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How Aid is Determined

A student's financial aid package is compiled on an individual basis and depends upon the cost of attendance and the expected student contribution.

Policies by program

Feinberg School of Medicine (MD Program)

A student's financial aid package is compiled on an individual basis. Students in the MD program are offered loans up to the full cost of attendance, minus any federal, state, or institutional scholarship, grant or other any outside assistance received.

Cost of attendance

The cost of attendance changes each year, and it includes tuition, fees, room and board, transportation, and other figures.

 

Pritzker School of Law

A student's financial aid package is compiled on an individual basis. Students in full-time Pritzker programs are offered loans up to the full cost of attendance, minus any scholarship assistance or outside assistance received.

Students in part-time programs may be offered loans to cover tuition, fees and book expenses only but may request funding for living expenses on an individual basis if they are enrolled at least half-time (4.00 credits per semester).


Cost of attendance

The cost of attendance changes each year, and it includes tuition, fees, room and board, transportation, and other figures.

Kellogg Evening & Weekend MBA

A student's financial aid package is compiled on an individual basis. Students in the Evening and Weekend MBA program are offered loans up to the cost of tuition, fees and book expenses, minus any scholarship funding they may be receiving, based on their projected enrollment reported on the university aid application. If a student's enrollment changes, they should contact the Chicago Office of Financial Aid so their aid offer may be adjusted accordingly.

Students may request additional funding for living expenses if they are enrolled at least half-time (2.00+ units). To do so, they should email the Chicago Office of Financial Aid from their Northwestern email account to request additional funds.

 

Physical Therapy Program

A student's financial aid package is compiled on an individual basis. Students in the DPT program are offered loans up to the full cost of attendance, minus any scholarship assistance or outside assistance received.

Cost of attendance

The cost of attendance changes each year, and it includes tuition, fees, room and board, transportation, and other figures.

Prosthetics/Orthotics Program

A student's financial aid package is compiled on an individual basis. Students in the MPO program are offered loans up to the full cost of attendance, minus any scholarship assistance or outside assistance received.

Cost of attendance

The cost of attendance changes each year, and it includes tuition, fees, room and board, transportation, and other figures.

 

Physician Assistant Program

A student's financial aid package is compiled on an individual basis. Students in the PA program are offered loans up to the full cost of attendance, minus any scholarship assistance or outside assistance received.

Cost of attendance

The cost of attendance changes each year, and it includes tuition, fees, room and board, transportation, and other figures.

 

SPS - Graduate

A student's financial aid package is compiled on an individual basis. Students in the SPS-Graduate programs are offered loans up to the cost of tuition, fees and book expenses based on their projected enrollment reported on the university aid application. If a student's enrollment changes, they should contact the Chicago Office of Financial Aid so their aid offer may be adjusted accordingly.

Students may request additional funding for living expenses if they are enrolled at least half-time (2.00+ units). To do so, they should email the Chicago Office of Financial Aid from their Northwestern email account to request additional funds.


Cost of attendance

The cost of attendance changes each year, and it includes tuition, fees, room and board, transportation, and other figures.

 

SPS - Undergraduate

A student's financial aid package is compiled on an individual basis. Students in the SPS-Undergraduate programs are offered federal and state grant assistance (when eligible based on the FAFSA) and loans (federal and/or private) up to the cost of tuition, fees and book expenses based on their projected enrollment reported on the university aid application, or their maximum federal aid eligibility, whichever is more. If a student's enrollment changes, they should contact the Chicago Office of Financial Aid so their aid offer may be adjusted accordingly. Students may request additional funding for living expenses, but additional funding may be offered through private, credit-based loan assistance.

Please note that students who previously earned a bachelors degree are not eligible for grant assistance under federal and state regulations.

Cost of attendance

The cost of attendance (COA) is the student's maximum eligibility for financial aid and is based on a student's enrollment. The COA changes each year, and it includes tuition, fees, room and board, transportation, and other figures.

Expected Family Contribution

The expected family contribution determines a student's eligibility for federal and state grant assistance. The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is determined by the FAFSA.

If you are a federally Dependent student, the expected family contribution includes both a parental contribution and a student contribution:

  • The parental contribution is based on a number of factors, including the parents' income, assets, and family size.
  • The student contribution includes a portion of their personal assets each year and savings from summer employment. The summer earnings expectation varies based on class level and actual reported income.

You are considered federally dependent and must submit your parent's information and signature on the FAFSA if you answer "no" to all of the following questions:

  1. Are you over the age of 24 as of January 1 of the current academic year?
  2. Are you married?
  3. Do you have children for whom you provide 50% or more of their financial support?
  4. Do you have other dependents for whom you provide 50% or more of their financial support?
  5. Are you a Veteran of the United States Armed Forces?
  6. Are you currently on active duty in the United States Armed Forces?
  7. Are/were you an orphan or ward of the court?

If you are federally Independent, the expected family contribution includes only the student contribution, which is based on income, asset and family size.