81.6%
Acceptance Rate
$53,710
Avg Cost (In-State)
$53,710
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
74.9%
Graduation Rate
11,737
Total Enrollment
Popular programs
Application requirements
Regular Deadline
Rolling
Early Deadline
November 1 (Early Action)
Common App
Yes
Test Policy
Test Optional
Essays Required
1
Letters of Rec
1
Interview
Not required
Essays: One personal essay required through Common Application
Requirements are AI-generated from public data and may change. Always verify directly with the college.
Getting there
Graduate outcomes
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
$58,411
Median Earnings at 6 Years
median graduate salary 6 years after starting
$71,530
Median Earnings at 10 Years
median graduate salary 10 years after starting
75%
4-Year Graduation Rate
students completing degree within 4 years
Earnings data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures reflect federal aid recipients only — actual median earnings may be higher at schools where many students receive grants rather than loans.
Earnings by major
Median earnings 1 year after graduation, by bachelor's program. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard FieldOfStudy data.
| Program | Median earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | $76,869 | $87,922 | 603 |
| Biology, General. | $31,964 | $62,821 | 232 |
| Psychology, General. | $32,463 | $56,658 | 188 |
| Marketing. | $51,065 | $86,662 | 134 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | $64,513 | $89,745 | 127 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication. | $43,308 | $68,942 | 119 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | $66,919 | $89,001 | 112 |
| Management Information Systems and Services. | $67,801 | $103,884 | 103 |
Tracked through federal tax records. Programs with fewer than 30 graduates with reported earnings are privacy-suppressed. 4-year figure tracks the same cohort 3 years later.
What current students say
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Calculate Your Cost at Loyola University Chicago
Get a personalized estimate of what you'd pay to attend Loyola University Chicago
Tactics that apply here
Things you can do that most families don't know about.
Early Action priority deadlines unlock the biggest merit pools
~$15k valueAt many public universities, applying by the EA deadline (Nov 1) instead of regular (Feb 1) decides whether you're considered for the top merit awards.
Who it helps: Students with their applications ready by November of senior year, especially those targeting merit-rich publics.
How to use: List each target school's EA deadline (commonly Nov 1, sometimes Oct 15 or Dec 1). Submit complete applications + test scores by then. Confirm merit-scholarship deadlines separately — some require a different priority date or supplemental essay.
Source ↗File FAFSA the day it opens
~$5k valueMost schools award state and institutional aid first-come-first-served from a fixed pool. Filing FAFSA in October beats filing in February by thousands.
Who it helps: Every student applying for need-based aid, but especially families relying on state grants or institutional aid.
How to use: Set a calendar reminder for the FAFSA opening date (currently Oct 1 most years; Dec 1 in the 2024-25 transition year). Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to auto-fill tax info. Submit even if you have to estimate; corrections are easy.
Source ↗CSS Profile is required by 200+ private schools — separate from FAFSA
Most selective private colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. It costs $25 + $16/school and reaches deeper into family finances than FAFSA does.
Who it helps: Any student applying to a private 4-year with significant institutional aid needs.
How to use: Check the CSS Profile school list for each of your target colleges. Open the app at cssprofile.collegeboard.org as soon as it opens (early Oct). Submit ahead of each school's earliest priority date — often before the FAFSA deadline.
Source ↗Scholarships
Scholarships you may qualify for.
Northwestern Pell Promise
100% need met, no loans, for Pell-eligible families
universityAdmitted Northwestern students eligible for federal Pell Grant; institutional aid replaces loans.
Deadline: FAFSA + CSS Profile
Learn more ↗Illinois State Bar Foundation Scholarship
$1,500-$5,000
stateIL law students with academic merit.
Deadline: Varies
Learn more ↗Jain Society of Metropolitan Chicago Scholarship
Varies
localJain youth members of JSMC in greater Chicago area pursuing higher education.
Deadline: Spring
Learn more ↗Illinois CPA Society Mary T. Washington Wylie Internship Award
$2,000-$5,000
stateIL accounting students with academic merit + service.
Deadline: Varies
Learn more ↗Loyola University Chicago Damen Scholarship
Full tuition + summer programs
universityTop Loyola Chicago incoming freshmen via competitive process.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗Northwestern Good Neighbor Great University Scholarship
Full need-met + housing
universityChicago Public Schools graduates admitted to NU with demonstrated need.
Deadline: CSS Profile + FAFSA
Learn more ↗U Chicago Odyssey Scholarship
Replaces loans with grants for families under $200k
universityU Chicago students with family income under $200,000; no loans in aid package.
Deadline: CSS Profile + FAFSA
Learn more ↗U Chicago Empower Initiative
Full tuition for families under $125k; reduced for under $300k
universityAll admitted U Chicago students with demonstrated need at multiple income tiers.
Deadline: CSS Profile + FAFSA
Learn more ↗Northwestern Stamps Scholars
Full cost of attendance + summer enrichment + research stipend
universityTop ~10 NU freshmen nationally via competitive Stamps process.
Deadline: November 1
Learn more ↗Round-by-round
Acceptance rates by application round.
The single overall 81.6% rate hides a 2–4x gap between ED and RD at most selective schools. Class of 2027 cycle.
Regular Decision
81.6%
acceptance
Bulk-imported from College Scorecard (admission_rate.overall). Deadline/notification dates are typical RD defaults; revise as needed.
Source ↗Peer colleges
Similar colleges to consider.
Similar selectivity
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS
81.7% acceptance
Both admit around 82% of applicants, with 15k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC
81.8% acceptance
Both admit around 82% of applicants, with 10k undergrads and a r campus — a close selectivity match.
Southern Utah University
Cedar City, UT
81.8% acceptance
Both admit around 82% of applicants, with 9k undergrads and a s campus — a close selectivity match.
Cheaper alternatives
Youngstown State University
Youngstown, OH
84.5% acceptance
Similar selectivity (85% vs 82%) but out-of-state cost runs $11k — meaningfully less than $54k.
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Carbondale, IL
86.9% acceptance
Similar selectivity (87% vs 82%) but out-of-state cost runs $13k — meaningfully less than $54k.
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI
89.8% acceptance
Similar selectivity (90% vs 82%) but out-of-state cost runs $15k — meaningfully less than $54k.
Reaches above this college
University of Akron Main Campus
Akron, OH
59.7% acceptance
Same u setting in the Midwest, but more selective (60% vs 82%) — a stretch target if Loyola University Chicago is already on your list.
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras
San Juan, PR
54.6% acceptance
Same u setting in the region, but more selective (55% vs 82%) — a stretch target if Loyola University Chicago is already on your list.
Ohio State University
Columbus, OH
53% acceptance
Same u setting in the Midwest, but more selective (53% vs 82%) — a stretch target if Loyola University Chicago is already on your list.
Safer alternatives
University of Toledo
Toledo, OH
92% acceptance
Same u setting in the Midwest, but higher admit rate (92% vs 82%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
Wichita State University
Wichita, KS
94% acceptance
Same u setting in the Midwest, but higher admit rate (94% vs 82%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
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