The Northwestern College Financial Aid Office is dedicated to helping students work out a financial aid package that will make Northwestern College affordable. Scholarships, discounts, grants, employment, loans, or payment plans are available to finance your education.

How do I apply for Financial Aid?
The first step in applying for financial aid is to make sure that you have started the admission process for Northwestern College. Financial aid cannot be awarded until you have been admitted to Northwestern. There are two steps to begin the financial aid process:

(1) Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In two to three weeks after submitting the FAFSA, you should receive the Student Aid Report (SAR) indicating your eligibility for financial aid.

(2) Complete the Northwestern College Aid Application.

Once you have a complete financial aid file the Financial Aid Office will evaluate your application and determine the financial aid you will receive. If you are selected for Verification by the federal government a Verification Worksheet will be sent to you. You will be sent an official award letter with instructions on how to obtain the student loans that you are eligible to borrow for that school year.

We understand that there are times when special circumstances affect ability to pay for college. In those cases there is an appeal process which allows the Financial Aid Office to reevaluate the package awarded.

How is Financial Aid Determined?
Financial Aid is awarded on the basis of “need”. Your “need” is determined by your family's financial strength. Items such as parents’ income, number of dependents in the family, other family members in college, the ownership of property or a business, and a number of other criteria are taken into consideration. The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is used to access this information. Strict congressionally mandated formulas are used to arrive at your “need” to ensure fair and equal treatment of everyone applying for financial aid.

Check out the Financial Aid Brochure for helpful information.

If you would like to talk with a financial aid counselor, please feel free to call us at 651-631-5212 or toll free at 866-853-2455. You can also e-mail our office at Financial-Aid@nwc.edu with any questions you may have. Our fax number is 651-628-3332.