Applying for Federal Financial Aid

Step 1 - Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Prospective students

To apply for federal financial aid, you must complete a FAFSA. Before you fill out a FAFSA, you must apply for a Federal Student Aid PIN. After you receive your PIN, fill out the FAFSA and sign with your PIN. An online FAFSA is typically processed within several days if you thoroughly complete the application.

The Northwestern Health Sciences University school code is 012328.

Current students

To continue to receive federal financial aid each year, you must complete a renewed FAFSA and sign with your PIN. Our Financial Aid Office will keep you informed about this process. GO TO STEP 4.

Step 2 - Complete Online Entrance Counseling for Federal Stafford Loans

Prospective students

Federal Stafford Loans are fixed-rate student loans for undergraduate and graduate students attending college at least half-time. Stafford loans are the most common and one of the lowest-cost ways to pay for school.

If you are applying for a Stafford Loan, you must complete online Entrance Counseling by filling out an online questionnaire. To complete the questionnaire, sign in with your PIN and follow the online instructions.

Once you complete the online entrance counseling, Northwestern can access this information automatically, to start processing your loan.

Step 3 - Sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN)

Prospective students

To complete your Stafford Loan application process, you must sign a Master Promissory Note with your PIN. The promissory note is a legal document that obligates you to repay your federal student loan. To sign your promissory note, sign in with your PIN and follow the rest of the online instructions.

Step 4 - Fill out final documents

Prospective students

These two documents help us complete the processing of your financial aid:

• Information Sheet (pdf)
  Helps determine how much aid you are requesting towards your cost of attendance (including tuition, fees, books, supplies and living expenses).
• Title IV Authorization Form (pdf)
  Allows part of your federal financial aid to cover nonstandard educational costs (including late registration fees, add/drop fees and library fines).

Current students

This helps us complete the processing of your financial aid:

• Information Sheet (pdf)
  Helps determine how much aid you are requesting towards your cost of attendance (including tuition, fees, books, supplies and living expenses)