both of these forms:

Business/Farm Supplement
If your custodial parents operate a business or a farm, they must complete one Business/Farm Supplement (pdf) for each business or farm they operate. The form(s) should be mailed to IDOC services along with the tax documents detailed above.

Noncustodial Profile Application (NCP)
If your biological parents are divorced or separated, your noncustodial parent will need to complete the NCP, which can be done in two possible ways:

  • Online: Login information and instructions for completing the form online will be provided by the College Board for you to share with your noncustodial parent.
  • Paper: If your noncustodial parent chooses not to complete the form
    electronically, he or she can download the pdf version and send it to
    Northwestern's Office of Financial Aid.

If you have no contact with your noncustodial parent, or if he or she is unwilling to fill out the form, contact our office at 847-491-8000 to discuss the situation with a counselor.

See the Additional Application Forms web page for more information about the Business/Farm Supplement or the Noncustodial Parent Statement.