Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a highly selective private research university in Evanston, Illinois, serving roughly 9,201 students. Admission is highly selective, with an acceptance rate of about 7.69% in federal reporting data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $89,363 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $68,322
- 2024 Average Net Price: $29,167 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 7.69% Highly Selective
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 9,201 97.2% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 95.13%
- Average SAT Score: 1533
Northwestern University: what the data shows
Common questions about Northwestern University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Northwestern University?
Northwestern University is located in Evanston, IL (ZIP 60208).
NCES locale classification: Town.
Is Northwestern University public or private?
Northwestern University is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Northwestern University cost?
Published tuition: $68,322.
Average net price after aid: $29,167.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $1,764 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $6,099 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $7,898 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $18,282 |
| $110,001+ | $48,777 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $273,288.
How hard is it to get into Northwestern University?
Admission rate: 7.69%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1533 and midpoint ACT 35.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Northwestern University?
Total enrollment: 9,201 students.
About 97% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Northwestern University?
150%-time completion rate: 95.13%.
First-year retention: 98.1%.
What do graduates of Northwestern University earn?
Median earnings: $76,844 six years after entry; $89,363 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $15,000.
18.55% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Northwestern University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (9,772 completions)
- CIP 521301 (1,745 completions)
- CIP 090702 (607 completions)
- General Economics (401 completions)
- Finance, General (361 completions)
- CIP 422803 (330 completions)
- Law (JD) (293 completions)
- Computer Science (277 completions)
- CIP 220202 (217 completions)
- CIP 520201 (217 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Northwestern University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 7.69%; completion rate 95.13%; median earnings $89,363 at 10 years; net price $29,167. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$68,322
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Northwestern University was $68,322.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$29,167
2024 Value
In 2024 Northwestern University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $29,167.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$116,668 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$29,167 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$273,288 4-Year Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for Northwestern University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
18.55% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
17.08% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Northwestern University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Northwestern University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $45,527 | $45,527 | $28,544 |
| 2014 | $47,251 | $47,251 | $27,291 |
| 2015 | $49,047 | $49,047 | $28,155 |
| 2016 | $50,855 | $50,855 | $26,423 |
| 2017 | $52,678 | $52,678 | $24,047 |
| 2018 | $54,568 | $54,568 | $24,840 |
| 2019 | $56,691 | $56,691 | $24,664 |
| 2020 | $58,701 | $58,701 | $23,279 |
| 2021 | $60,768 | $60,768 | $27,510 |
| 2022 | $63,468 | $63,468 | $25,057 |
| 2023 | $65,997 | $65,997 | $27,143 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
7.69% Acceptance Rate
This institution is extremely selective, accepting fewer than 1 in 10 applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1533
ACT Average: 35
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.9 - 4.0
Estimated Median GPA: 4.00
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
97.2% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Northwestern University in 2024 is 9,201 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
98.1%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
83.41% 100% Completion Time
95.13% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 83.41% of students graduating from Northwestern University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Northwestern University.
Return on Investment
$15,000 Median Student Debt
$89,363 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
16.79% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
665.96% Return on Investment
1.7 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Northwestern University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
CIP 52.1301: 1,745 completions
CIP 09.0702: 607 completions
General Economics: 401 completions
Finance, General: 361 completions
CIP 42.2803: 330 completions
Law (JD): 293 completions
Computer Science: 277 completions
CIP 22.0202: 217 completions
CIP 52.0201: 217 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 9,772 completions
Most popular programs at Northwestern University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Northwestern University graduates.
About
Northwestern University is a private non-profit institution located in Evanston, IL, offering 168 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 9,201 students. It is highly selective, with an admission rate of 7.69%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1533. The institution maintains a 95.13% graduation rate. Approximately 18.55% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Location
Evanston, IL 60208
Region: Great Lakes
Insights and Analysis
Exceptional Graduation Rate: With a 95.13% graduation rate, Northwestern University demonstrates strong student retention and completion. This rate significantly exceeds the national average, indicating effective academic support and student services.
Strong Career Outcomes: Northwestern University graduates report median earnings of $89,363 ten years after entry, placing them among the higher-earning college graduates nationally. This strong earnings potential reflects both the quality of education and the career opportunities available to graduates.
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 168 distinct degree programs, Northwestern University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
FAQ
How much does Northwestern University cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $68,322 and average net price is $29,167 in the latest College Scorecard data.
How hard is it to get into Northwestern University?
The admission rate is 7.7% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.
What test scores do students need for Northwestern University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Northwestern University reports midpoint SAT about 1533 and midpoint ACT about 35.
What do graduates of Northwestern University earn?
Median earnings are $76,844 six years after entry and $89,363 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Northwestern University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 95.1% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Northwestern University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $15,000.
How big is Northwestern University?
Total enrollment is about 9,201 students in the latest reporting year.
Is Northwestern University public or private?
Northwestern University is a private nonprofit institution located in Evanston, IL.
Is Northwestern University an HBCU?
No. Northwestern University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Northwestern University a tribal college?
No. Northwestern University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Northwestern University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Northwestern University does not meet that proxy (reported share 15.8%).
Is Northwestern University religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Northwestern University in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.