Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $91,250. College Scorecard.
Net price by family income
Average after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard, latest reported year
Sticker price, line by line
| Per year, living on campus | All students |
|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $68,322 |
| Housing & meals | $20,334 |
| Books & supplies | $1,686 |
| Personal & travel | $3,273 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$2,365 |
| Total cost of attendance | $91,250 |
Cost items: IPEDS 2023-24, on-campus budget. Total: College Scorecard, which averages students living on and off campus; the adjustment row reconciles the two.
Debt after graduation
College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal
Who gets aid
College Scorecard
Northwestern University net price compared with other Illinois colleges
Northwestern University has the 48th-lowest average net price of 52 Illinois colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Avg. net price | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | Columbia College Chicago | $26,598 | 52% | $42,195 |
| 45 | Wheaton College | $26,975 | 85% | $63,756 |
| 46 | Illinois Wesleyan University | $28,199 | 75% | $70,871 |
| 47 | Lake Forest College | $28,673 | 78% | $61,825 |
| 48 | Northwestern University | $29,167 | 95% | $89,363 |
| 49 | DePaul University | $30,902 | 68% | $68,751 |
| 50 | Loyola University Chicago | $36,079 | 73% | $71,530 |
| 51 | Methodist College | $41,787 | 20% | $69,800 |
| 52 | School of the Art Institute of Chicago | $49,790 | 67% | $40,151 |
College Scorecard, latest year. Average for all aided students; your price depends on income. All Illinois colleges →
Why Northwestern University costs more or less than similar schools
| School | Acceptance | You'd pay | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs | Price gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern University | 8% | $29,167 | 95% | $89,363 | This school |
| University of Chicago | 4% | $14,860 | 96% | $91,885 | |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | 39% | $28,199 | 75% | $70,871 | |
| Principia College | 44% | — | 74% | — | |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | 55% | $18,425 | 75% | $82,592 |
College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.
Why the price is different
Northwestern University would cost you $14,307 more per year than University of Chicago, on average.
- Higher sticker price at Northwestern University, mostly from more University of Chicago students living at home, which lowers its average (+$1,358).
- University of Chicago gives aided families $13,417 more in grants, on average.
| Per year, Illinois resident | Northwestern University | University of Chicago | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $68,322 | $70,662 | −$2,340 |
| Books & supplies | $1,686 | $1,800 | −$114 |
| Housing & meals | $20,334 | $19,221 | +$1,113 |
| Personal & travel | $3,273 | $2,400 | +$873 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$2,365 | −$3,723 | +$1,358 |
| Sticker price | $91,250 | $90,360 | +$890 |
| Average grants | −$62,083 | −$75,500 | +$13,417 |
| You pay | $29,167 | $14,860 | +$14,307 |
“+” means Northwestern University costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.
Northwestern University cost questions
How much is tuition at Northwestern University?
Tuition and fees are $68,322 a year.
What is the total cost of attending Northwestern University?
The total cost of attendance, including housing, meals, books and personal costs, is $91,250 a year.
What do families actually pay at Northwestern University?
After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $29,167 a year on average. Families earning $0–30k pay $1,764; $48–75k pay $7,898; $110k+ pay $48,777.
How much debt do Northwestern University graduates have?
The median federal loan debt at graduation is $14,000, and 0.6% of borrowers defaulted within three years of entering repayment (2017 cohort).
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By). Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote; confirm with the school's net price calculator. Back to Northwestern University overview