Tuition and financial aid
Tuition, room &
board (2010–11)*
$30,420
Avg. financial
aid package**
$21,157
Avg. tuition, room &
board out-of-pocket cost
$9,263
*$23,330 (tuition) + $7,090 (room & board); 2 semesters, 12–18 credits/semester
**Individual financial aid awards depend on a family’s FAFSA results and resources
Think you can't afford a private college education? Think again.
100% 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.