Emergency Assistance & Cash Advances
The University has two short-term loan programs available to matriculated students:
Eligibility criteria
The following three conditions must be satisfied to receive an emergency loan or a cash advance:
- You must be currently enrolled (in a degree-seeking program) for the quarter for which you are seeking the assistance.
- The quarter must be in session. Emergency loans and cash advances cannot be processed before the start or after the end of the quarter.
- You must have a valid Northwestern University student identification card (Wildcard).
Emergency loans
The emergency loan program is intended to assist you with an unexpected, short-term financial emergency. The emergency typically is not related to your financial aid nor the direct costs associated with attending Northwestern University.
- You are entitled to one emergency loan per quarter for a maximum amount of $500.
- Emergency loans must be repaid within 60 days of receiving the funds or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
Contact our office to request an emergency loan.
Cash advances
A student may be eligible for a cash advance of student loan funds under the following conditions:
- The adjusted balance on your Northwestern Customer Account reflects a credit. Check CAESAR > Account and Payments > View My Account.
- The quarter has started but your student loan funds have not disbursed and are still listed as anticipated aid. As a result, you are unable to request a refund via CAESAR.
- You have completed all the loan requirements on your To Do List in CAESAR.
If the above conditions are met, you may receive up to $3000 per day up to the amount of the adjusted credit balance on your Northwestern Customer Account.
Cash advances, by definition, are repaid when the anticipated loan funds being advanced to you are credited to your Northwestern Customer Account. There are no finance charges or fees associated with a cash advance provided that the anticipated loan funds are received and credited to your Northwestern Customer Account. Should the anticipated loan not be received, you will be required to repay the advanced funds from other sources, and you may be subject to a late payment fee.
Contact our office to request a cash advance.