Tuition and financial aid
Tuition, fees, room
& board (2013–14)*
$34,848
Approx. avg. financial
aid package**
$22,500
Avg. tuition, room &
board out-of-pocket cost
$12,348
*$26,614 (tuition) + $150 (technology fee) + $8,084 (room & board); 2 semesters, 12–18 credits/semester
**Individual financial aid packages, which include federal loans, depend on a family’s FAFSA results and resources. 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.
All tuition waiver and tuition exchange students must pay applicable program and miscellaneous fees.
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. Follow the steps to apply for financial aid, and only after you receive a package and know the real cost—that's when you should make one of the most important decisions of your life.
