New Student Hub
You've been accepted—congratulations!
Now what? Follow these steps to prepare for life as an Eagle.
1. Complete Your FAFSA
The quickest way to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is to complete the application online at studentaid.gov, or download the “my student aid” app.*
By completing the FAFSA, you are able to apply for federal and state aid, and also for all Northwest University institutional scholarships and aid (foundation, partnership, alumni, and outside scholarships have additional applications).
*Note: International students are in-eligible for FAFSA. Please reach out to skye.cornell@northwestu.edu for questions about scholarships.
2. Confirm Your Enrollment with Your Deposit
Submit your $100 Confirmation Deposit online. After receiving your acceptance letter, you will receive a personalized tuition deposit link in your email. Or, to confirm your attendance now, simply request a personalized link from your Admissions Counselor. The priority deadline for deposits is May 1st for the fall semester.*
*Note: On a space-available basis, tuition deposits may be accepted after the priority deadline. Tuition deposits are refundable or deferrable to a future semester upon notice of cancellation or deferral to the Admissions Office received by June 1st for fall semester.
3. Register for SOAR
Summer Orientation Advising and Registration (SOAR) Days are held virtually and in-person throughout the summer to get everything set for your year ahead. You’ll meet with an Academic Advisor, confirm your financial plans, and get introduced to new friends all before arriving for fall semester. Parents are invited as well. We look forward to meeting you this summer!
If you are unable to attend one of the SOAR Days, please contact the Advising office, email us at advising@northwestu.edu, or call us at 425-889-5227 to schedule an individual appointment.
4. Apply for Housing
All students, whether living on- or off-campus, need to complete a New Student Housing Application OR an Off Campus Application. The Housing and Residence Life page on Eagle is full of important and helpful information on housing, how to find a roommate, when you’ll know your room and more. For applications, using your NU email address and password (provided after you pay your tuition deposit):
- Access the NU Housing page on Eagle for important information and resources.
- Click on the “My Housing” icon to access the online application portal.
- Complete the New Student Housing Application or Off Campus Application.
- Pay the Housing Placement Fee (if applicable), which reserves your space and covers normal custodial and maintenance expenses in your home away from home.
- Register for at least 12 credits for the upcoming semester! Students must register for classes before they can receive a housing placement.
- Check your NU email for your housing placement after you have registered for classes. Or, revisit the NU Housing page on Eagle to learn of your housing placement and roommate! Housing placements begin in early June.
5. Mark Your Calendar for Welcome Weekend
Each August, we mark the beginning of the school year with Welcome Weekend. We have four days filled with events that acclimate you to Northwest University! Every new student attends all four days as we journey through the things that make NU so unique: academic excellence, empowered engagement, and spiritual vitality. Mark your calendar now for this fun, important, and intentional time—you won’t want to miss it!
6. Select a Meal Plan
All residential students living on campus are on the Unlimited Meal Plan as part of room and board.
- The plan includes three meals per day in NU’s newly renovated Caf, which offers eight food stations and many options to accommodate a variety of tastes and dietary needs.
- Residential students also have $100 each semester for purchases at the Aerie Café, our campus coffee shop.
Commuter students have several optional for meal plans, depending on your needs:
- 10 Meal Punch Card: 10 meals total in the Caf.
- Semester Lunch Plan: Covers lunch Monday–Friday for the whole semester.
- Semester Board Plan: Full meal plan.
- $3.50 Commuter Lunches: On a Tuesday or Wednesday when paying with cash or debit/credit.
- Email housing@northwestu.edu to inquire about these choices and to select a meal plan.
7. Submit Immunization Information
Northwest University students are required to submit immunization information. Please log in to your Eagle Profile and look toward the bottom of the page for the link to My Health and click on the Review button. Conveniently submit this form online.*
*Note: There is no need to upload documentation. Simply enter your immunization dates.
8. Register Your Vehicle And Get A Parking Pass
Plenty of parking is available on campus. To maintain this convenience for the NU community, residential students, commuter students, and employees are required to display a parking pass.
9. Learn About Security
Northwest University Security staff is available 24-hours a day to serve the NU community. Learn more by visiting the Security page on Eagle.
10. Request Your Final Official Transcript(s)
Contact your high school and/or most recent college to request your final official transcript(s) so that NU can verify your graduation date and transfer any college credit. Transfer students with fewer than 60 credits earned after high school graduation must submit a final official high school transcript to the Admissions Office by August 1 for Fall Term.
11. Meet with Advising and Complete Class Registration
Most new students are registered for classes before arriving on campus for the semester. Check out our SOAR Days page to learn about class registration and advising.
12. Consider Student Employment
Are you looking to have a job while at school? Check out opportunities now through our on-campus student employment page or off-campus employment page. Jobs are updated often, so make sure to check back throughout the summer and into the school year!
13. Check your Student Account and Pay Your Balance
If all required documents have been completed and processed, financial aid should be applied to your student account by the end of the first full week of classes. Full payment of your fall semester balance owed after financial aid must be paid by September 25th to avoid late fees. Any account with a balance owed at the end of each month following September 25th will receive a late fee of 1.5% of the balance. For more information on making payments, visit our page.
If you have any questions, contact us Student Financial Services.
14. Get Your Books!
Once you have registered for your classes, you can get your class books. NU does not sell books on campus, so you will need to get these through other means.
- Have your student schedule handy.
- Click on My Textbooks. Login and your class schedule should be displayed.
- Click on the Items button to the right of the class and your books for that class will be displayed. Note if the books are required, recommended, or if no books are required for the class.
- Click on the ISBN number and you will be sent to NU’s Amazon store link. You do not need to order through Amazon, but be sure to get the right ISBN number and the right edition # if you buy them somewhere else.
The best weeks to buy books are right after semesters are over (December, May) and right before semesters begin (August, January). Books come in a number of formats (print, e-book, Kindle, etc…), and every class is different. Don’t wait until the first week of class to do this!
Information for Parents
Stay up-to-date on all of the latest NU events! Join Northwest University’s Parent Connections eNewsletter where you will hear from other parents and receive campus updates and invitations for upcoming parent events.