Northwestern's tuition & fees has increased from $47,251 (2014) to $65,997 (2024), and the rate of tuition increase is 39.67% over the past 10 years. The graduate school tuition & fees has raised from $47,276 (year 2014) to $53,871 (year 2024).

Northwestern's tuition increase rate is higher than the Illinois's average increase rate of -8.12%. Compare to all colleges in United States, it's increase rate is higher than the average increase rate of 28.12%.

Cost of Attendance (COA) Trends

The total cost of attendance (COA), including tuition & fees, books & supplies costs, and living costs, increased by 39.33% from 2014 ($65,519).

For the current academic year 2023-2024, Northwestern's COA is $91,290, which is increased by 2.12% from last year.

The following table and chart show changes to Northwestern's COA over the past 10 years.

Tuition & Fees Changes

The tuition & fees have increased 39.67% for the last 10 years , and the 2024 tuition & fees are $65,997. The following table and chart show the tuition & fees changes at Northwestern University over last the 10 years.

YearUndergraduateGraduateChange By Year
2014-15$47,251$47,276-
2015-16$49,047$49,0643.80%
2016-17$50,855$50,8643.69%
2017-18$52,678$52,6793.58%
2018-19$54,568$54,6203.59%
2019-20$56,691$56,5673.89%
2020-21$58,701$56,5673.55%
2021-22$60,768$56,5673.52%
2022-23$63,468$53,0244.44%
2023-24$65,997$53,8713.98%
Northwestern University Tuition & Fees Changes Chart

Books & Supplies Costs Changes

The cost of purchasing books & supplies which are required/recommended for courses $1,686, and it has decreased -11.91% from the year 2014 to 2024.

YearBooks & SuppliesChange by Year
2014-15$1,914-
2015-16$1,620-15.36%
2016-17$1,620
2017-18$1,6602.47%
2018-19$1,605-3.31%
2019-20$1,6382.06%
2020-21$1,6621.47%
2021-22$1,566-5.78%
2022-23$1,5901.53%
2023-24$1,6866.04%

Living Costs Changes

The living costs including room, board, and other living expenses have increased 33.66% when a student lives on-campus facilities and 33.66% when living-off campus from the year 2014 to 2024. The following table shows the changes in living costs at Northwestern University.

YearLiving On CampusLiving Off CampusChange by Year
2014-15$16,354$16,354-
2015-16$17,393$17,3936.35%
2016-17$18,021$18,0213.61%
2017-18$18,642$18,6423.45%
2018-19$18,476$18,476-0.89%
2019-20$20,325$20,32510.01%
2020-21$20,920$20,9202.93%
2021-22$21,504$21,5042.79%
2022-23$24,336$24,33613.17%
2023-24$23,607$23,607-3.00%

Compare Tuition Change to Similar Colleges

The following table compares 2024 tuition and increase rate from last year between Northwestern University and similar schools.

20242023Increase Rate
Northwestern University$65,997$63,4683.98%
Michigan State University$44,040$42,6073.36%
Ohio State University-Main Campus$38,365$36,7424.42%
University of Iowa$32,927$32,3161.89%
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign$39,192$38,3622.16%
Indiana University-Bloomington$40,482$39,1203.48%

Ratings & Review

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