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| Types of Aid | When to
Apply | Deadlines | Loan
Information |
| Foreign
Applicants | Graduate Music Costs | Enrolled
Students |
During the average academic year, the School of Music awards
to graduate students more than $3 million in merit-based
assistance in the form of graduate tuition grants and teaching/work
assistantships. All graduate students who demonstrate exceptional
ability during the admission process are eligible for these awards.
For some students full-tuition grants and stipends are available;
to others partial tuition grants and monthly stipends are awarded.
All admitted Doctoral students receive financial aid equivalent
to full tuition, a portion of which typically includes a teaching
assistantship or graduate assistantship.
Most students take advantage of work opportunities and loan
assistance offered by the University and federal government to
meet the full cost of attendance. Students must complete the
University Aid Application (UAPP) and the Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
All applicants who are accepted and who have indicated on the
application that they wish to receive financial aid are automatically
considered for all available forms of financial aid, including
fellowships, tuition grants, stipends, and graduate teaching
assistantships.
Download Graduate
Financial Aid Handbook (PDF)
Applying for Financial Aid
Prospective Students
Types of Aid Available
Three basic forms of assistance are available
to qualified and eligible graduate music students.
- Grant (scholarship) assistance based on the strength of the
student application for admission. Most grants cover
part of tuition; over $3 million is awarded to approximately
180 graduate students every year.
- Work assistance in the form of graduate/teaching assistantships
and Federal College Work-Study. Students must submit
the proper documents and be declared eligible. Most
work positions offer a salary ranging from $2,000 to $10,000
for the nine-month academic year.
- Loan assistance, in the form of both federal and institutional
loans, for students who demonstrate eligibility. Applicants
for graduate study in the School of Music are considered “independent” by
federal standards; parental income and assets are not considered
when calculating applicants’ eligibility for financial
aid. Various types of loan assistance are borrowed by students
to help defray the cost of attendance. Federal loans such as
the Perkins, Stafford (both Subsidized and Unsubsidized), and
the Graduate/Professional Plus Loan, as well as private loans
are common.
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When to Apply
Do not wait until you have been admitted
to Northwestern to apply for financial aid. Failure to meet
the financial aid deadline will delay notification of your aid
award and may preclude any offer of aid, as funds may be entirely
committed.
If you file late and are offered aid, you will not necessarily
be entitled to an extension of the reply deadline.
Financial Aid Document Deadline
FAFSA/Renewal FAFSA
(Free Application for Federal Student Aid, sent to processor with institution
code 001739)
FAFSA web site |
May 1 |
University
Aid Application (PDF)
|
May 1 |
Signed prior-year federal tax
return |
May 1 |
W2 forms |
May 1 |
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How to Apply
Students requesting any type of financial assistance
should not wait until tax forms have been filed or until
they have been admitted. If you fail to meet your financial
aid deadline, notification of your aid decision will be delayed
or funds may be entirely committed. To apply for financial
aid, you should:
- Indicate on the application for admission that you are requesting
consideration for financial aid. Scholarship and stipend awards
are sent with or soon after your acceptance letter. This way
you can make a decision to attend Northwestern with full knowledge
of the financial commitment necessary from you. Loans eligibility
is typically calculated during the summer months. Those newly
admitted students wishing to receive an estimate, however,
to aid in making an enrollment decision are welcome to contact
the Office of Music Admission and Financial Aid. The School
of Music University Aid Application and FAFSA must be submitted
in order for an estimation to be calculated.
- Complete the FAFSA (U.S. citizens only) at the FAFSA
web site.
(Enter only your information and not your parental information on the FAFSA.)
Request that a copy of your need analysis from the FAFSA be sent to the School
of Music at Northwestern (FAFSA Code 001739).
-
- Submit a signed copy of your 2006 Federal Income Tax return
and W2 forms for you and your spouse (if applicable) to the
Office of Admission and Financial Aid
Download Financial Aid Forms
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Loan Information
Loan eligibility for graduate music students is calculated during the summer
months. Once packaged, enrolled students will receive an email at their NU
email account outlining the policies and procedures necessary to view the
award notice on CAESAR and accept and/or decline the financial aid offered.
