Northeastern University Financial Aid?

Faustino Mellerson: Chelsea:Any estimates of the average financial aid package at Northeastern (or any other school) would be heavily skewed by the Federal Student Aid that would be included in that package.Financial aid is not just "free money" - financial aid refers to any money - other than the student's own - that is used to help pay for school. That would include loans, scholarships and fee waivers, as well as grants.There's something important that you have to remember - there are only 2 types of "free money" aid - grants, which are given to students from low-income households, and scholarships, which are awarded to students with exceptional potential. Money is not available for the purpose of "making it possible for a student to afford to go to the school of their choice". You'll qualify for "free" money either because your household can't afford even the lowest cost educational options, or because you've awed some school or scholarship committee with your academic! , athletic or performing arts potential.Otherwise, the financial aid that is available to you will be the same type of assistance that is offered to most students - access to the Federal government's low-cost loan program, so that you can borrow some of what you need to pay for YOUR own education.The average financial aid package for a freshman at Northeastern in 2007 was about $17,553. That will have included $5500 in Stafford loans for nearly all of them.The OTHER important thing to remember about Northeastern is that most students there participate in the cooperative education program - where they alternate periods of employment with periods of classroom study. The average salary for NU students on coop in 2008 was about $15,000. That's another influence on the amount of other types of financial aid that are needed or available.If your parents aren't willing to help you pay the high cost of a school like Northeastern, you will not be able to rely on a "financial aid" awa! rd that will give you all that much of what you need. Financia! l aid does not say "Okay, she only has $3000, so we're going to have to give her $37,000". Financial aid says "Here's $5500 in loans that we're going to give you, despite the fact that you don't have any income or credit". If you're not a student from a low-income household, that's pretty much what you're looking at in financial aid, unless you're going to be able to qualify for scholarship funds.I'm sorry for the disappointing news, but hopefully the message will help motivate you to get to work on a scholarship hunt, so that you CAN attend your dream school. Don't forget about the coop pay, too - that makes a big difference!Good luck!...Show more

Rona Espalin: Northeastern Financial Aid

Marjory Stromme: Neu Financial Aid

Ardelia Liptow: Northeastern University Financial Aid

Carolynn Testani: I can't tell you how much the "average" student gets, but I can tell you how much YOU can get. You can get UP TO the published cost of attendance at Northeas! tern. Minus your EFC and any other aid you get. So, for example: Northeasern is 45,000 a yearYour EFC is 20000Then you can get up to 24,000 in finanical aid. Remember the term "finaincal aid" is a very broad term and includes student loans and parent loans as well as scholarships you might earn. So your aid package in this situation might look something like this:Unsub Stafford loan 5,000Parent PLUS loan 15,000Departmental scholarship (alumni parent) 1,500Private scholarship you earned 3,500 for good gpa____________________________________total aid 24,000This is just an example and yours won't look like this.. but its a good start. If your parents can't afford your tuition (even doctors have bills to pay) the plus loan is a great way for them to help you out....Show more