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Northwestern University

Evanston, IL northwestern.edu 8,960 students

Northwestern University's main campus sits along Lake Michigan in Evanston, offering students both a traditional campus environment and easy access to Chicago. Students are known to be ambitious and driven, with strengths across many academic disciplines, especially in communication, journalism, and theater. The university is distinctive for its interdisciplinary approach to learning and unique programs, like the Integrated Engineering Studies program. Northwestern's location provides opportunities for internships and cultural experiences in a major metropolitan area.

Programs
29
Analyzed in dataset
Earnings
$58,255
Average graduate, 1 yr after
Tuition
$65,997
Sticker price (est.)

Financial Aid

The sticker price is rarely what families actually pay. Northwestern University's grant and scholarship aid lowers the net price for most income brackets. 19% of students receive Pell Grants; 19% take federal loans.

Key Insight

Average net price across income brackets is $14,799, roughly 78% lower than the published tuition.

Net Price by Family Income

Academic Year 2025
Income Bracket Avg Net Price 4-Year Net Cost
$0 – $30K $1,243 $4,972
$30K – $48K $3,373 $13,492
$48K – $75K $6,485 $25,940
$75K – $110K $14,059 $56,236
$110K+ $48,837 $195,348
Sticker price (no aid) $65,997 $263,988
Net price = tuition + fees + room & board minus grants and scholarships, by reported family-income bracket. Source: IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey via College Scorecard.

Programs at Northwestern University

29 degree programs ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any program for AI scenario analysis and 10-year earnings projections.

Degree Program DW Score 1-yr Earnings AI Risk ROI
Computer Science Compare across schools →
78
$99,981/yr Very High 4.9x
Economics Compare across schools →
73
$84,932/yr Very High 3.8x
Mathematics Compare across schools →
66
$79,530/yr Very High 3.5x
Industrial Engineering Compare across schools →
65
$89,811/yr High 4.2x
Chemical Engineering Compare across schools →
63
$80,709/yr High 3.6x
Information Science Compare across schools →
62
$102,998/yr Very High 2.9x
Mechanical Engineering Compare across schools →
61
$75,253/yr Very High 2.9x
Biomedical Engineering Compare across schools →
59
$68,592/yr High 3.9x
Applied Mathematics Compare across schools →
54
$94,684/yr Very High 2.6x
Human Resources Compare across schools →
53
$82,255/yr High 2.1x
Community Organization and Advocacy Compare across schools →
52
$61,009/yr High 2.3x
Political Science Compare across schools →
51
$54,737/yr Very High 1.9x
Communication and Media Studies Compare across schools →
48
$52,210/yr High 2.4x
Statistics Compare across schools →
47
$77,917/yr Very High 2.0x
International Relations Compare across schools →
47
$58,326/yr High 1.8x
History Compare across schools →
47
$50,161/yr High 1.7x
Psychology Compare across schools →
42
$44,088/yr High 1.7x
Journalism Compare across schools →
39
$50,426/yr Very High 1.7x
Public Health Compare across schools →
39
$39,956/yr High 0.5x
Public Policy Analysis Compare across schools →
38
$48,558/yr High 1.3x
Sociology Compare across schools →
31
$38,402/yr High 1.2x
Anthropology Compare across schools →
31
$33,208/yr High 0.3x
Psychology Studies Compare across schools →
30
$36,890/yr High 1.3x
Ethnic & Cultural Studies Compare across schools →
27
$39,012/yr Very High 0.5x
Music Compare across schools →
26
$34,823/yr High 0.8x
Neuroscience Compare across schools →
25
$35,334/yr High 0.3x
English Compare across schools →
22
$31,748/yr Very High 1.3x
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication Compare across schools →
21
$24,611/yr High 0.9x
Theater & Drama Compare across schools →
14
$19,245/yr Moderate 0.8x