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Physical Therapy Program

An overview of the financial aid application process for incoming Physical Therapy students.

Note this information applies to domestic students only. View application instructions for international students.

Deadlines

All financial aid application materials should be submitted by:

  •  May 1, 2026 if already admitted
  • Within two weeks of admittance if after the May 1 deadline

Importance of meeting deadlines

Meeting the financial aid application deadline listed above ensures that students will receive their financial aid offer, can complete all required loan documentation, and have their funds disburse by the first day of classes. 

Note: Applications received after the deadline will be processed in the order in which they were received. Financial aid applications cannot be processed once a term has ended (students may not be eligible to receive funds for the fall term if they apply for funds during the winter term).

Application Steps

  1. Complete the FAFSA
  2. Complete the University Aid Application
  3. Review your financial aid offer via CAESAR
  4. Private Loan Consideration (Optional)

1. Complete the FAFSA

  1. Complete the 2026-27 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)  using your FSA ID user name and password. If you do not already have an FSA ID, you will need to set one up.
  2. Add our federal school code: (001739-Northwestern University-Evanston). 
  3. Monitor your FAFSA submission status by logging into studentaid.gov. Your FAFSA status will appear under "My Activity" on your dashboard.
    1. After the FAFSA is processed, you will receive a FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS).
    2. Resolve any incorrect information via studentaid.gov or by returning the corrected and signed FSS.

2. Complete the University Aid Application

  • Admitted students with access to CAESAR will be able to view the electronic University Aid Application on their "To Do" list in CAESAR by mid-March, 2026.
    • You can find the application by navigating to: CAESAR -> "Tasks" or CAESAR -> Financial Aid-> To Do list (from left-hand navigation). 

3. Review your financial aid offer via CAESAR

Deadline: As soon as possible after you receive financial aid notification

  • Once all application requirements are submitted, the Chicago Financial Aid Office (CFAO) will review aid eligibility.  Learn more about how aid is determined.
  • CFAO releases financial aid decision emails to your Northwestern email on a rolling basis beginning April 1, 2026 or once we have received the official tuition rates for the upcoming academic year, whichever is later.
  • Upon notification, you must accept or decline the loan assistance offered to you via CAESAR. 

4. Private Loan Consideration (Optional)

  • Applications for private loan funds must be completed through a lender of your choice. You can begin your private loan search via Northwestern's Preferred Lender list.
  • Private loan funds like other types of aid are academic year specific. This means that the loan application that you complete can only be used within one academic year at a time.
  • You must notify our office of your private loan approval via our Private Loan Certification Request form 
  • Final private loan funds eligibility are subject to a combination of your lender's eligibility criteria, cost of attendance, Satisfactory academic progress, and enrollment. 
  • International students interested in obtaining a private student loan may need a credit-worthy U.S. citizen/permanent resident cosigner.