Financing and Aid

The Master of Science in Energy and Sustainability (MSES) program connects students with three primary forms of financial aid: 1) Merit- and needs-based aid, 2) outside funding, and 3) student loans. Beyond financial aid, students may consider employment and fellowship opportunities to fund their studies.

Merit- and Needs-Based Aid

All admitted students are eligible for limited merit- and needs-based funding through the MSES Scholars Fund. MSES assigns priority to earlier round applicants; as funds are dispersed on a first-come, first-served basis, available funding may be expended before admission offers for later round applicants. Institutionally, Northwestern does not provide additional direct scholarship/need-based aid at the graduate level.

Outside Funding

Additionally, students often choose to pursue outside funding in the form of fellowships, scholarships, and grants. As these programs are run by third-party organizations and may target different applicant qualifications, the MSES program cannot assist an applicant beyond making them aware of potential programs/sources. The list below is non-exhaustive and we encourage potential applicants to do additional research on programs, deadlines, etc.

Student Loans

Most graduate master’s students fund some portion of their studies with student loans. The Evanston Office of Graduate Financial Aid serves as a dedicated resource to help both domestic and international students navigate their options for student loans.

Employment and Fellowships

A limited number of graduate student employment opportunities may allow students to work in exchange for housing and compensation. MSES also administers a competitive Sustainability Fellowship (open to all Northwestern seniors and graduate students) twice per year that provides a $3,000 tuition stipend. Finally, several MSES students may take on external paid, part-time internships during their degree, both to help fund their studies, and get direct experience within the industry.

More details about each of these funding options are outlined below. If you are an admitted MSES student considering aid offers from other institutions, we encourage you to speak directly with program staff at mses@northwestern to understand direct program-to-program comparisons.

Financial Support for MSES Students

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MSES Scholars Fund

MSES is committed to developing the next generation of energy and sustainability leaders. In order to recruit and retain top graduate student talent for the program, the MSES Scholars Fund provides limited grants to students each year. Merit-based awards are allocated during the application review process; there is no additional process or documentation required for consideration. Applicants who wish to be considered for additional limited needs-based awards may apply upon completion of the application Round. The MSES program does not have access to any needs-based data during the application review process; admissions decisions are needs-blind.

Any funding provided by the MSES program may be in addition to other scholarships, loans or private financing that an applicant may pursue. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply during Round 1 to be given scholarship priority.

MSES Scholars grants are typically in the range of $1,000-$10,000; a very limited number of more substantial awards may be granted annually, and are highly contingent on a combination of application merit, high-need, and Scholars fund availability. MSES Scholars funding is granted against the cost of tuition, and is never awarded to fund housing or living expenses.

Outside Funding

Fellowships

Northwestern’s Office of Fellowships provides an extensive Fellowship Finder database, detailing funding opportunities commonly awarded to Northwestern students. Additionally, MSES has identified a series of relevant fellowships for special consideration:

Relevant scholarships & grants (not an exhaustive list)
Fellowship Name	Affiliate Group	Description	Amount	Month Application is Due
Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans	Immigrants; children of immigrants	To be eligible, you must be a New American who is 30 or younger as of the application deadline, and who is planning on starting or continuing an eligible graduate degree program full-time in the United States.	Up to $90,000	April
The Alumnae of Northwestern University Graduate Fellowship	Northwestern alumni	The Alumnae of Northwestern University offers this Fellowship to full-time graduate students who show promise of achieving distinction in their chosen field and who will bring credit to the University.	Up to $20,000	April
International Fellowships, American Association of University Women	Women	Awarded for full-time study or research in the United States to women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents.	$18,000	November
Selected Professions Fellowship, American Association of University Women	Women	Awarded to women who intend to pursue a full-time course of study at accredited U.S. institutions during the fellowship year in one of the designated degree programs where women’s participation traditionally has been low.	$5,000 to $18,000	December
WiNUP Fellowship	Women	WiNUP currently has three fellowships available annually to females pursuing advanced degrees (beyond a bachelor's degree), which will lead to careers in the utility industry or allied fields.	$500 to $2,000	May

Scholarships & Grants

MSES has identified a series of relevant scholarships & grants for consideration. This is not an exhaustive list and applicants are encouraged do their own research.

