I disagree profusely with those that say not to apply ED if you need financial aid. Just be prepared to walk if they don’t provide you with a package that enables you to attend. You get to decide what that is. If there are too many loans, you can ask them to release you, and they have to. Applying ED is a signal that, assuming they can make it work financially, that Northeastern is your first choice and you will attend if accepted. EA is a signal that you want a safe admit in the bag before the big deadlines in January to reduce both your anxiety and the number of applications that you have to file.