Northwestern University will meet 100% of demonstrated financial need for every admitted international first-year student who applies for aid. International packages consider the full cost of attendance and consist only of grants and scholarships—no loans and no work requirement. Admission is need-aware for international applicants, so requesting aid can affect the admission decision.
Northwestern Financial Aid 2027 at a glance
- Study level: Undergraduate, first-year entry
- Who can apply: International applicants from any country
- Funding: 100% of Northwestern-calculated demonstrated need
- Aid form: Grants and scholarships only; loan- and work-free
- Admission policy: Need-aware for international students
- Early Decision deadline: November 1, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. in the applicant’s local time
- Regular Decision deadline: January 4, 2027, by 11:59 p.m. in the applicant’s local time
- Financial-aid deadlines: December 1, 2026 for Early Decision; February 1, 2027 for Regular Decision
What does Northwestern financial aid cover?
Northwestern says its international need-based packages meet 100% of a student’s demonstrated need and take the full cost of attendance into account. That can include tuition, room and board, fees, health insurance, books and supplies, personal expenses, visa-renewal costs and a travel allowance.
The package is made up of institutional grants and scholarships that do not need to be repaid. Northwestern specifically describes these awards as both loan-free and work-free. This is not a fixed-value merit scholarship: the amount is calculated from the family’s financial circumstances and Northwestern’s assessment of need.
Only a small group of international first-year students receives this limited assistance each year. Because Northwestern is need-aware for international applicants, both the request for aid and the amount requested may be considered during admission.
Who is eligible?
You may request Northwestern international financial aid if you are applying for a full-time undergraduate degree as a first-year student and are not applying as a domestic aid applicant. Applicants should be completing a secondary-school programme that permits entry to a degree-granting university in their home country.
- You must request financial-aid consideration on the admission application.
- You must apply for and receive aid in your first year if you want to be eligible for Northwestern aid in later undergraduate years.
- You must reapply for aid each year after enrolment.
- International transfer applicants are not eligible for this need-based programme.
Northwestern guarantees that admitted first-year students who qualify will have 100% of demonstrated need met for all four undergraduate years, subject to the university’s annual application requirements and continuing eligibility.
Application deadlines for fall 2027
| Application plan | Admission deadline | Financial-aid deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Early Decision | November 1, 2026, 11:59 p.m. applicant local time | December 1, 2026 |
| Regular Decision | January 4, 2027, 11:59 p.m. applicant local time | February 1, 2027 |
Northwestern’s current deadline table does not publish a separate cutoff time or time zone for the financial-aid dates. Submit well before the listed date and follow the applicant portal if it gives a more specific instruction.
Documents and application requirements
Admission materials
- Common Application or Coalition Application with Scoir
- Northwestern writing supplements
- Official secondary-school transcript or academic record
- School report and counsellor recommendation
- At least one teacher recommendation
- Midyear report when available
- Programme-specific material where required, such as music or specialised programme submissions
Financial-aid materials
- Indicate “yes” to financial-aid consideration on the admission application.
- Submit the CSS Profile using Northwestern code 1565, or the International Student Application for Financial Assistance (ISAFA) if the CSS Profile cannot be submitted from your country or would cause significant financial hardship.
- If parents are divorced or separated, each custodial and noncustodial parent normally completes a separate CSS Profile; applicants without contact with a noncustodial parent should contact Northwestern.
- Provide parents’ most recent national tax forms. If the country has no annual tax form, provide an official employer earnings statement for each parent.
- Provide official English translations for financial documents that are not in English, and state the conversion rate when amounts are converted to US dollars.
- Provide any additional documentation Northwestern requests through its secure upload process.
International students are not eligible for College Board CSS Profile fee waivers. Northwestern’s free ISAFA alternative is intended for applicants who cannot submit the Profile or for whom its fee would cause significant hardship.
Testing and English-language requirements
Northwestern is test-optional for the 2026–27 admission cycle. First-year applicants may submit SAT or ACT scores, but they are not required and applying without them does not reduce an applicant’s chances under the stated policy.
An official English-proficiency score is required when the applicant’s first or primary language is not English and secondary schooling was not conducted in English. Northwestern accepts:
- Duolingo English Test
- IELTS, including IELTS Indicator
- TOEFL iBT (not TOEFL ITP Plus for China)
Northwestern states no minimum English-proficiency score. Scores cannot be self-reported and must be sent officially by the testing organisation. The TOEFL code is 1565.
Application fee
The undergraduate application fee is US$75. Northwestern offers fee waivers through the Common Application, Coalition Application with Scoir and a Northwestern-specific hardship route. The university says requesting a fee waiver does not disadvantage the application.
How to apply for Northwestern financial aid
- Choose an admission plan. Early Decision is binding; Regular Decision is not. Review the implications before selecting a plan.
- Complete the admission application. Submit through the Common Application or Coalition Application with Scoir and answer Northwestern’s questions.
- Request aid on the application. International applicants must indicate that they want financial-aid consideration. Do not assume you can add institutional aid after enrolling.
- Submit the financial-aid application. Complete the CSS Profile or, where the stated hardship or access conditions apply, Northwestern’s ISAFA.
- Upload income evidence. Provide tax forms or employer earnings statements, English translations and any requested supporting records.
- Monitor the applicant portal. Check that admission and aid items have been received and respond quickly to requests for clarification.
- Review the offer. Eligible admitted students who meet the deadline receive an aid decision with or soon after the admission result.
Apply to Northwestern University
Important conditions to understand
- This is need-based aid, not an automatic full scholarship for every applicant.
- Northwestern determines demonstrated need; the award is not based on a fixed income threshold published for all families.
- International admission is need-aware and aid is highly competitive.
- International students who do not apply for aid in their first year cannot request Northwestern institutional aid in later years.
- International transfer students are excluded from this programme.
Frequently asked questions
Is Northwestern financial aid fully funded?
For an admitted international first-year applicant with demonstrated need, Northwestern says it meets 100% of its calculated need and considers the full cost of attendance. The actual award varies by family finances.
Does the package include loans?
No. Northwestern describes international need-based packages as consisting only of grants and scholarships and as loan- and work-free.
Can international students apply?
Yes. International first-year applicants from any country may request need-based aid. The admission review is need-aware.
Do I need SAT or ACT scores?
No. Northwestern’s current policy is test-optional. Applicants may still submit scores they believe strengthen the application.
Which English tests are accepted?
For applicants required to prove proficiency, Northwestern accepts the Duolingo English Test, IELTS (including IELTS Indicator) and TOEFL iBT. Official scores are required.
Can I use ISAFA instead of the CSS Profile?
Northwestern allows ISAFA when an applicant cannot submit the CSS Profile from their country or when the CSS Profile fee would cause significant financial hardship. Additional documents may be requested.
Can I apply for aid after enrolling?
Not if you did not apply for and receive financial aid as a first-year student. Northwestern requires international students who may need later assistance to request aid during the original admission process.
Official Northwestern sources
- Application dates and deadlines
- International applicant guidance
- International financial-aid policy and benefits
- Financial-aid application steps
- Standardized-testing policy
- International applicant FAQ
- Application fee and waivers
Related opportunities
ScholarshipHubNow reviewed Northwestern’s official applicant and financial-aid pages for the fall 2027 entry cycle. Applicants should use the university portal as the final authority for their individual checklist.
