Access to a world-class education shouldn’t depend on one’s financial circumstances. This is a core belief at Northwestern, and meeting our students’ financial need is one of the University’s biggest priorities. In 2023–24, Northwestern is providing $289 million in undergraduate financial aid—up significantly from what we were able to offer just a few years ago.
Here are some of the ways we’re making a Northwestern education accessible to the most talented students:
- Our need-blind admissions policy for domestic students means financial need is not a factor in determining admission.
- Our No-loan Pledge Scholarship replaces all federal need-based loans with outright scholarship grants for students with the greatest need.
- Our Debt Cap Scholarship limits the federal need-based loan obligations of students and meets additional need with outright grants.
- Our Good Neighbor, Great University Scholarship offers students with need from Chicago and Evanston high schools aid packages free of loan and work requirements.
- We partner with QuestBridge, matching talented under-resourced students with scholarship opportunities, and the Posse Foundation, a college access and leadership development program.
- We award Promise Scholarships to students committed to or active in the African American community.
It’s only through the generosity of our alumni and friends that we’re able to fulfill this commitment. Gifts to scholarships help ensure that our undergraduate community more accurately reflects the world at large — and that every student benefits from an environment rich with diverse perspectives.
Direct your gift to a particular endowed scholarship, or give to the Undergraduate Scholarship Fund, which provides financial support to students across the University. A minimum of $250,000 is required to establish an endowed undergraduate scholarship that can be awarded to any enrolled student, and a minimum of $500,000 is required to establish an endowed undergraduate scholarship that can be awarded to students who meet certain criteria.
Supporters who make leadership gifts of $1,000 or more annually to University Scholarships are recognized with membership in the 1851 Society.