Private nonprofit · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Small city

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois. 9,201 undergraduates. Admits 8% of applicants.

96%Graduation rate42 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$34,420Average net price per year73% above the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$104,255Median earnings 10 years after starting77% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$17,017Median debt at graduation21% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($17,017) equals 16% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($104,255). That is a light load relative to pay.

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$1,427
$30,000–$48,000$7,536
$48,001–$75,000$8,811
$75,001–$110,000$18,954
Over $110,000$56,074

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $70,589.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate96%54%
Return for second year98%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$76,267$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$104,255$58,912
Median debt at graduation$17,017$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

242 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Business/Commerce, General93$191,505$250,104—
Engineering, Other87$176,926$232,873—
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies32—$204,874—
Business Administration, Management and Operations217$267,548$201,903—
Computer Science139—$186,182—
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods1,775$194,598$175,781—
Community Organization and Advocacy0$163,221$167,730—
Information Science/Studies51$127,279$149,166—
Medical Illustration and Informatics17$108,292$141,680—
Engineering-Related Fields40$126,648$140,081—
Sustainability Studies46$132,539——
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions35$120,870$131,490—
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other0—$131,112—
Mechanical Engineering46—$126,601—
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General41$94,163$118,644—
Legal Professions and Studies, Other93$88,532$110,875—
Public Administration82$83,556$104,307—
Communication and Media Studies1$88,413$103,912—
Biomedical/Medical Engineering47$81,405$99,256—
Public Health66$69,082$98,561—
Biotechnology31$91,880——
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication2$81,217$90,294—
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions57$67,040$86,485—
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions43$48,572$86,088—
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness46$62,341$84,348—
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication430$77,559——
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services55$64,640$72,812—
Educational Administration and Supervision33$65,086$72,160—
Journalism0$61,000$71,124—
Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education5$63,278$70,308—
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology373$49,183$68,307—
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management74$58,285$68,085—
Music54$29,649$57,944—
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies3———
Computer and Information Sciences, General35———
Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research16———
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods18———
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas4———
Education, Other1———
Chemical Engineering20———
Civil Engineering40———
Computer Engineering51———
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering32———
Engineering Physics4———
Materials Engineering31———
Industrial Engineering3———
Operations Research3———
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians16———
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians20———
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other70———
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services2———
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics1———
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics1———
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services1———
Non-Professional Legal Studies1———
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies261———
English Language and Literature, General15———
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies20———
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities4———
Botany/Plant Biology9———
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences1———
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology5———
Neurobiology and Neurosciences8———
Applied Mathematics10———
Statistics32———
Systems Science and Theory3———
Philosophy1———
Religion/Religious Studies1———
Astronomy and Astrophysics7———
Chemistry7———
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences3———
Physics19———
Science Technologies/Technicians, Other20———
Psychology, General18———
Anthropology4———
Economics69———
Political Science and Government7———
Sociology6———
Design and Applied Arts11———
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft16———
Film/Video and Photographic Arts9———
Fine and Studio Arts6———
Health and Medical Administrative Services19———
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities3———
Finance and Financial Management Services311———
Human Resources Management and Services4———
Marketing174———
History9———

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

8%Admission rate
1,533Average SAT of admitted students
33–35ACT middle 50%
6:1Students per faculty member
21%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

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Quick answers

How much does Northwestern University cost per year?
The average net price at Northwestern University, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $34,420 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do Northwestern University graduates earn?
Former Northwestern University students earn a median of $104,255 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at Northwestern University?
96% of Northwestern University students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do Northwestern University graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from Northwestern University is $17,017. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.