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School of Professional Studies Undergraduate Programs

Below you will see an overview of the financial aid application process for School of Professional Studies (SPS) Undergraduate students.

Jump to program-specific instructions:

Degree or professional health career programs

Students must be enrolled in at least two courses per term in order to receive federal loan assistance. Students in the Professional Health Certificate and preparatory coursework completion programs will be awarded federal loan assistance (assuming they meet all federal requirements for aid) for courses required in their specific certificate program only. Professional Health students cannot receive federal aid for elective coursework. You can find more information about enrollment requirements on our website.

To be considered for all available financial assistance, return all completed application materials by your "first term of enrollment" suggested submission date listed below. Students admitted after the application suggested submission date for their first term of enrollment must submit their financial aid application materials within two weeks of when they were admitted.

Students who miss their application suggested submission date may still apply for aid after the date has passed, but their award may not be released until after the start of the academic term and will be subject to availability of funding.

Suggested Submission Dates

2023-24 Undergraduate SPS Application Suggested Submission Dates
First Term of Enrollment Suggested Submission Date
Fall 2023 July 17, 2023
Winter 2024 November 10, 2023
Spring 2024 February 12, 2024
Summer 2024 April 25, 2024

Students whose applications are completed after the "first term of enrollment date" may need to use their own resources to pay the tuition deposit required for registration (60% for SPS students). These students can reimburse themselves with their financial aid later in the term.

A student's full financial aid application must be reviewed and their award must be issued in order to be added the SPS financial aid list. Students admitted after the financial aid suggested submission date may contact the SPS Registrar at (312) 503-6951 or onlinereg@northwestern.edu to determine if they may register without being on the financial aid list due to late admission.

Application steps

  1. Complete the FAFSA
  2. Complete the University Aid Application
  3. Accept or decline your financial aid award

1. Complete the FAFSA

Suggested submission date: Depends on the enrollment term. See table above.

  • Visit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) website and complete the online 2023-24 form. If you do not already have an FSA ID, you will need to set up an FSA ID before completing the FAFSA. This FSA ID will be used for many Department of Education websites.
  • Designate Northwestern as the recipient of the information; our federal school code is 001739. Any other Northwestern University codes (001740, school-specific codes beginning with an "E"), should not be used.
  • If you are considered Federally Dependent, you must submit parent information on the FAFSA and have your parent sign the application with their FSA ID.
  • After the FAFSA is processed (allow two weeks), 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. If you do not receive your SAR within four weeks, or if you need to request a duplicate, call 800-433-3243.

Note: Illinois residents should submit the FAFSA as soon as possible after October 1, 2022 to be considered for an Illinois State Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant.

International students who wish to apply for private student loan funding are not required to complete the FAFSA.

2. Complete the University Aid Application

Suggested submission date: Depends on the enrollment term. See table above.

Students may access this document online via their CAESAR To-Do list for the 2023-24 academic year after mid-March 2023, or within a week of when you were admitted, whichever is later. Your To-Do List can be reviewed in CAESAR through either the "Tasks" tile on the homepage, or by clicking on the "Financial Aid" tile from the homepage and then selecting "To-Do List" from the left-hand navigation. If you are unable to access this document via your To-Do list, please contact the Chicago Office of Financial Aid.

The University Aid Application is the only financial aid application form needed from international students. Once the University Aid Application has been submitted, the FAFSA should be removed from your To-Do list within 2-3 business days. If it is not removed within that timeframe, please contact the Chicago Office of Financial Aid.

3. Accept or decline your aid offer.

Suggested submission date: As soon as possible after you receive an aid offer.

Non-Degree, Bridge-to Programs, Professional Development, and other certificate programs

Students in these programs need only fill out the 2023-24 Non-Degree University Aid Application to be considered for aid. Students should contact our office for a copy of this form.

