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Eligibility Questions

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1. Who is eligible to receive financial aid from Northwestern?
Any undergraduate student enrolled in a degree-seeking program may apply for consideration for financial assistance. Students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents working towards their first Bachelor's degree.

2. How many quarters of financial aid may I receive?
As an entering freshman, you are eligible for up to 12 quarters of University financial aid unless you were admitted to a program that requires more than 12 quarters for completion. Students admitted to the five-year music program are eligible for University funds for up to 15 quarters of enrollment. Students are eligible for federal assistance for up to 18 quarters depending upon remaining eligibility.

3. Is my financial aid going to change from year to year?
Northwestern is committed to offering a consistent aid package throughout the undergraduate years. If a family's financial circumstances have not changed much from year to year, then they can expect a similar package. Fluctuations of income, assets, family size, and number of students in college may affect a student's aid package.

4. Is there a grade point average that has to be maintained to retain financial aid?
No. However, you must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress by successfully completing a minimum of nine units per three quarters of registration. If you are dismissed from the University for academic reasons, you will be ineligible for University assistance the first quarter of your return.

5. My family's financial circumstances have changed and I need more money. What do I do?
Talk to a Financial Aid Counselor. Since the Office of Financial Aid requires documentation, you will also need to submit a written appeal explaining why you need additional funds. If you have not previously applied for financial aid, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the College Scholarship Service Profile. The FAFSA and the Profile must all be completed online. Returning students must also complete the Northwestern University Aid Application (UAPP).

6. If I drop to part-time, how would that affect my financial aid?
As a general rule, University assistance is not offered to part-time students. In special circumstances (if you are a graduating senior, for example), there is a chance that your financial aid will be reduced, dollar for dollar, the amount your tuition and expenses are decreased by going part-time. Students who plan on taking two classes should contact the Office of the Registrar for information on term-pricing exception (charging less tuition for less than full-time attendance.) Due to the University enrollment requirement, some students are charged for full-time study even if they are registered for less than full-time. Please check with the University Registrar for more information.

7. Am I eligible for aid if I'm only taking one class?
No. A student must be enrolled in a minimum of two classes in order to receive federal and institutional aid. If a student qualifies, however, he/she may qualify for part or all of their federal Pell grant.

8. My parents have told me they will no longer support me. What do I do to be considered an independent student?
A student is considered to be independent for federal funding purposes if he or she is 24 years of age, a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, an orphan or ward of the court, has legal dependents other than a spouse, is married or is a graduate student. A student entering Northwestern as a dependent student will remain dependent for institutional funding unless he/she can provide documentation of extreme mitigating circumstances. Unwillingness to pay on the part of the parent is not considered a sufficient reason for a student to be considered independent.

9. If I decide to participate in the co-op program, how will it affect my financial aid?
A co-op student's financial aid package is developed in much the same way as it would be for a student remaining on campus. Need is determined by subtracting the family's expected contribution from the total cost of attendance. Need is met through scholarship, grant, loan and student employment. (See Components of an Aid Package for more information on how an aid package is developed.)

The difference occurs when the co-op experience takes place during the academic year and financial aid is adjusted for the quarter(s) of enrollment reflecting a tuition charge. Even though the student is officially enrolled with zero units while on co-op, there are no tuition charges; therefore, financial aid for that quarter is cancelled and all loan funds returned to the lender.

Students participating in the co-op program are also expected to contribute a portion of their co-op earnings towards their educational expenses. The normal summer savings expectation is waived and replaced by a portion of the co-op expectation. The academic year employment is also awarded in the form of the co-op expectation.

The co-op earnings expectation is determined annually by subtracting prior co-op participants' average living expenses for two quarters from their average earnings. The average co-op earnings contribution for 2008-09 is $3,100.

10. If I decide to participate in an off-campus program that carries academic credit, will my financial aid change?
Students who wish to participate in an internship or field studies program that carries academic credit during the academic year may request, if awarded work study, that the work study allocation for the quarter of participation be replaced with additional loan assistance. If you have other questions regarding your financial aid and associated program costs, please contact a counselor in the Office of Financial Aid.

11. I'm thinking about graduating early. What happens to my aid?
As far as financial aid is concerned, you must be enrolled in order to receive assistance. If you are going to graduate after winter quarter, for instance, you would be eligible for your fall and winter aid, and your spring aid would be cancelled. If a student will be graduating early, he/she should notify the office in writing the quarter before. It is also the student's responsibility to check with the University Registrar to make sure that the University's enrollment requirement has been met.


Still have questions?

You may want to try browsing the other categories of Prospective Student FAQs or Current Student FAQs available on the Office of Financial Aid website.

If you don't find the answer to your question or would like to discuss your concerns with a counselor, please contact us by phone at (847) 491-7400 or e-mail us at ug-finaid@u.northwestern.edu.