• Home
• Aid Basics & Eligibility
• Cost of Attendance

Cost of Attendance

The Cost of Attendance is an estimate of expenses while you are enrolled at Northwestern. These expenses determine the amount of financial aid that can be provided and are used to measure financial need.

Expenses include direct costs like tuition, housing, and meals, as well as indirect items like books, transportation, and personal expenses. For indirect expenses, you will not receive a bill from the university, but these out-of-pocket costs are taken into account when determining your eligibility for financial aid.

The Evanston undergraduate cost of attendance includes:

• Tuition and mandatory fees: Same rate for in-state or out-of-state students; charged based on your enrollment (i.e., full-time, part-time, etc.).
• Housing and meals: Based on the average cost of an on-campus double room and unlimited meal plan; same amount is used for students living in off-campus apartments.
• Books and supplies: Average cost of required course materials and school supplies; based on averages of the actual cost of purchasing some new and some used books.
• Personal expenses: Incidentals and living expenses, such as clothing, toiletries, entertainment, social activity dues, and other variable expenses. The estimate is based on research of standard costs; individual spending decisions will vary.
• Transportation: A standard allowance for travel expenses from your home to campus.
• Loan fees: If you borrow a Federal Direct Loan, your cost of attendance will include an allowance for the average origination fees.
• In accordance with Illinois Public Act 102-0083, homeless students  (defined by federal regulations and verified through institutional review) may contact the Office of Financial Aid for information and referrals for any institutional, local, state or federal resources. The liaison will help answer questions about your financial aid and also serve as intermediary for questions related to student support services, housing and other areas of campus. The liaison can also make referrals to services such as food pantries, housing options, and medical/mental health care. Since these services begin with financial aid, the designated liaison is the Director of Operations in the financial aid office. Please feel free to contact our office if you wish to speak with the liaison.

Student Health Insurance

All full-time Northwestern students are required to have health insurance coverage, either through the Northwestern University Student Health Insurance Plan (NU-SHIP) or the student's or parent's own health insurance carrier.  The University will automatically enroll you in NU-SHIP at the start of the fall term unless you waive this coverage by the deadline and provide proof of other adequate coverage. Consult with the Student Health Insurance Office for more information.

The cost of health insurance is not automatically included in the cost of attendance. However, students who are required to enroll in NU-SHIP but do not have the resources to cover the cost may request additional assistance from our office. If eligible, assistance may be provided in the form of a loan or institutional grant assistance. Be sure to complete and submit a Health Insurance Assistance Request by the deadline, signed by both student and a parent.

Computer Purchase

The cost of a computer is not automatically included in the cost of attendance. However, if you do not have a computer and need to purchase one, please contact our office to see if we can help.

The cost of attendance can be increased to include the one-time purchase of a reasonably priced computer. University policies will determine the amount that is considered reasonable. Funding will be provided only once during your academic career and, generally, only if you don't already have a computer. Please contact our office with any questions. If you will rely on university assistance, please speak with us prior to your purchase of a computer.