Jump to program-specific instructions:

Degree or professional health career programs

Students must be enrolled in at least two courses per term in order to receive federal loan assistance. Students in the Professional Health Certificate and preparatory coursework completion programs will be awarded federal loan assistance (assuming they meet all federal requirements for aid) for courses required in their specific certificate program only. Professional Health students cannot receive federal aid for elective coursework. You can find more information about enrollment requirements on our website.

To be considered for all available financial assistance, return all completed application materials by your "first term of enrollment" suggested submission date listed below. Students admitted after the application suggested submission date for their first term of enrollment must submit their financial aid application materials within two weeks of when they were admitted.

Students who miss their application suggested submission date may still apply for aid after the date has passed, but their award may not be released until after the start of the academic term and will be subject to availability of funding.

Suggested Submission Dates

2022-23 Undergraduate SPS Application Suggested Submission Dates
First Term of Enrollment Suggested Submission Date
Fall 2024 July 15, 2024
Winter 2025 November 11, 2024
Spring 2025 February 10, 2025
Summer 2025 April 25, 2025

Students whose applications are completed after the "first term of enrollment date" may need to use their own resources to pay the tuition deposit required for registration (60% for SPS students). These students can reimburse themselves with their financial aid later in the term.

A student's full financial aid application must be reviewed and their award must be issued in order to be added the SPS financial aid list. Students admitted after the financial aid suggested submission date may contact the SPS Registrar at (312) 503-6951 or onlinereg@northwestern.edu to determine if they may register without being on the financial aid list due to late admission.

Application steps

  1. Complete the FAFSA
  2. Complete the University Aid Application
  3. Accept or decline your financial aid award

1. Complete the FAFSA

Suggested submission date: Depends on the enrollment term. See table above.

  • Visit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) website and complete the online 2024-25 form. If you do not already have an FSA ID, you will need to set up an FSA ID before completing the FAFSA. This FSA ID will be used for many Department of Education websites.
  • Designate Northwestern as the recipient of the information; our federal school code is 001739. Any other Northwestern University codes (001740, school-specific codes beginning with an "E"), should not be used.
  • If you are considered Federally Dependent, you must submit parent information on the FAFSA and have your parent sign the application with their FSA ID.
  • Please note that due to the late release of the FAFSA for 2024-2025, the US Department of Education has notified schools that we will not start to receive FAFSA data until March and so your FAFSA application may not be marked as received until sometime in April. We apologize for any inconvenience.
  • After the FAFSA is processed, you will receive a FAFSA Submission Summary, summarizing your information. Resolve any incorrect information via the FAFSA web site or by returning the corrected and signed FAFSA Submission Summary. If you do not receive your FAFSA Submission Summary within four weeks, or if you need to request a duplicate, call 800-433-3243.

Note: Illinois residents should submit the FAFSA as soon as possible to be considered for an Illinois State Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant.

International students who wish to apply for private student loan funding are not required to complete the FAFSA.

2. Complete the University Aid Application

Suggested submission date: Depends on the enrollment term. See table above.

Students may access this document online via their CAESAR To-Do list for the 2024-25 academic year after late-March 2024, or within a week of when you were admitted, whichever is later. Your To-Do List can be reviewed in CAESAR through either the "Tasks" tile on the homepage, or by clicking on the "Financial Aid" tile from the homepage and then selecting "To-Do List" from the left-hand navigation. If you are unable to access this document via your To-Do list, please contact the Chicago Office of Financial Aid.

The University Aid Application is the only financial aid application form needed from international students. Once the University Aid Application has been submitted, the FAFSA should be removed from your To-Do list within 2-3 business days. If it is not removed within that timeframe, please contact the Chicago Office of Financial Aid.

3. Accept or decline your aid offer.

Suggested submission date: As soon as possible after you receive an aid offer.

Non-Degree, Bridge-to Programs, Professional Development, and other certificate programs

Students in these programs need only fill out the 2024-25 Non-Degree University Aid Application to request certification of a previously approved private loan. Students should contact our office for a copy of this form.