Northwestern's tuition & fees has increased from $49,047 (2015) to $68,322 (2025), and the rate of tuition increase is 39.30% over the past 10 years. The graduate school tuition & fees has raised from $49,064 (year 2015) to $54,655 (year 2025).
Northwestern's tuition increase rate is higher than the Illinois's average increase rate of -3.38%. Compare to all colleges in United States, it's increase rate is higher than the average increase rate of 10.99%.
Cost of Attendance (COA) Trends
The total cost of attendance (COA), including tuition & fees, books & supplies costs, and living costs, increased by 39.40% from 2015 ($68,060).
For the current academic year 2024-2025, Northwestern's COA is $94,878, which is increased by 3.93% from last year.
The following table and chart show changes to Northwestern's COA over the past 10 years.
Tuition & Fees Changes
The tuition & fees have increased 39.30% for the last 10 years , and the 2025 tuition & fees are $67,158. The following table and chart show the tuition & fees changes at Northwestern University over last the 10 years.
Books & Supplies Costs Changes
The cost of purchasing books & supplies which are required/recommended for courses $1,794, and it has increased 10.74% from the year 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Books & Supplies | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $1,620 | - |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $1,620 | |
|---|
| 2017-18 | $1,660 | 2.47% |
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| 2018-19 | $1,605 | -3.31% |
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| 2019-20 | $1,638 | 2.06% |
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| 2020-21 | $1,662 | 1.47% |
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| 2021-22 | $1,566 | -5.78% |
|---|
| 2022-23 | $1,590 | 1.53% |
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| 2023-24 | $1,686 | 6.04% |
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| 2024-25 | $1,794 | 6.41% |
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Living Costs Changes
The living costs including room, board, and other living expenses have increased 33.33% when a student lives on-campus facilities and 33.33% when living-off campus from the year 2015 to 2025. The following table shows the changes in living costs at Northwestern University.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $17,393 | $17,393 | - |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $18,021 | $18,021 | 3.61% |
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| 2017-18 | $18,642 | $18,642 | 3.45% |
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| 2018-19 | $18,476 | $18,476 | -0.89% |
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| 2019-20 | $20,325 | $20,325 | 10.01% |
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| 2020-21 | $20,920 | $20,920 | 2.93% |
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| 2021-22 | $21,504 | $21,504 | 2.79% |
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| 2022-23 | $24,336 | $24,336 | 13.17% |
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| 2023-24 | $23,607 | $23,607 | -3.00% |
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| 2024-25 | $24,762 | $24,762 | 4.89% |
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Compare Tuition Change to Similar Colleges
The following table compares 2025 tuition and increase rate from last year between Northwestern University and similar schools.
| 2025 | 2024 | Increase Rate |
|---|
| Northwestern University | $68,322 | $65,997 | 3.52% |
|---|
|
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | $63,081 | $60,107 | 4.95% |
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|
| The Pennsylvania State University | $25,574 | $25,574 | - |
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|
| Michigan State University | $44,850 | $44,040 | 1.84% |
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|
| Indiana University-Bloomington | $41,891 | $40,482 | 3.48% |
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|
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | $40,096 | $39,192 | 2.31% |
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