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.
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.
| Year | Books & Supplies | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2014-15 | $1,914 | - |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $1,620 | -15.36% |
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| 2016-17 | $1,620 | |
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| 2017-18 | $1,660 | 2.47% |
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| 2018-19 | $1,605 | -3.31% |
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| 2019-20 | $1,638 | 2.06% |
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| 2020-21 | $1,662 | 1.47% |
|---|
| 2021-22 | $1,566 | -5.78% |
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| 2022-23 | $1,590 | 1.53% |
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| 2023-24 | $1,686 | 6.04% |
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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.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2014-15 | $16,354 | $16,354 | - |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $17,393 | $17,393 | 6.35% |
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| 2016-17 | $18,021 | $18,021 | 3.61% |
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| 2017-18 | $18,642 | $18,642 | 3.45% |
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| 2018-19 | $18,476 | $18,476 | -0.89% |
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| 2019-20 | $20,325 | $20,325 | 10.01% |
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| 2020-21 | $20,920 | $20,920 | 2.93% |
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| 2021-22 | $21,504 | $21,504 | 2.79% |
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| 2022-23 | $24,336 | $24,336 | 13.17% |
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| 2023-24 | $23,607 | $23,607 | -3.00% |
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Compare Tuition Change to Similar Colleges
The following table compares 2024 tuition and increase rate from last year between Northwestern University and similar schools.
| 2024 | 2023 | Increase Rate |
|---|
| Northwestern University | $65,997 | $63,468 | 3.98% |
|---|
|
| Michigan State University | $44,040 | $42,607 | 3.36% |
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|
| University of Maryland-College Park | $40,306 | $39,469 | 2.12% |
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|
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | $39,192 | $38,362 | 2.16% |
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|
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | $36,402 | $35,099 | 3.71% |
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|
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick | $36,001 | $33,963 | 6.00% |
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