Purdue University Northwest / Financial Aid / How to Apply

How to Apply

Submit your FAFSA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used to apply for federal, state and select Purdue Northwest scholarship aid. File a FAFSA every year, even if you think you may not receive need-based aid such as Federal Pell grant or Indiana grants, as there is  other non need-based aid available.

Running into Issues?

The 2024-25 FAFSA opened in late December 2023 due to changes in the law called the FAFSA Simplification Act. Some families are experiencing difficulties accessing the FAFSA. If this happens try accessing the FAFSA at a later time or reach out to the Office of Financial Aid for assistance. File your FAFSA prior to April 15 to have consideration for Indiana financial aid.

The Department of Education has stated that student corrections are now broadly available for the 2024-25 FAFSA.

 

Federal School Code: 001827

Guide: Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

New and continuing students who wish to receive consideration for financial aid (federal, state and some institutional aid) must complete the FAFSA every year. Prior to completing your FAFSA, you will need a Federal Student Aid ID (username and password) which will serve as your electronic signature. If you are a dependent student for financial aid purposes (most students under age 24) your parent(s) will also need an FSA ID.

New in 2024/25: Adding a Contributor

Contributor is a new term introduced on the 2024-25 FAFSA form. It refers to anyone asked to provide information on a student’s FAFSA form: the student, the student’s spouse, a biological or adopted parent.

See Who You Need to Add (PDF)

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Financial Aid Checklist

Make sure to check off every step, from filing for aid to finding a scholarship that’s right for you!

Check it Out

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Forms and Instructions

See the full list of forms you may need to fill out to be considered for financial aid.

View All Required Forms

Additional Information and Tutorials

Future Act Direct Data Exchange (FADDX) – 2024-25 aid year and forward

Beginning 2024-25 Federal Tax Information (FTI) will be transferred directly into the FAFSA from the IRS.

  • Contributors must authorize FTI transfer

IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) – 2023-24 aid year and prior aid years

  • The IRS DRT is a fast and accurate way to input your tax return information into the FAFSA form. Most students and parents are eligible to use the IRS DRT
    • Those who are ineligible will need to manually enter their tax return information
  • Tax return information transferred from the IRS will not be displayed in the FAFSA. The message “Transferred from the IRS” will be displayed in the applicable fields.
  • IRS Tax Information for Students
  • Create an account (FSA ID) before you file your FAFSA – enter your name and Social Security Number exactly as they appear on your Social Security Card
  • Keep track of your FSA ID and the email information used to file your FAFSA, this information will be used each year to file the FAFSA. If you verified your email address or phone number during account creation, you can use your email address or phone number instead of your user name
  • Use Purdue University Northwest federal school code 001827 (both Hammond and Westville)
  • Basic eligibility criteria to qualify for federal student aid

Documentation Needed:

  • Your Social Security Number or Alien Registration Number (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
  • Your driver’s license number if you have one
  • Federal income tax returns, W-2’s and other records of money earned for you (and spouse if married) and your parents if you are a dependent student
    • If eligible, we encourage you to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool
  • Bank statements and investment records (if applicable)
  • Records of untaxed income (i.e. child support received, worker’s compensation, etc. if applicable) for you and your parents if you are a dependent student

Beginning 2024-25 and after, once your FAFSA has been processed, you will receive a FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS). Review your FSS to make sure it is accurate. You can use the summary to check your application status and student aid eligibility. Additionally, you can examine your federal student loan history and review or correct any information you provided in necessary.  You can make corrections and add a school by going back to your FAFSA as a returning user.

Your Student Aid Index (SAI) will be included on the FSS and is used by Purdue Northwest to package your Financial Aid Offer.

  • Keep your FSS and documentation used to complete the FAFSA for your records
  • The Office of Financial Aid will notify you by email when your FSS has been received
  • Review Student Self-Service via the myPNW portal for important messages and information
  • We recommend you use the Financial Aid Checklist to assist with receiving your financial aid

Aid Adjustments, Verification and Requirements

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Important Dates and Deadlines

What’s PNW’s scholarship deadline? When is your FAFSA due?

View Important Dates