From the NU Financial Aid website: “Northwestern offers aid based on demonstrated financial need.” I have always taken this to mean that there are no academic “merit” scholarships at NU other than NMF scholarships. Of course there will be plenty of academic scholarships for those with demonstrated financial need and that is fine. But can an athletic recruit receive an NU athletic scholarship where there is no demonstrated financial need?
Looking at NU’s Q&A section, the following is asked and answered: DOES NORTHWESTERN OFFER MERIT AID?:
“Northwestern scholarship funds are awarded in accordance with our need-based financial aid policy. However, Northwestern is an institutional sponsor of National Merit Scholarships. In addition, the School of Music awards a number of talent scholarships to incoming students with outstanding performance in auditions.”
So NU gives NMS and music talent scholarships. All explained very clearly. But what about merit athletic scholarships? NU is D1. However, so are the Ivy’s and they don’t give athletic scholarships unless there is financial need, but that is based upon the league rules all the Ivy’s have agreed to follow. That is common knowledge. Anyone know whether there is a similar Big 10 prohibition? How about a institutional prohibition at NU? Can an NU recruit receive a pure merit athletic scholarship where there is no “demonstrated financial need?” It is pretty clear to me that schools like Vanderbilt (whose website clearly states that merit aid is possible) can give athletic scholarships where there is no demonstrated financial need … so what about NU?