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Your financial aid offer is based on several factors, including your family’s demonstrated financial need, as determined by the FAFSA and/or CSS Profile, your academic profile, and the availability of funding. Information reported on your financial aid application materials, including income, assets, household size, and home equity, are used to evaluate a family’s financial strength.
In sum, your financial aid eligibility is derived from this equation:
Cost of Attendance (COA) – Expected Family Contribution (EFC) = Calculated Financial Need
The Cost of Attendance (COA) is the estimated cost of attending Northeastern University and includes both billed (direct) and nonbilled (indirect) expenses. As such, it is important to keep in mind that your Cost of Attendance may vary from your billing statement.
Below is the estimated 2021–2022 Cost of Attendance for an undergraduate student:
| Resident | Off Campus | Commuter | |
| Tuition* | $56,500 | $56,500 | $56,500 |
| Fees** | $1,092 | $1,092 | $1,028 |
| Room and Board*** | $17,810 | $17,810 | |
| Books and Personal Expenses | $2,800 | $2,800 | $2,800 |
| Total**** | $78,202 | $78,202 | $60,328 |
* Standard curriculum (16 semester hours per term).
** Fees include the Undergraduate Student Fee, Student Center Fee, Student Activity Fee, Recreation Fee, and Residential Student Fee (excluding commuters).
***Room rates vary depending on occupancy and assignment. Board is based upon 17 meals per week.
****This does not include the Northeastern University Student Health Plan fee. Massachusetts institutions of higher learning are required by Commonwealth Law to enroll all qualified students in a health insurance plan that meets or exceeds state minimum requirements. NUSHP is the university’s student health plan administered by Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts. The NUSHP fee is billed once per academic year, but students may request to waive this plan annually through their myNortheastern portal provided that they have comparable coverage. The annual NUSHP fee for the 2021–2022 academic year is $2,299. For additional information about NUSHP, visit the NUSHP website or email [email protected].
Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is derived from the information reported on the FAFSA and/or CSS Profile and is used to determine a student’s eligibility for financial assistance. It is important to remember that a student’s or family’s actual out-of- pocket expenses may differ from their Expected Family Contribution.
In the following case studies, you’ll see examples of the financial aid offers for three students with different academic profiles and financial circumstances. Review the sample case studies below to see how a student’s demonstrated financial need is met through a combination of financial aid from institutional, federal, and state sources.
The examples are based on the Cost of Attendance for the 2021–2022 academic year.
Please note that these case studies are sample student profiles and financial aid offers. Each student’s financial aid eligibility and actual financial aid offer will be determined by the information provided on the FAFSA, CSS Profile, and supporting documents, as requested.
| Cost of Attendance and Financial Need | |
| Cost of Attendance | $78,202 |
| Expected Family Contribution | $4,026 |
| Demonstrated Financial Need | $74,176 |
| Financial Aid Offer | |
| Northeastern University Grant | $63,000 |
| Federal Pell Grant* | $2,445 |
| Federal SEOG Grant | $3,000 |
| Federal Work-Study | $2,200 |
| Federal Direct Subsidized Loan | $3,500 |
| Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan | $2,000 |
| Total Financial Aid | $76,145 |
*Undergraduate day students who qualify for the Federal Pell Grant may have their full demonstrated need met without Federal Direct Loans. In place of Federal Direct Loans, qualifying students may be awarded additional grant funding. Learn more about this supplemental funding.
| Cost of Attendance and Financial Need | |
| Cost of Attendance | $78,202 |
| Expected Family Contribution | $24,496 |
| Demonstrated Financial Need | $53,706 |
| Financial Aid Offer | |
| Northeastern Dean’s Scholarship | $20,000 |
| Northeastern University Grant | $28,200 |
| Federal Work-Study | $2,000 |
| Federal Direct Subsidized Loan | $3,500 |
| Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan | $2,000 |
| Total Financial Aid | $55,700 |
| Cost of Attendance and Financial Need | |
| Cost of Attendance | $78,202 |
| Expected Family Contribution | $48,184 |
| Demonstrated Financial Need | $30,018 |
| Financial Aid Offer | |
| Northeastern University Grant | $26,500 |
| Federal Direct Subsidized Loan | $3,500 |
| Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan | $2,000 |
| Total Financial Aid | $32,000 |
Important Note: If you’re an undergraduate student within the College of Professional Studies, please review the award information for CPS students.