Northwestern University Tuition Trends

Overview of Northwestern University Tuition Trends

Northwestern University is a Private (not-for-profit), four-years institution located in Evanston, Illinois. This comprehensive analysis examines the tuition and fee trends at Northwestern University from 2015 to 2025, providing valuable insights for prospective students and families planning their education budget.

Current Tuition & Fees at Northwestern University

For the 2025 academic year, tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $68,322. Compared to the previous year, tuition costs have has risen by 3.52% from. Over the past 10 years, there has been a cumulative has risen by 44.59% over in tuition and fees.

Living Costs Analysis

In addition to tuition and fees, students should budget for living expenses. For the 2025 academic year, on-campus room and board costs are estimated at $24,762, while off-campus living expenses (with family) are approximately $24,762. These costs have has risen by 4.89% from compared to the previous year, and off-campus costs have has risen by 4.89% from. Detailed living cost trends and historical data are provided in the tables below.

Historical Tuition Data Analysis

The following detailed charts and tables demonstrate the year-over-year changes in tuition and fees at Northwestern University since 2015. This historical data helps students understand tuition trends and project future costs for educational planning purposes. All statistics are sourced from official data published by the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), U.S. Department of Education.

For additional information about Northwestern University, including admission requirements, graduation rates, student demographics, financial aid options, and comprehensive institutional statistics, please visit the Northwestern University complete profile and information page. In addition, you can explore academic trends beyond tuition and fees at academic trends page.



Tuition & Fees Trends of Northwestern University from 2015 to 2025

The following tables and charts illustrate the tuition changes from 2015 to 2025 at Northwestern University. The statistics and analysis are based on the cost data that are officially published by IPEDS, U.S. Department of Education.
UndergraduateGraduate On-Campus Living Costs Off-Campus Living Costs
The 2025 undergraduate tuition & fees are $68,322 which has increased by 44.59% over the last 10 years. On average, the year-by-year rate of increase in tuition & fees is 4.46% while last year's increase rate was 3.52%.
Table. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees Trends From 2015 to 2025
2015-20162016-20172017-20182018-20192019-20202020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025
Tuition & Fees$49,047$50,855$52,678$54,568$56,691$58,701$60,768$63,468$65,997$68,322
Year-to-Year Rates-3.69%3.58%3.59%3.89%3.55%3.52%4.44%3.98%3.52%
Cumulative Rates-7.63%11.49%15.49%19.98%24.23%28.61%34.32%39.67%44.59%
The 2025 graduate school tuition & fees are $54,655 which has increased by 15.61% over the last 10 years. On average, the year-by-year rate of increase in graduate tuition & fees is 1.56% while last year's increase rate was 1.46%.
Table. Graduate Tuition & Fees Trends From 2015 to 2025
2015-20162016-20172017-20182018-20192019-20202020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025
Tuition & Fees$49,064$50,864$52,679$54,620$56,567$56,567$56,567$53,024$53,871$54,655
Year-to-Year Rates-3.67%3.57%3.68%3.56%0.00%0.00%-6.26%1.60%1.46%
Cumulative Rates-7.59%11.43%15.53%19.65%19.65%19.65%12.16%13.95%15.61%
The on-campus room and board cost for the 2025 academic year is $24,762 which has increased by 51.41% over the last 10 years. The average year-by-year rate of change in on-campus living costs is 5.14% while last year's change rate was 4.89%.
Table. On-campus Living Costs Trends From 2015 to 2025
2015-20162016-20172017-20182018-20192019-20202020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025
On-Campus Living Cost$17,393$18,021$18,642$18,476$20,325$20,920$21,504$24,336$23,607$24,762
Year-to-Year Rates-3.61%3.45%-0.89%10.01%2.93%2.79%13.17%-3.00%4.89%
Cumulative Rates-10.19%13.99%12.98%24.28%27.92%31.49%48.81%44.35%51.41%
The off-campus room and board cost for the 2025 academic year is $24,762 which has increased by 51.41% over the last 10 years. The average year-by-year rate of change in off-campus living costs is 5.14% while last year's change rate was 4.89%.
Table. On-campus Living Costs Trends From 2015 to 2025
2015-20162016-20172017-20182018-20192019-20202020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025
Off-Campus Living Cost$17,393$18,021$18,642$18,476$20,325$20,920$21,504$24,336$23,607$24,762
Year-to-Year Rates-3.61%3.45%-0.89%10.01%2.93%2.79%13.17%-3.00%4.89%
Cumulative Rates-10.19%13.99%12.98%24.28%27.92%31.49%48.81%44.35%51.41%