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The application program will be available again in October. Please return then to view the updated Eligibility and Awards for the upcoming academic year! If you are an applicant who would like to discover more scholarship opportunities you might qualify for, please continue to the Scholarship America Hub and sign up!

Northwestern Mutual Scholars Program
Application status: Closed

The Northwestern Mutual Foundation (Foundation) offers a scholarship program to assist Northwestern Mutual employees’ children who plan to pursue postsecondary education in college and vocational programs. Renewable scholarships are awarded each year for full-time study at any accredited postsecondary institution of the recipient’s choice.

The program is administered by Scholarship America, the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarship, tuition assistance and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations and individuals. Awards are granted without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, age, gender, disability or national origin.

Applicants of the Northwestern Mutual Foundation Scholarship Program must be:

  • High school seniors or graduates who plan to enroll or students who are already enrolled in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school for the entire upcoming academic year.
  • Dependent* sons, daughters or stepchildren of regular full-time employees, part-time employees, or retirees who have a minimum of one year of continuous employment with the company as of the application deadline date January 31.
  • Also eligible are dependent* sons, daughters, or stepchildren of deceased retirees or deceased employees who were employed at Northwestern Mutual and met the stated employee requirements as of the time of retirement or death.
  • Must enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school for the entire upcoming academic year.

*Dependent is defined as natural and legally adopted children or stepchildren living in the employee’s household or primarily supported by the employee.

Award information:

  • If selected as a recipient, the student will receive an award ranging from $2,000 to $5,000
  • Awards may be renewed for up to three additional years or until a bachelor’s degree is earned, whichever occurs first. Renewal is contingent upon satisfactory academic performance in a full-time course of study and continuation of the program by Northwestern Mutual.
  • Awards are for undergraduate study only

Notification

All applicants will be notified in April. Not all applicants to the program will be selected as recipients. Students may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements.

Payment of Scholarships

Scholarship America processes scholarship payments on behalf of Northwestern Mutual. Payments are made in equal installments in early August and late December.

Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of:

  • Academic record
  • Demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities
  • Honors
  • Work experience
  • Statement of career and educational goals and aspirations
  • Unusual personal or family circumstances
  • An online recommendation

Financial need as calculated by Scholarship America must be demonstrated for the student to receive an award.

Scholarship recipients will be selected in direct proportion to the number of applications received (up to 25% of the total number – the maximum amount allowed by IRS regulations). All employee levels will be represented. Once recipients are selected, financial need is assessed to determine the amount of each award. Recipients who do not demonstrate financial need or whose parents choose not to supply the requested financial information may be eligible to receive an honorarium at the minimum award amount of $2,000.

Selection of recipients is made by Scholarship America. In no instance does any officer or employee of Northwestern Mutual play a part in the selection. All applicants agree to accept the decision as final.

As part of your application, you must upload the following document:

  • Current, complete transcript of grades. Grade reports are not accepted. Unofficial or online transcripts must display student name, school name, grades and credit hours for each course, and term in which each course was taken

Also as part of your application, one online recommendation must be completed on your behalf by 3:00 p.m. CT on February 12, 2020.

Your application is not complete unless all required documents are submitted electronically.

Northwestern Mutual Foundation has partnered with Scholarship America. Select the button below to be directed to the Scholarship America Student Hub!