FAFSA Update: The 2025-2026 FAFSA is available to complete online. Due to Federal delays in releasing FAFSA information, Northeastern will require additional time to process your offer of financial assistance.

Undergraduate

How Is My Award Determined?

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) – Student Aid Index(SAI)* = Calculated Financial Need

*For SAI, negative numbers are treated as 0

The Cost of Attendance (COA) is the estimated cost of attending Northeastern University and includes both billed (direct) and nonbilled (indirect) expenses. Please note that the Cost of Attendance is not your actual bill and will vary from your billing statement. Cost of Attendance may vary based on individual enrollment, food, and housing choices.

You can view tuition, fees, and other Cost of Attendance components on the Tuition and Fees page. 

 

Your Student Aid Index (SAI) 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 Student Aid Index.

*Beginning in the 2024-2025 Award Year, the FAFSA-calculated Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) is replaced by Student Aid Index (SAI).