Returning Students (All Programs)
Below you will see an overview of the financial aid application process for domestic returning students. (PLEASE NOTE: non-U.S. citizens should review application instructions for international students).
The information on this page applies to the following programs.
- Feinberg School of Medicine (MD Program)
- Pritzker School of Law (all programs, including Transfer Students)
- Kellogg Evening & Weekend MBA Program
- Physical Therapy Program
- Prosthetics/Orthotics Program
- Physician Assistant Program
- SPS Graduate Programs
- SPS Undergraduate Programs
SPS Summer Courses
Students in the Graduate and Undergraduate School of Professional Studies who wish to apply for financial aid for the Summer 2026 term must complete:
- 2025-2026 application requirements
- Note: the final deadline to complete the 2025-26 FAFSA is June 30, 2026
- To ensure that you receive federal aid, we recommend that you complete the 2025-26 FAFSA by June 1, 2026 to allow appropriate time for processing
Note: Students in SPS non-degree and professional development programs (not including Professional Health Certificate programs) need to only complete the 2026-27 Non-Degree University Aid Application.
Suggested Submission Dates
Students are encouraged to return all completed application materials by the suggested submission date listed below. For programs that list suggested submission dates by term, your application suggested submission date is based on the first term for which you are applying for financial aid for the academic year.
| Program | Suggested Submission Date |
|---|---|
| Feinberg School of Medicine (MD program) | April 1, 2026 |
| Pritzker School of Law | JD, JD-MBA, Tax-LLM: May 1, 2026 Residential and Online MSL: July 1, 2026 |
| Kellogg Evening & Weekend MBA Program | Summer: May 15, 2026 Fall: August 1, 2026 Winter: November 15, 2026 Spring: March 1, 2027 |
| Physical Therapy Program | May 1, 2026 |
| Prosthetics/Orthotics Program | May 1, 2026 |
| Physician Assistant Program | May 1, 2026 |
| SPS (all graduate and undergraduate programs) | Fall: July 15, 2026 Winter: November 15, 2026 Spring: February 9, 2027 Summer: April 15, 2027 |
Importance of meeting deadlines
Meeting the financial aid application dates 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 deadlines will be processed in the order in which they were received and we cannot be guaranteed that financial aid funds will disburse by the first day of class. Financial aid applications may not be processed once a term has ended (in other words, students may not be eligible to receive funds for the Fall term if they apply for those funds during the Winter term).
Application steps
- Complete the FAFSA
- Complete the University Aid Application
- Review your financial aid offer via CAESAR
1. Complete the FAFSA
- 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.
- Add our school code: (001739-Northwestern University - Evanston).
- Monitor your FAFSA submission status by logging into studentaid.gov. Your FAFSA status will appear under "My Activity" on your dashboard.
- After the FAFSA is processed, you will receive a FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS).
- Resolve any incorrect information via studentaid.gov or by returning the corrected and signed FSS.
- Monitor your FAFSA submission status by logging into studentaid.gov. Your FAFSA status will appear under "My Activity" on your dashboard.
2. Complete the University Aid Application
- Students may access the 2026-27 University Aid application on their "To Do" list in CAESAR in the spring of 2026.
- You can find the application by navigating to: CAESAR -> "Tasks" or CAESAR -> Financial Aid-> To Do list (from left-hand navigation).
- If you are unable to access this document via your To-Do list, please contact our office.
- You can find the application by navigating to: CAESAR -> "Tasks" or CAESAR -> Financial Aid-> To Do list (from left-hand navigation).
- International students who wish to apply for private student loan funding are not required to complete the FAFSA and are only required to complete the University Aid Application.
Private Loans
- 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.
3. Review your financial aid offer via CAESAR
Deadline: As soon as possible after you receive financial aid offer 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 June 1, 2025.
- Your financial aid eligibility will likely include a combination of student loans but may also include scholarships or grants depending on your program and individual eligibility as determined by your application for financial aid.
- Upon notification, you must accept or decline the loan assistance offered to you via CAESAR. Scholarship and grant assistance is automatically accepted.
Note: Students in SPS non-degree and professional development programs (not including Professional Health Certificate programs) need to only complete the 2025-26 Non-Degree University Aid Application.
Suggested Submission Dates
Students are encouraged to return all completed application materials by the suggested submission date listed below. For programs that list suggested submission dates by term, your application suggested submission date is based on the first term for which you are applying for financial aid for the academic year.
| Program | Suggested Submission Date |
|---|---|
| Feinberg School of Medicine (MD program) | April 1, 2025 |
| Pritzker School of Law | JD, JD-MBA, Tax-LLM: May 1, 2025 Residential and Online MSL: July 1, 2025 |
| Kellogg Evening & Weekend MBA Program | Summer: May 13, 2025 Fall: August 1, 2025 Winter: November 28, 2025 Spring: March 2, 2026 |
| Physical Therapy Program | May 1, 2025 |
| Prosthetics/Orthotics Program | May 1, 2025 |
| Physician Assistant Program | May 1, 2025 |
| SPS (all graduate and undergraduate programs) | Fall: July 15, 2025 Winter: November 12, 2025 Spring: February 9, 2026 Summer: April 24, 2026 |
Importance of meeting deadlines
Meeting the financial aid application dates 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 deadlines will be processed in the order in which they were received and we cannot be guaranteed that financial aid funds will disburse by the first day of class. Financial aid applications may not be processed once a term has ended (in other words, students may not be eligible to receive funds for the Fall term if they apply for those funds during the Winter term).
Application steps
- Complete the FAFSA
- Complete the University Aid Application
- Review your financial aid offer via CAESAR
1. Complete the FAFSA
- Complete the 2025-26 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.
- Add our school code: (001739-Northwestern University - Evanston).
- Monitor your FAFSA submission status by logging into studentaid.gov. Your FAFSA status will appear under "My Activity" on your dashboard.
- After the FAFSA is processed, you will receive a FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS).
- Resolve any incorrect information via studentaid.gov or by returning the corrected and signed FSS.
- Monitor your FAFSA submission status by logging into studentaid.gov. Your FAFSA status will appear under "My Activity" on your dashboard.
2. Complete the University Aid Application
- Students may access the 2025-26 University Aid application on their "To Do" list in CAESAR in the spring of 2025.
- You can find the application by navigating to: CAESAR -> "Tasks" or CAESAR -> Financial Aid-> To Do list (from left-hand navigation).
- If you are unable to access this document via your To-Do list, please contact our office.
- You can find the application by navigating to: CAESAR -> "Tasks" or CAESAR -> Financial Aid-> To Do list (from left-hand navigation).
- International students who wish to apply for private student loan funding are not required to complete the FAFSA and are only required to complete the University Aid Application.
Private Loans
- 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.
3. Review your financial aid offer via CAESAR
Deadline: As soon as possible after you receive financial aid offer 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 June 1, 2026.
- Your financial aid eligibility will likely include a combination of student loans but may also include scholarships or grants depending on your program and individual eligibility as determined by your application for financial aid.
- Upon notification, you must accept or decline the loan assistance offered to you via CAESAR. Scholarship and grant assistance is automatically accepted.