Graduate Aid and Costs

Financial Aid Office

North Central College administers federal and private sources of financial aid to graduate students. The most common source of assistance is the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan. Graduate students are eligible for up to $20,500 annually (split between summer, fall, and spring). In order to receive federal loans, students must complete the FAFSA. In addition to the unsubsidized loan, students may also apply for a credit-based Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan if needed. Students may also consider Private Education Loans as a source of educational funding. Students can use our search tool, ELMSelect, to apply for private loans.

Because the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans and the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans often have lower interest rates and origination fees, the Financial Aid Office recommends maximizing your federal loan eligibility prior to considering a private loan. If you are considering using private loans as an alternative to federal loans, we encourage you to closely compare the interest rate, origination fee, and terms and conditions of the private versus federal loans to ensure you are using the least expensive loan product.

We encourage students to monitor their federal and private loan interest rates annually as they are subject to change. Student can view their federal loan history through their StudentAid account. 

Email the Office of Financial Aid or call 630-637-5600 with any questions.

Eligibility

Private lenders each have their own eligibility requirements, which can vary from lender to lender. Closely review their requirements to see if you qualify to receive their loan. All students seeking federal financial aid must meet general eligibility requirements, including:

• Be a U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen
• Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress
• Be degree-seeking in a federal financial aid eligible program at North Central College (not a student-at-large or a degree seeking student at another institution)
• Enrolled at least half time (3 credit hours) 

2023-24 Cost of Attendance

When considering the financial cost of attending college, one number doesn't tell the whole story. Cost of Attendance (CoA) provides a more complete picture of total direct and indirect costs of one academic year at North Central College. Direct costs are expenses that will be included on your semester bill, such as tuition, fees, housing, and food. Indirect costs are expenses that won't show up on your bill but should be considered. Examples of indirect costs include books, classroom supplies, traveling, and personal expenses. Note that CoA is only an estimated number and will change based on your specific lifestyle and living arrangements.

Please note:

• To determine tuition cost, you will multiply the per-credit rate for your program by the number of enrolled credits for each enrolled term.
• Each student will be charged a $50 Wellness Fee each enrolled fall and spring.
• Please see the chart below of program-specific program fees.