Principia's tuition & fees has increased from $27,440 (2015) to $34,680 (2025), and the rate of tuition increase is 26.38% over the past 10 years.
Principia'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 25.69% from 2015 ($40,250).
For the current academic year 2024-2025, Principia's COA is $50,590, which is increased by 3.99% from last year.
The following table and chart show changes to Principia's COA over the past 10 years.
Tuition & Fees Changes
The tuition & fees have increased 26.38% for the last 10 years , and the 2025 tuition & fees are $33,600. The following table and chart show the tuition & fees changes at Principia College over last the 10 years.
Books & Supplies Costs Changes
The cost of purchasing books & supplies which are required/recommended for courses $1,000, and it has not changed since 2015.
| Year | Books & Supplies | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $1,000 | - |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $1,000 | |
|---|
| 2017-18 | $1,000 | |
|---|
| 2018-19 | $1,000 | |
|---|
| 2019-20 | $1,000 | |
|---|
| 2020-21 | $1,000 | |
|---|
| 2021-22 | $1,000 | |
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| 2022-23 | $1,000 | |
|---|
| 2023-24 | $1,000 | |
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| 2024-25 | $1,000 | |
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Living Costs Changes
The living costs including room, board, and other living expenses have increased 26.25% when a student lives on-campus facilities and 69.23% when living-off campus from the year 2015 to 2025. The following table shows the changes in living costs at Principia College.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $11,810 | $6,500 | - |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $12,030 | $11,000 | 1.86% |
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| 2017-18 | $12,430 | $11,000 | 3.33% |
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| 2018-19 | $12,610 | $11,000 | 1.45% |
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| 2019-20 | $12,960 | $11,000 | 2.78% |
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| 2020-21 | $13,270 | $11,000 | 2.39% |
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| 2021-22 | $13,270 | $11,000 | |
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| 2022-23 | $13,870 | $11,000 | 4.52% |
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| 2023-24 | $14,370 | $11,000 | 3.60% |
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| 2024-25 | $14,910 | $11,000 | 3.76% |
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Compare Tuition Change to Similar Colleges
The following table compares 2025 tuition and increase rate from last year between Principia College and similar schools.
| 2025 | 2024 | Increase Rate |
|---|
| Principia College | $34,680 | $33,280 | 4.21% |
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| Northwestern University | $68,322 | $65,997 | 3.52% |
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|
| DePaul University | $45,405 | $44,174 | 2.79% |
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|
| University of Chicago | $69,324 | $65,619 | 5.65% |
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| Loyola University Chicago | $53,710 | $51,716 | 3.86% |
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| National Louis University | $13,245 | $14,601 | -9.29% |
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