The loan information and documents that follow should not be submitted until
after they have received this.
Congress has recently passed the College Cost Reduction
and Access Act and President Bush has signed it into law. This
legislation will have an impact on federal loan programs, most
of which will not go into effect until the 2008-09 academic
year. While most of the provisions will be to a borrower's
advantage, there is still some question about how cuts in lender
subsidies will impact student loan fees and borrower benefits.
Our office is closely monitoring the effects of this legislation
and will provide you with all relevant information as it becomes
available. Please continue to check our website for updates.
Stafford Loans
If you have been offered and accepted a Stafford Subsidized and/or Unsubsidized
Loan, you will receive an email at your NU email account regarding master
promissory note policies and procedures from Sallie Mae. It is recommended
that junk and spam mailboxes be checked to ensure this communication is not
overlooked.
Perkins Loans
If you have been offered and accepted a Perkins Loan, you will receive an email
at your NU email account regarding the application, entrance interview and
master promissory note policies and procedures from Campus Partners. It is
recommended that junk and spam mailboxes be checked to ensure this communication
is not overlooked.
Federal PLUS Loan for Graduate/Professional Students
The Federal Plus loan for Graduate/Professional students is not based on financial
need and is available to students who have borrowed the maximum $20,500 under
the Federal Stafford Loan Program. Students within the School of Music wishing
to borrow this type of funding must initiate the process by choosing
a lender.
Once chosen, students should apply for this loan directly through
the chosen lender’s web site. If approved, it is finally
required that the student contact the Office of Music Admission
and Financial Aid to inform us of the lender and amount for which
you have been approved in order to have the loan certified and
applied to the student account. The School of Music Admission
and Financial Aid Office is always pleased to answer questions
regarding eligibility prior to applying for the Graduate/Professional
Plus loan.
How was the Preferred Lender
List developed?
Alternative Loans
If additional funds are needed to supplement (or in lieu of) federal loans,
alternative loans are available. The approval of these loans is based on
creditworthiness. Students may apply under their own signature, but if not
initially approved, may need to apply again with a credit-worthy cosigner.
Students' eligibility is determined by subtracting any aid to be received
for the loan period (including other loan funds) from the determined cost
of education. Students within the School of Music wishing to borrow
this type of funding must initiate the process by choosing
a lender.
Once chosen, students should apply for this loan directly through
the chosen lender’s web site. If approved, it is finally
required that the student contact the Office of Music Admission
and Financial Aid to inform us of the lender and amount for which
you have been approved in order to have the loan certified and
applied to the student account. The School of Music Admission
and Financial Aid Office is always pleased to answer questions
regarding eligibility prior to applying for an alternative loan.
How was the Preferred Lender
List developed?
Foreign applicants are considered
for merit-based financial aid during the application process.
They must be permanent residents of the United States to be
eligible for federal loan assistance. Financial aid applicants
who are not U.S. citizens are asked to submit proof of permanent
resident status. To obtain a visa and matriculate, foreign nationals
will be asked to supply documentation showing financial backing
equal to the projected cost of attendance. Foreign applicants
are strongly encouraged to seek financial assistance from agencies
outside the University to help defray the cost of their graduate
education.
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Graduate Music Costs
Financial aid awards are based on the average student
budget for the year of intended matriculation. This budget
includes tuition (for which students are billed) plus various
personal expenses. Actual costs are subject to change, and increases
should be expected in future years. The average student budget
for the 2007–08 academic year is:
Tuition |
$35,064 |
Room and board |
11,250 |
Books and supplies |
1,311 |
Transportation |
1,413 |
Personal |
2,700 |
Health insurance |
2,088 |
Total |
$53,826 |
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Enrolled Students
Current students should follow all steps as outlined in the How
to Apply section when applying for financial aid for
each recurring year of their degree program. Further, current
students can find detailed information about policies and procedures
by downloading the School
of Music Graduate Financial Aid Handbook (PDF).
Frequently Asked Questions
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