7.7%
Acceptance Rate
$68,322
Avg Cost (In-State)
$68,322
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
95.5%
Graduation Rate
9,201
Total Enrollment
What they weigh most
Source: Common Data Set
Popular programs
Application requirements
Regular Deadline
January 2
Early Deadline
November 1 (Early Decision)
Common App
Yes
Test Policy
Test Optional
Essays Required
2
Letters of Rec
2
Application Fee
$75
Interview
Available
Essays: One Common App essay (650 words) plus one Northwestern-specific supplemental essay explaining why Northwestern (300 words)
Note: Interview is optional but recommended; counselor recommendation required in addition to two teacher recommendations
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
$39,485
Median Earnings at 6 Years
median graduate salary 6 years after starting
$47,021
Median Earnings at 10 Years
median graduate salary 10 years after starting
44%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economics. | $84,932 | $126,006 | 178 |
| Journalism. | $50,426 | $80,258 | 117 |
| Psychology, General. | $44,088 | $73,646 | 97 |
| Political Science and Government. | $54,737 | $73,231 | 76 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication. | $24,611 | $51,471 | 70 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences. | $35,334 | $54,279 | 67 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. | $19,245 | $49,316 | 64 |
| Computer Science. | $99,981 | $155,106 | 63 |
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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Verify with .edu and write oneWhat will you actually pay?
Personalized cost estimate based on your family's finances and academic profile
Calculate Your Cost at Northwestern University
Get a personalized estimate of what you'd pay to attend Northwestern University
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 ↗Net price by income
What it actually costs your family.
Average net price (tuition, fees, room/board minus grant aid) by household income tier, AY 2023–24. Source: IPEDS NPRC1.
| Household income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0 – $30,000 | $5,800 |
| $30,001 – $48,000 | $8,200 |
| $48,001 – $75,000 | $16,100 |
| $75,001 – $110,000 | $32,400 |
| $110,001+ | $70,800 |
Cost calculator
See the full income-tier cost breakdown for Northwestern University →
Type your household income and get a per-family estimate, plus % off sticker and a methodology breakdown.
Round-by-round
Acceptance rates by application round.
The single overall 7.7% rate hides a 2–4x gap between ED and RD at most selective schools. Class of 2027 cycle.
Class profile
Who actually goes here.
From the most recent Common Data Set and IPEDS.
16.0%
% Pell-eligible
Federal Pell grant recipients
14.0%
% first-generation
First in family to attend college
22.0%
% in-state
Residents of the college's home state
22.0%
% URM
Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native combined
60.0%
Yield rate
Share of admitted students who enroll
98.0%
1st-to-2nd year retention
Freshmen who return as sophomores
95.0%
6-year grad rate
Graduate within 150% normal time
Demonstrated interest
Not considered
Visits, info sessions and opening emails don't move the needle here.
Peer colleges
Similar colleges to consider.
Similar selectivity
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY
8.8% acceptance
Both admit around 9% of applicants, with 16k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
5.9% acceptance
Both admit around 6% of applicants, with 7k undergrads and a u campus — a close selectivity match.
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
5.4% acceptance
Both admit around 5% of applicants, with 11k undergrads and a u campus — a close selectivity match.
Cheaper alternatives
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
Atlanta, GA
14.1% acceptance
Similar selectivity (14% vs 8%) but out-of-state cost runs $34k — meaningfully less than $68k.
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA
16% acceptance
Similar selectivity (16% vs 8%) but out-of-state cost runs $38k — meaningfully less than $68k.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
16.8% acceptance
Similar selectivity (17% vs 8%) but out-of-state cost runs $39k — meaningfully less than $68k.
Safer alternatives
University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR
56.5% acceptance
Same s setting in the region, but higher admit rate (57% vs 8%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
University of Dayton
Dayton, OH
65.5% acceptance
Same s setting in the Midwest, but higher admit rate (66% vs 8%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
La Crosse, WI
75.5% acceptance
Same s setting in the Midwest, but higher admit rate (76% vs 8%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
Transfer pathways
Routes in from a community college.
From IL community colleges
articulation onlyNorthwestern admits roughly 150-200 transfers per year from around 1,500 applicants. Applicants must have completed at least one year of college coursework. Transfer deadline is May 1. No formal articulation agreements, though Northwestern admits Illinois community college transf…
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