Skip to main content

Fringe Benefit Rates

Northwestern University applies distinct employee benefit rates in the compensation of its personnel. These rates are charged to sponsored projects from which Northwestern personnel are paid. For questions related to eligibility under any of the rate categories, see HR Benefit Eligibility.

Current Fringe Rates

Fringe benefit rates change annually on September 1. Rates along with a description of the components of the fringe benefit rates can be found within the current F&A and Fringe Rate Agreement (dated 08/03/2023).  All new proposals should utilize the new fringe benefit rates effective immediately and until further notice. Note: The current rate agreement does not provide provisional rates for FY2025 and beyond that are different from the fixed rates from FY2024. Therefore, use the current fringe benefit rate for all years of the budget. Although the Office of Budget and Planning provides proposed and forecasted rates for future years, proposed and forecasted rates should be used for informational purposes only.

Fringe benefit rates from the rate agreement dated 08/03/2023

 

Description

 

Covers

FY2024

(09/01/2023 – 08/31/2024)

Full Federal Benefits-eligible employees paid from Federal funds (direct federal and federal flow-through funds*.) 27.5%
Full Non-Federal Benefits-eligible paid from non-Federal funds 29.3%
Statutory Temporary employees, supplemental pay to regular employees 6.2%
The Graduate School (TGS) student TGS teaching assistants, research assistants, graduate assistants 2.6%
Other Student Hourly wages to student workers, non-Graduate School graduate students 0.0%
Exempt Federal Work Study salaries & wages, KSM consulting 0.0%

* Federal flow-through funds are funds that originate from the federal government, but whose granting entity is not necessarily the federal government.  

Budget justification statement for proposal budgets

Add the following statement to all Federal proposal budget justifications:
Employee benefits have been calculated based on the following DHHS-approved rates:
  • 09/01/23 – 08/31/24…. 27.5%
  • 09/01/24 – 08/31/25 and thereafter…. 27.5% (provisional)
Add the following statement to all non-Federal proposal budget justifications:
Employee benefits have been calculated based on the following rates:
  • 09/01/23 – 08/31/24…. 29.3%
  • 09/01/24 – 08/31/25 and thereafter…. 29.3% (provisional)