How Financial Aid is Determined
A student's financial aid award is established on an individual basis and depends upon the cost of attendance and the expected family contribution. The amount that remains after the family contribution has been applied towards the cost of attendance is considered the student's institutional need. In short:
Cost of attendance minus expected family contribution equals institutional need.
Cost of attendance
The cost of attendance changes each year, and it includes tuition, fees, room and board, transportation and other figures. See the cost of attendance for Part-Time MBA Program in the 2010-11 academic year.
Expected Family Contribution
To determine the family (student) contribution, Northwestern examines aid application materials and notes any special circumstances.
The expected family contribution depends on the student's marital status, number of dependents in school and taxable and non-taxable income and assets.