Additional resources to obtain outside funding
Scholarship Name	Affiliate Group	Description	Reward Amount	Month Application is Due
NAACP Scholarships	African American	Offers need-based and merit scholarships to outstanding Black students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees; must demonstrate interest in their relevant field of study and have a 3.0 GPA or greater.	Varies	N/A
UNCF (United Negro College Fund)	African American	UNCF is the nation’s largest private scholarship provider to minority group members.	Varies	Varies
Power and Energy Society Fuel our Future Scholarship	Any	Willing to take at least three of the power engineering courses for a total of nine or more credits.	Up to $7,000	June
Anchor QEA Scholarship	Any	A program to assist graduate students who are passionate about engineering, environmental sciences, or related fields, are dedicated to giving back to their communities, and who have a demonstrated financial need.	$1,000 to $10,000	November
American Water Works Scholarships	Any	A collection of scholarships supporting promising students pursuing advanced training and research in the field of water supply and treatment.	$100 to $5,000	December
Finduddannelse.dk Sustainability Scholarship	Any	Scholarship dedicated to covering tuition for students pursuing a master’s degree to make the world a more sustainable place.	Up to $5,000	September
2023-4 Porch Skilled Trade & Technology Scholarships	Any	To help keep up with demand and assist the next generation of professionals, Porch offers a $2,000 scholarship to students in pursuit of a degree that enables the development of technical skills related to home services offered by Porch (e.g., utilities).	$2,000	March
Environmental Research & Education Foundation	Any	Collection of scholarships for full-time master’s students with a demonstrated interest in solid waste management research and/or education (PDF).	$7,500	Varies
AHMP Chicago Environmental Scholarship Program	Any student attending university in the Greater Chicago Area	The purpose of our scholarship is to support students who are investing their future in the protection of the environment.	$1500	October
Against the Grain Groundbreaker Leadership Scholarship	Asian Americans	Provides financial assistance and promotion of Asian American college seniors and graduate students who have exhibited exemplary leadership, vision, and passion that is blazing a trail for others to follow in the Asian American community.	$1,500	May
AISES A.T. Anderson Scholarship	Citizen of American Indian Tribe or Alaska Native Village or Native Hawaiian descent or Indigenous group of Canada, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander	Granted to students pursuing STEM degrees with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA, and who are current AISES members at the time of application.	$2,000	May
AISES Chevron Scholarship	Citizen of American Indian Tribe or Alaska Native Village or Native Hawaiian descent or Indigenous group of Canada, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander	Granted to students pursuing STEM degrees with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA, and who are current AISES members at the time of application.	$5,000	May
AISES Intel Growing the Legacy Scholarships Program	Citizen of American Indian Tribe or Alaska Native Village or Native Hawaiian descent or Indigenous group of Canada, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander	Granted to students pursuing STEM degrees with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA, and who are current AISES members at the time of application.	$10,000	May
Hispanic Scholarship Fund	Hispanic heritage	Merit-based scholarship fund which also provides scholars with access to HSF corporate partnership and career services.	$500 to $5,000	March
Unidad Latina Foundation Scholarship Foundation	Hispanic, Latin American/Caribbean, Mexican, Nicaraguan heritage	Must be a graduate student or a postgraduate student; provided over $22K in grants in 2021.	$500 to $2,000	October
Prospanica Scholarship Program	Hispanic/Latino heritage	Prospanica, The Association of Hispanic MBAs & Business Professionals, offers this scholarship to high-achieving students intending to meaningfully contribute to society and who have an active Prospanica membership.	Up to $5,000	April
The Hispanic Scholarship Consortium Scholars Program	Hispanic/Latino heritage	Scholarship program that works to allow students of Hispanic/Latino heritage to better access higher education.	Varies	April
Global Sustainable Electricity Scholarship	International students from developing countries	The scholarship program fosters the next generation of energy, climate, and electricity sector specialists who will be prepared to tackle the challenges of the future.	Up to $10,000	April
Korean American Scholarship Foundation (KASF)	Korean American; foreign students from Korea	KASF is a non-profit, volunteer-managed organization established to help meet the financial needs of Korean-American students seeking higher education.	$500 to $5,000	June
National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals	LGBTQ+ and active allies	A collection of scholarships intended for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in STEM programs who identify as LGBTQ+ or as active allies of the LGBTQ+ community.	Varies	June
Point Foundation Scholarship	LGBTQ+, including undocumented and international students	Must be “out” as a person who identifies as a member of the LGBTQ community; has a proven track record of leadership, community involvement, and strong academic achievement; works for the betterment of the LGBTQ community; demonstrated financial need.	$10,000	January
Intertribal Timber Council Scholarships	Native American students, citizens/members of their Tribal Nation	Collection of scholarships for tribal members pursuing degrees relating to natural resources; merit & need-based.	$2,500	March
Association on American Indian Affairs	Native American students; citizens of a Tribal Nation	The Association's Scholarships are provided to students twice per year until they graduate, as long as they maintain a 2.5 GPA and attend full-time.	Varies	May
American Association of University of Women – Career Development Grant	Women	Career Development Grants provide funding to women who hold a bachelor’s degree and are preparing to advance or change careers or reenter the workforce. Primary consideration is given to women of color and women pursuing their first advanced degree or credentials in nontraditional fields.	$2,000 to $12,000	November
GEM Fellowship	Domestic under-represented students (American Indian/Native, African American/Black, Hispanic American/Latino)	The mission of The National GEM Consortium is to enhance the value of the nation’s human capital by increasing the participation of underrepresented groups (African Americans, American Indians, and Hispanic Americans) at the master’s and doctoral levels in engineering and science.	Full tuition and fees	For early consideration: Complete Part I of your application and provide your resume and unofficial transcript by October 1

