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.
Students who wish to apply for financial aid for the Summer 2024 term must complete the 2023-24 application requirements. Please note the final deadline to complete the 2023-24 FAFSA is June 30, 2024.
Jump to program-specific instructions:
- Degree, professional health certificate and preparatory coursework completion programs
- Non-Degree, Bridge-to Programs, other Post-Bacc certificates and Professional Development programs
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 can only receive federal aid for elective coursework if their program requires electives (i.e. Pre-Med Post Bacc). You can find more information about enrollment requirements on the SPS website.
Students in completion programs may only receive federal loan assistance for a maximum of 12 consecutive months, or once they receive the annual loan limit allowable for their program, whichever comes first.
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
| First Term of Enrollment | Suggested Submission Date |
|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | July 15, 2024 |
| Winter 2025 | November 10, 2024 |
| Spring 2025 | February 10, 2025 |
| Summer 2025 | April 24, 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
- Complete the FAFSA
- Complete the University Aid Application
- 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 University - Evanston 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.
- Once all materials are submitted, Northwestern will determine your financial aid eligibility and aid eligibility. Learn about how aid is determined.
- Next, our office will begin sending financial aid decision emails on a rolling basis in August or about 4-6 weeks after your file is complete, whichever is later.
- Students must then accept or decline their loan offer in CAESAR. Learn more about the steps to accept or decline your award.
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.
Jump to program-specific instructions:
- Degree, professional health certificate and preparatory coursework completion programs
- Non-Degree, Bridge-to Programs, other Post-Bacc certificates and Professional Development programs
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 can only receive federal aid for elective coursework if their program requires electives (i.e. Pre-Med Post Bacc). You can find more information about enrollment requirements on the SPS website.
Students in completion programs may only receive federal loan assistance for a maximum of 12 consecutive months, or once they receive the annual loan limit allowable for their program, whichever comes first.
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
| First Term of Enrollment | Suggested Submission Date |
|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | July 15, 2025 |
| Winter 2026 | November 11, 2025 |
| Spring 2026 | February 10, 2026 |
| Summer 2026 | April 25, 2026 |
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
- Complete the FAFSA
- Complete the University Aid Application
- 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 2025-26 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 University - Evanston 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 although the FAFSA for 2025-26 is available to complete now, due to system and processing delays your FAFSA application may not be marked as complete until sometime in February or upon receipt from the Department of Education. 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 2025-26 academic year after late-March 2025, 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.
- Once all materials are submitted, Northwestern will determine your financial aid eligibility and aid eligibility. Learn about how aid is determined.
- Next, our office will begin sending financial aid decision emails on a rolling basis in August or about 4-6 weeks after your file is complete, whichever is later.
- Students must then accept or decline their loan offer in CAESAR. Learn more about the steps to accept or decline your award.
Non-Degree, Bridge-to Programs, Professional Development, and other certificate programs
Students in these programs need only fill out the 2025-26 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.