Purdue University Northwest / Financial Aid / How to Apply / Financial Aid Offer

Financial Aid Offer

If you have unmet requirements, you will receive an estimated financial aid offer. Use the Financial Aid Checklist to assist you with satisfying requirements and receiving your official financial aid offer. Once all requirements have been met, students will be given an official financial aid offer based on their Cost of Attendance, enrollment level, grade class and other factors. There are two basic types of financial aid; Gift Aid and Self-Help Aid.

  • Gift Aid is financial aid that does not typically require repayment; includes Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, State 21st Century Scholars, State Frank O’Bannon Grant and Scholarships
    • Gift aid is usually accepted automatically
      • Grants are typically based on financial need
      • Scholarships can be based on financial need or can be merit based
    • Gift aid may pay tuition and fees only (most state financial aid and some scholarships) or may be refundable (pays tuition and fees first and any remaining is refunded to the student)
  • Self-Help Aid is financial aid that is earned or that requires repayment; includes Federal Work Study, Federal Student Loans and Federal Parent PLUS loans
    • Self-Help aid may be accepted or declined
      • Most Self-Help loan aid is refundable (pays tuition and fees first and any remaining is refunded to the student)

When your official offer is packaged, you will receive a financial aid offer notification as well as messages in Student Self-Service.

Financial Need

Your financial need is determined by taking your estimated Cost of Attendance (the cost to attend a school) and subtracting your Student Aid Index (SAI) as determined by your FAFSA data. The lower your SAI, the greater your financial need (the more need-based financial aid you qualify for).

  • Purdue Northwest will calculate your estimated Cost of Attendance
    • Cost of Attendance varies from school to school and is made up of direct costs and indirect costs
    • Direct costs are expenses paid directly to Purdue Northwest, such as tuition and fees, instructional materials (books and supplies) and on-campus housing
    • Indirect costs are expenses incurred while in school such as transportation and personal expenses
  • Your SAI is calculated by the Department of Education and comes from your FAFSA data

Cost of Attendance – Student Aid Index = Financial Need (see below for examples)

Click on How Aid is Calculated for additional information.

Financial Need Example One:

  • Brandon is an independent, non-resident student living off-campus
  • Brandon has an estimated annual Cost of Attendance of $22,816 for the fall and spring and an SAI of $0
    • Brandon’s 2026-27 direct costs (tuition and composite fees + instructional materials) are:
    • $6,677 + $304 = $6,981 per semester or $13,962 per year
  • Brandon’s Financial Need is $22,816

Financial Need Example Two:

  • Floria is a dependent, resident student living at home with her parents
  • Floria has an estimated annual Cost of Attendance of $18,138 for the fall and spring and an SAI of $25,908
    • Floria’s 2026-27 direct costs (tuition and composite fees + instructional materials) are:
    • $4,338 + $304 = $4,642 per semester or $9,284 per year
  • Floria’s Financial Need is $0

Financial Need Example Three:

  • Sam is a dependent, non-resident student living on campus
  • Sam has an estimated annual Cost of Attendance of $28,250 for the fall and spring and an SAI of $12,573
    • Sam’s 2026-27 direct costs (tuition and composite fees + instructional materials + on-campus housing) are:
    • $6,677 + $304 +$3,763 = $10,744 per semester or $21,488 per year
  • Sam’s Financial Need is $15,677

Financial Need Example Four:

  • Cristina is a dependent, resident student living on campus
  • Cristina has an estimated annual Cost of Attendance of $23,572 for the fall and spring and an SAI of $5,164
    • Cristina’s 2026-27 direct costs (tuition and composite fees + instructional materials + on-campus housing) are:
    • $4,338 + $304 +$3,763 = $8,405 per semester or $16,810 per year
  • Cristina’s Financial Need is $18,408

Financial Aid Information for Online Nursing RN to BS Program

HOW TO TRANSFER YOUR FINANCIAL AID TO PURDUE NORTHWEST