1. Get your PIN

Visit pin.ed.gov  to get your Personal Identification Number (PIN). Students and parents of dependent students need a PIN for electronically signing your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and to apply for federal student loans.

2. Submit FAFSA Online – Northwestern College School Code: 002371

After January 1, you can complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Good News!  Filling out the FAFSA on the Web is now even easier with the new IRS Data Retrieval Tool.

• Each year, the financial aid process begins when you complete the FAFSA. However, in order to receive an offer of Financial Aid you must first apply for admission and be accepted to Northwestern College.
• For the quickest FAFSA processing, electronically complete your IRS Tax Form 1040 before completing the FAFSA. If married, you will also need to have your spouse's Form 1040; if you are a dependent student, you will need to have your parents' Form 1040. Allow 5 business days after you have electronically submitted your tax forms for the information to be accessible from the FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval tool.
• Sign your FAFSA using your PIN and include NWC School Code 002371 to enable your FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR) to be sent directly to our Financial Aid Office.  
• Within 3 days of submitting the FAFSA, you should receive an e-mail (to address provided on FAFSA) of your Student Aid Report (SAR) indicating your eligibility for financial aid. 
• Your Social Security Number (SSN) must be provided to our Financial Aid office via the NWC Admissions Application before we can continue processing your award.

3. Review Your Award Package

Once we have received all information requested and processed your award, you can expect to receive an award package in your NWC email with an offer of financial aid from NWC.  Review your award package and accept your financial aid on the student portal, theROCK.  Your logon access to theROCK is mailed to you once we receive your admission acceptance to NWC.

4.  Authorize Your Loans

Your eligibility for a Federal Subsidized Stafford, Unsubsidized Stafford, and Perkins loan is determined by your FAFSA results.  The loan amounts if awarded, will be listed on your award letter. To authorize your loans, you must first accept the loan on theROCK. If you are accepting your first Stafford loan,  you must complete the Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling online at StudentLoans.gov.

Quick FAQ

What is verification?    

A student may receive notice they have been selected for Verification by the Department of Education.  A signed NWC Verification Worksheet along with your and your parents' (of dependent students) or spouse's Tax Return Transcript  will be requested to verify your income.  A preferred and speedier alternative to the Tax Return Transcript is to correct your FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to transfer actual tax return values to your FAFSA.   If selected for Verification, your financial aid award cannot be determined until all requested verification information is received and processed.