Application Instructions for Prospective International Students
Each year, in cooperation with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, the Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid awards need-based financial aid to a small group of first-year international students who apply for admission to Northwestern under Regular Decision, and who indicate that they wish to be considered for this limited assistance program.
These awards are not available to those applying for Early Decision admission or as transfer students. Financial assistance will only be available for the pursuit of an undergraduate degree. Only those who are selected to receive these need-based awards as entering freshman will be eligible to apply for financial aid in subsequent years.
About the financial aid package
As with U.S. citizens, the international student and his/her family will be expected to contribute towards educational expenses to the extent that they are able, and awards may be comprised of scholarship and/or loan. Northwestern University cannot assume responsibility for economic changes such as currency fluctuation, nor can it replace lost support that a student may have expected to receive from friends, relatives, or government and corporate grants.If you are considering applying for financial aid as international student, please carefully review all of the conditions, admission application procedures, and admission and financial aid deadlines at the Office of Undergraduate Admission website for complete application procedures and deadlines.
The financial aid application procedure
1. Complete and submit the CSS Financial Aid Profile by February 15.
- Visit the College Board web site and register with the site (there will be a registration fee). Complete the CSS Profile.
- Designate Northwestern as the recipient of the information; our CSS code is 1565 for prospective students.
- The cost of the Profile is $25 for the initial application and initial school report and $16 for each additional school report. Northwestern cannot waive these fees for international students applying for financial aid. Students who live in countries that are sanctioned by the United States government or who live in countries from which the College Board has declined to accept credit cards (Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo) should contact the financial aid office at ug-finaid@u.northwestern.edu for specific instructions.
- 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. Submit a copy of your parents' national tax forms from the most recent tax year, OR, if your country does not have an annual tax form an official statement/letter of earnings from each parent's employer verifying income with official signatures and/or seals by February 15th.
All tax or earnings documents are required to be officially translated into English (if converted to U.S. dollars, the conversion rate must be indicated) and sent to the Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid by mail to:
Coordinator for Entering Students
Northwestern University
Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid
1801 Hinman Avenue, 2nd Floor
Evanston, IL 60208-1270
The Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid will also accept scanned documents (PDF preferred) sent by e-mail to:
Please indicate "International Tax Document" in the subject line of the e-mail.
Based on the answers you give in the CSS Profile, you may be asked to provide additional information regarding your family's financial circumstances:
Non-Custodial Profile Application
If your biological parents are separated, divorced, or were never married, you have an additional application requirement. In these cases, both parents are still expected to provide financial information so that Northwestern can determine individual contributions from each parent. Your noncustodial parent must complete the Non-Custodial Profile Application. Once you submit the CSS Profile for your custodial parent, you will be provided with login information and instructions for your noncustodial parent to complete the form online. If your noncustodial parent chooses not to complete the form electronically, he or she can print the Non-Custodial Profile Application and send it to the address listed above.
Unlike the CSS/Financial Aid Profile, the NCP is not adaptive to international households and currencies so some of the questions will not be applicable. In addition, all financial information entered on the NCP must be converted to U.S. dollars and the conversion rate should be indicated.
If you have no contact with your noncustodial parent, or if he or she is unwilling to fill out the form, send an email with an explanation to ug-finaid@u.northwestern.edu and you will receive further instructions by a financial aid counselor.
Business/Farm Supplement
If your custodial parents operate a business or a farm, they must complete one Business/Farm Supplement for each business or farm they operate. The form(s) should be mailed to the address above. The Business/Farm Supplement is also not adaptive to international households and currencies so some of the questions will not be applicable. In addition all financial information entered must be converted to U.S. dollars and the conversion rate should be indicated.