Graduate Student Employment

The MSES program does not offer TA/research assistantships at this time. However, students can apply for several graduate assistant roles elsewhere at the University. The Housing Office has several assistantships open to graduate students. These roles often grant students free housing and monthly compensation in exchange for ~20 hours of work per week. A complete list of graduate assistantships can be found here.

Students interested in finding a more traditional teaching or research assistantship may reach out to individual departments and lab groups at Northwestern to inquire about openings.

The following web pages provide student employment postings; student jobs are also advertised at various locations on campus.

The Graduate School (note that MSES Students are McCormick Engineering students, and are NOT part of the Graduate School)
University Dining Services
University Library
University Career Services
Athletics (tutor student-athletes)

Additional Resources

Fellowships offered by the Office of Fellowships
Additional Resources	Affiliate Group	Description
Peterson's Grad School Scholarship Database	Any	Database of general graduate student funding opportunities.
GRAPES database	Any	Search engine and database of funding opportunities for graduate students; hosted by UCLA.
Illinois Database of Grants & Fellowships for Graduate Students	Any	Search engine and database of funding opportunities for graduate students; hosted by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
LGBTQ Scholarship Database	LGBTQ and active allies	The database of scholarships, fellowships and grants for LGBTQ and allied students at both the undergraduate and graduate level.
American Indian Graduate Center	Tribal affiliation	American Indian Graduate Center offers more than 20 scholarships and fellowships that fund undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees.
Northwestern Office of Student Enrichment Services (SES) & Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA)	Undocumented / DACA	Information regarding financial assistance for DACA renewal fees, legal support, and other resources for undocumented students.

Student Loans: Federal, Private, Military

Federal Loans

When considering loans, students are encouraged to consider Federal loan options first, as these loans typically offer advantages that are not available with other loan types (e.g., relatively low-interest rates, a repayment grace period, no credit history needed). Students may apply for funding up to the estimated cost of attendance with available federal loan programs.

To be eligible for federal loan assistance, a student must satisfy all of the following criteria:

Matriculated
Citizen or Permanent Resident of the United States
Enrolled at least half-time (2 credits per quarter) during the entire loan period
In good standing on prior federal loans - check the status of your prior federal loans on the National Student Loan Data System
Borrowing funds for a current loan period - federal loans cannot be processed for a past loan period

To apply for federal loan assistance, eligible students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), use school code 001739 to send their results to Northwestern University, and work with the Evanston Office of Graduate Financial Aid to evaluate their options. Students using financial aid to fund their graduate degree must comply with the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy to maintain eligibility.

Private Loans

Private loans may require creditworthiness, co-signers, or require payments while in school. Unlike federal loans, interest rates are not fixed, and the terms of private loans are set by the individual lenders.

Military Service Benefits

The MSES program will waive the application fee for active duty military service members and veterans. The applicant should email mses@northwestern.edu to have this waiver applied. Once enrolled, service members and veterans in approved programs at Northwestern University may use any VA educational benefit toward the cost of their program. An overview of applicable VA benefits can be found here. Additional information on U.S. government support for military can be found here.