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Requirements

FAFSA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be completed each academic year to determine your eligibility for federal student loans. The application may be completed and submitted online on the Federal Student Aid website. Use school code 001739 to have your FAFSA results transmitted electronically to Northwestern University.

Verification

Federal Student Aid may require verification of certain items reported on your FAFSA before we can offer you federal loan funds. If you were selected for verification, we will contact you with further instructions.

Request for Student Loans Form

The following students are required to complete a Request for Student Loans form in addition to the FAFSA.
  • Continuing students (all programs except MMUS & DMUS)
  • PhD students (all programs)
  • New students in any of the programs listed below.
    APHP (graduate students only)
    BS/MS (graduate students only)
    Healthcare Quality & Patient Safety
    Master Fine Arts
    Plant Biology & Conservation

This form can be completed online via the link in your To Do List on CAESAR. Contact our office if you do not see the link on CAESAR. 

Check your Northwestern email

Once your eligibility for Federal Direct Loans is confirmed, we will send an email to your Northwestern email address with a link to our webpage explaining your loan offer and providing instructions for accepting or declining your loans and completing the remaining loan requirements. (Be sure to activate your Northwestern email if you are a new student.)

If you are receiving assistance other than student loans (scholarships, fellowships, grants), this funding must be entered in CAESAR by your program before your loan offer can be finalized. If your program provides this information on a quarterly basis,  your loans may be processed based on an estimate of the expected funding. 

Reporting of other aid

Your total financial aid (including loans) cannot exceed your Cost of Attendance for the academic year. Please notify us of all financial aid (grants, scholarships, fellowships, assistantships, etc.) you receive so we can make any necessary adjustments to your student loans. Loan adjustments may result in your having to return loan funds already approved and disbursed.

Online entrance counseling

Entrance counseling is required by federal regulation for first-time borrowers at Northwestern University of Federal Direct Loans. The online counseling session provides an overview of the Direct Loan Program, including information about the types of Direct Loans available, the costs of borrowing, eligibility, and repayment. Once you have received your loan offer, check your To Do List on CAESAR for further instructions.

Master Promissory Notes

The Master Promissory Note (MPN) is a legal document in which you promise to repay your loan(s) and any accrued interest and fees to your Federal Loan Servicer. It also explains the terms and conditions of your loan(s); for instance, it will include information on how interest is calculated, when interest is charged, available repayment plans, and deferment and cancellation provisions.

Master Promissory Notes are usually valid for 10 years.

You must have a valid Master Promissory Note (MPN) completed for your Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan(s) and also for your Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan(s) (if applicable) before the loan funds can be disbursed to your Northwestern Customer Account. Once you have received your loan offer, check your To Do List on CAESAR for further instructions.