Over the past 10 years (2013-2022), the average number of students who received grants aid/scholarships is 4,846, which is 55.00 % of all undergraduate students. 2,110 students which is 23.89% of undergraduate students received federal student loans and the average loan amount is $5,780.

For full-time, first-time beginning students (freshmen), 55.78% of students received grants or scholarships and 24% of students received student loans.

All Undergraduate Students Financial Aid Over Time

The following table shows the trends of financial aid for all undergraduate students at Northwestern University since 2013.

For that period, the average number of students who received grants aid/scholarships is 4,846, which is 55.00 % of all undergraduate students. 2,110 students which is 23.89% of undergraduate students received federal student loans and the average loan amount is $5,780.

YearGrant or Scholarship*Pell GrantsFederal Student Loans
Number Received (percent**)Average AmountNumber Received (percent**)Average AmountNumber Received (percent**)Average Amount
2013-144,956 (53%)$31,3771,300 (14%)$4,1143,005 (32%)$5,869
2014-154,794 (53%)$32,8601,245 (14%)$4,0712,722 (30%)$5,882
2015-164,664 (53%)$35,1991,255 (14%)$4,1722,369 (27%)$5,772
2016-174,715 (54%)$37,9731,306 (15%)$4,2212,071 (24%)$5,939
2017-184,830 (56%)$41,4351,431 (16%)$4,4621,820 (21%)$5,734
2018-194,842 (56%)$44,2031,527 (18%)$4,6771,937 (22%)$5,634
2019-205,124 (59%)$46,8221,596 (18%)$4,8751,795 (21%)$5,713
2020-214,906 (57%)$47,8971,600 (19%)$4,8951,632 (19%)$5,756
2021-224,780 (54%)$53,5331,615 (18%)$5,2081,642 (19%)$5,723
Average4,846 (55.00%)$41,2551,431 (16.22%)$4,5222,110 (23.89%)$5,780
*Grant or scholarship aid includes aid received, from the federal government, state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
**percentage of number of students receiving aids among all undergraduate students.

Freshmen (First-time, Full-time Undergraduate) Financial Aid Over Time

For the last 10 years, on average, 1,107 (55.78 % of students) received grants or scholarships and its average amount is $45,451. It can cover 68.87% of tuition & fees ($65,997).

In addition, 468 (23.56 % of students) students get helped from the students loans (average amount : $6,394).

Year Grants or Scholarships*Student Loans
Number Received (percent**)Average AmountNumber Received (percent**)Average Amount
2013-141,104 (54%)$34,363631 (31%)$5,688
2014-151,104 (54%)$34,882591 (29%)$5,796
2015-161,102 (55%)$38,593524 (26%)$6,311
2016-171,072 (54%)$44,247328 (17%)$7,024
2017-181,142 (60%)$45,427322 (17%)$6,994
2018-191,099 (57%)$48,438497 (26%)$5,670
2019-201,216 (61%)$50,310462 (23%)$5,696
2020-211,086 (57%)$51,087440 (23%)$7,393
2021-221,042 (50%)$61,716417 (20%)$6,973
Average1,107 (55.78%)$45,451468 (23.56%)$6,394
*Grant or scholarship aid includes aid received, from the federal government, state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
**percentage of number of students receiving aids among all undergraduate students.

The following table shows the trends of grants or scholarships over time. For the last 10 years, on average, 358 (17.89 % of students) received Pell (federal) grants and its average amount is $4,728.

In addition, 147 students received State/local government grants/scholarships (7.22 % of students).

Year Federal (Pell) GrantsOther Federal State/Local governmentInstitutional
Number Received (percent)Average AmountNumber Received (percent)Average Amount Number Received (percent)Average AmountNumber Received (percent)Average Amount
2013-14314 (15%)$4,354308 (15%)$1,689144 (7%)$4,6621,103 (54%)$32,075
2014-15251 (12%)$4,243243 (12%)$1,697131 (6%)$4,4541,100 (54%)$33,135
2015-16308 (15%)$4,345303 (15%)$2,327158 (8%)$4,7001,096 (54%)$36,262
2016-17353 (18%)$4,469344 (17%)$2,293164 (8%)$4,6881,069 (54%)$41,439
2017-18359 (19%)$4,560345 (18%)$2,264142 (7%)$4,7891,142 (60%)$42,714
2018-19397 (21%)$4,806385 (20%)$1,959161 (8%)$4,7421,095 (57%)$45,486
2019-20409 (20%)$5,114393 (20%)$1,695137 (7%)$5,2891,214 (61%)$47,524
2020-21387 (20%)$5,254381 (20%)$2,751157 (8%)$5,2421,074 (56%)$48,023
2021-22447 (21%)$5,408436 (21%)$2,446132 (6%)$5,5401,037 (50%)$57,949
Average358 (17.89%)$4,728349 (17.56%)$2,125147 (7.22%)$4,9011,103 (55.56%)$42,734
*Grant or scholarship aid includes aid received, from the federal government, state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
**percentage of number of students receiving aids among all undergraduate students.

The following table describes number of students and average amount of loans by loan type. The following table shows the trends of grants or scholarships over time.

For the last 10 years, on average, 468 (23.56 % of students) get any students loan help and its average loan amount is $468.

YearTotalFederal student loansOther student loans
Number Received (percent)Average AmountNumber Received (percent)Average AmountNumber Received (percent)Average Amount
2013-14631 (31%)$5,688627 (31%)$4,86038 (2%)$14,252
2014-15591 (29%)$5,796581 (28%)$4,97735 (2%)$15,250
2015-16524 (26%)$6,311512 (25%)$4,75343 (2%)$20,310
2016-17328 (17%)$7,024322 (16%)$5,13133 (2%)$19,751
2017-18322 (17%)$6,994313 (16%)$4,88731 (2%)$23,311
2018-19497 (26%)$5,670488 (25%)$4,72527 (1%)$18,962
2019-20462 (23%)$5,696455 (23%)$4,71821 (1%)$23,090
2020-21440 (23%)$7,393428 (23%)$4,62533 (2%)$38,595
2021-22417 (20%)$6,973412 (20%)$4,65434 (2%)$29,128
Average468 (23.56%)$6,394460 (23.00%)$4,81433 (1.78%)$22,517

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