Northeastern University is committed to helping students make their higher education goals a reality. Our team provides the resources, support, and expert guidance needed to navigate the financial aid application process, stay on top of key dates and deadlines, and understand the factors that influence aid eligibility.
Financial Aid Eligibility
Northeastern awards need-based federal financial aid for eligible students. In order to be federally eligible, CPS undergraduate students must meet the following criteria:
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Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
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Be matriculated in a degree-granting program
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Have received a high school diploma or GED
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Not be in default from previous student loans
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Maintain satisfactory academic progress
Additionally, to be eligible for federal financial aid you must be enrolled in at least 6 credits per term, unless you are on a co-op, clinical rotation, residency, or are enrolled in a full-time or part-time stand-alone course. Students enrolled less than full time may also see changes to their state aid eligibility.
While international students are not eligible for federal aid, other financing options are available. Please visit the Student Financial Services website to learn more about the resources available to international students.
How to Apply
To apply for financial aid, first-year and transfer students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Returning students must submit the FAFSA each academic year.
Students are encouraged to submit their financial aid application materials by the priority filing deadline date to ensure that they are considered for all available financial aid programs for which they qualify. To view the priority filing deadline dates and learn more about the financial aid application process, visit the Student Financial Services website.
The timeline for receiving an award after applying for aid can vary, and students may need to respond to additional document requests. For more information on awarding timelines, see the Student Financial Services website.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
As a condition for continuing to receive federal and institutional financial aid, students must maintain satisfactory academic progress. This includes maintaining a minimum grade-point average and making progress toward degree requirements by successfully completing attempted credits.
Qualitative
Student GPAs are reviewed annually. Freshmen students must have at least a 2.000 GPA by the end of their first academic year to retain financial aid eligibility.
Quantitative
Students must also meet certain quantitative requirements. Completed credits are reviewed as a percentage of attempted credits after each academic year. Students must earn at least 67% of their cumulative attempted credits to maintain SAP.
Additionally, all undergraduate students must complete their programs within a maximum time frame of 150% of their published program length. For example, in a 120-credit program, students may not attempt more than 180 credits. At the point where it becomes mathematically impossible to complete the program within 150% of the published program length, students will become immediately ineligible for financial aid.
Appeals
Students who have lost their eligibility for financial aid due to failure to meet qualitative or quantitative SAP standards have the right to appeal for an additional probationary term of financial aid.
For additional information regarding SAP and the appeals process, visit the Student Financial Services website.
Change in Enrollment Status
Students must notify Student Financial Services about any change in planned period of enrollment, whether due to withdrawal from a class, a leave of absence, a change in co-op or in class, an approved reduction in course load, or withdrawal from the university. Changes in enrollment may impact types and amounts of financial aid offered by Northeastern.
It is highly recommended, whenever possible, that students discuss the impact of such changes with a Student Financial Services representative before making them.
For more information on how students are billed for classes taken during co-op or less than full-time enrollment, please see CPS Undergraduate Billing and Tuition Adjustments.
Outside Sources of Aid
Students must notify Student Financial Services of any external aid received, such as scholarships from outside organizations. This will prompt a review, and financial aid may be recalculated based on federal, state, and institutional requirements. For further information on reporting outside aid, please visit the Student Financial Services website.
Return of Title IV Aid
Northeastern is required by federal statute to recalculate federal financial aid eligibility for students who withdraw, drop out, are dismissed, or take a leave of absence prior to completing 60% of a term. Recalculation is based on the percentage of earned aid using the Federal Return of Title IV funds formula. Federal regulations require students to obtain at least an A, B, C, D, S, or F in at least one course for the term; students who receive all unsuccessful grades for a term (NE, W, I, U) will be considered unofficially withdrawn from the term. For unofficial withdrawals, the withdrawal date used for aid recalculation is the midpoint of the term.
For information on how tuition may be adjusted for withdrawals, please see CPS Undergraduate Billing and Tuition Adjustments.
Verification
If a student is selected for verification, Student Financial Services may be required to collect additional financial documents, including tax returns and other financial documents, to verify the information provided on the FAFSA. In some cases, verification may result in changes to financial aid. For incoming students, verification must be completed before aid can disburse. For returning students, verification must be completed before aid can be awarded and disbursed.
For more information on this process, visit the Student Financial Services website.
Appeals for Special and Unusual Circumstances
When students or their families experience changes in their financial circumstances or face unique challenges, the information reported on the FAFSA may not reflect their current situation. CPS undergraduate students may appeal to have their federal aid eligibility recalculated if the student believes their current award does not accurately reflect their financial situation. All special and unique circumstances are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, require supporting documentation, and may not always result in additional financial aid. For additional information regarding changes in financial circumstances, please refer to the Student Financial Services website.
VA Education Benefits
In accordance with Title 38 USC 3679 (e), covered individuals utilizing Chapter 31 or Chapter 33 education benefits at Northeastern University will not have any penalty imposed on their account nor will they be required to take out additional funding due to pending or late payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs as long as the Dolce Center for the Advancement of Veterans and Servicemembers has a current Certificate of Eligibility or VRE Authorization on file AND a Request for VA Benefit Certification is submitted through the Student Hub portal.
COEs must be submitted before the start of the student’s first term but do not need to be resubmitted unless entitlement information changes. Students are also required to complete the Request for VA Benefit Certification form through the Student Hub portal before the start of each term they wish to use VA benefits. Students may have a hold placed on the account if there is an outstanding balance after payment from the VA is received by Northeastern.