For the academic year 2024-2025, Northwestern's tuition & fees is $68,322 for first-year students. Compared to similar schools, its Northwestern's tuition is quite high. The average tuition of the schools is $41,804.
The average tuition of similar schools to Northwestern is higher than 4-year colleges' average, which is $25,541 in 2025.
Northwestern University has the most expensive tuition & fees of $68,322 and The Pennsylvania State University has the lowest tuition & fees of $25,574 among the schools.
The average itemized cost for schools similar to Northwestern is as follows:
- Undergraduate tuition & Fees is $41,804.
- Cost per credit hour is $473 for state residents and $2,056 for out-of-state.
- Books & supplies cost is $1,265.
- Living cost is $15,087 (on-campus), $15,428 (off-campus).
Tuition Comparison Table: Northwestern and its Similar Schools
The following table compares 2025 tuition, fees, and other colleges expenses between Northwestern and similar schools to it. You can compare these schools on a variety of aspects at college comparison page.
2025 Tuition Comparison Between Similar Schools To Northwestern University| School Name | Tuition & Fees | Cost Per Credit Hour | Books & Supplies | Living Costs |
| In-State | Out-of-State | In-State | Out-of-State |
On Campus | Off Campus |
|---|
| University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, IL | $18,267 |
$40,096 | $595 |
$1,087 | $1,200 |
$14,522 |
- |
| Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL | $68,322 |
| $7,960 |
| $1,794 |
$21,126 |
$21,126 |
| Indiana University-BloomingtonBloomington, IN | $12,144 |
$41,891 | $332 |
$1,262 | $1,250 |
$13,984 |
$13,984 |
| University of Maryland-College ParkCollege Park, MD | $11,809 |
$41,186 | $420 |
$1,645 | $1,250 |
$15,958 |
$16,372 |
| University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MI | $18,848 |
$63,081 | $738 |
$2,581 | $1,158 |
$15,328 |
$15,328 |
| Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI | $18,079 |
$44,850 | $580 |
$1,472 | $1,380 |
$12,564 |
$12,564 |
| University of Nebraska-LincolnLincoln, NE | $10,434 |
$28,584 | $277 |
$888 | $1,100 |
$14,120 |
$14,120 |
| Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew Brunswick, NJ | $17,929 |
$37,441 | $459 |
$1,096 | $1,418 |
$15,714 |
$18,722 |
| Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus, OH | $13,244 |
$40,022 | $508 |
$1,623 | $1,030 |
$14,738 |
$13,814 |
| Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette, IN | $9,992 |
$28,794 | $348 |
$948 | $1,070 |
$12,820 |
$12,820 |
| The Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity Park, PA | $15,890 |
$25,574 | - |
- | - |
- |
- |
| Average | $14,664 | $41,804 | $473 | $2,056 | $1,265 | $15,087 | $15,428 |