As a private institution, Northwestern University has maintained a policy of need-based financial aid for undergraduate students for more than 20 years. This policy, common to most institutions similar to Northwestern, assures that each student admitted to the University will have the support needed to enroll. To avoid encumbering students unduly, loan indebtedness is kept to a minimum.

Northwestern University is proud of its commitment to help families meet the cost of private higher education. As a result, the University awards more than $50 million of its own funds to undergraduates each academic year in the form of NU Scholarships.  All NU Scholarships are awarded on the basis of demonstrated financial need and availability of funding at the time the student applies for aid. Additional funding is also provided via gifts by generous University benefactors. These NU Endowed Scholarships are awarded to those students who, in addition to being eligible for need-based NU scholarship assistance, also meet the donors' other selection criteria. Approximately one-half of all Northwestern undergraduate students receive NU scholarship assistance, with individual awards ranging from $250 to over $33,000 annually.

Students are usually asked to help support themselves through loan and work assistance. Work assignments (in the Federal College Work-Study Program) average 10 hours per week.

For information on applying for financial aid, grants, work-study positions, and loan programs, contact:

Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid
Northwestern University
1801 Hinman Avenue
Evanston, Illinois, 60204-3060
Telephone: 847-491-7271

Information Request Form

Northwestern’s Undergraduate Financing web page