Tuition and financial aid
Tuition, fees, room
&board (2011–12)*
$32,066
Approx. avg. financial
aid package**
$21,500
Avg. tuition, room &
board out-of-pocket cost
$10,566
When we calculate your financial aid, we consider that you will spend approximately $4,000 for books, travel to and from Northwestern, and personal expenses. This figure is based on a standard allowance recommended by the Iowa College Student Aid Commission and will vary from student to student.
*$24,480 (tuition) + $150 (technology fee) + $7,436 (room & board); 2 semesters, 12–18 credits/semester
**Individual financial aid packages, which include loans, depend on a family’s FAFSA results and resources
Think you can't afford a private college education? Think again.
99% of Northwestern students receive financial aid in the form of scholarships, grants, loans and student employment. For some students, this means they pay less to attend Northwestern than they would at a state university. In fact, Northwestern students who finance college with loans have approximately the same amount of debt as similar graduates from Iowa’s state universities.
Bottom line: Don’t assume you can’t afford an excellent education like the one Northwestern offers.
- Apply to Northwestern.
- After January 1, fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
- Review your financial aid package.
- Then, after you know the real cost—that’s when you should make one of the most important decisions of your life.
