Is Northwestern University worth it?
Northwestern University is a private nonprofit, four-year institution in Evanston, Illinois (small city). It awarded 8,450 degrees and certificates in 2024, most often in management science, digital communication and media and econometrics and quantitative economics.
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Federal data
Federal context for Northwestern University
Published by the federal government for federally aided students. It does not say which employers hire graduates.
Median earnings 1 year after
$73,331
Median earnings 4 years after
$109,275
Median earnings 10 years after
$89,363
Average net price
$29,167
Completion rate
95%
Completions (2024)
8,450
Years to pay back
1.1 years
Students (undergrad)
9,201
Median earnings after completing, by program
| Program | Credential | Median earnings, 1yr | Median earnings, 4yr | Graduates counted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business/Commerce, General | Master's | $188,890 | $240,637 | 775 |
| Law | First professional | $210,979 | $291,132 | 331 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | Master's | $140,444 | $180,186 | 279 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | Master's | $43,591 | $60,758 | 200 |
| Medicine | First professional | $70,039 | $94,158 | 200 |
| Economics | Bachelor's | $84,932 | $126,006 | 178 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Master's | $224,402 | $244,399 | 177 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | Doctoral | $73,374 | $82,633 | 140 |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other | Master's | $96,837 | $126,571 | 123 |
| Journalism | Bachelor's | $50,426 | $80,258 | 117 |
| Journalism | Master's | $46,346 | $70,715 | 111 |
| Engineering, Other | Master's | $162,147 | $211,469 | 100 |
| Psychology, General | Bachelor's | $44,088 | $73,646 | 97 |
| Public Administration | Master's | $73,260 | $98,798 | 94 |
| Communication and Media Studies | Master's | $87,012 | $116,101 | 84 |
Source: College Scorecard, June 2026 release, and IPEDS. Earnings cover federally aided students only, so they do not cover every graduate.
Awards conferred, by program
| Program | Award level | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Management Science | Master's | 1,617 |
| Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia | Master's | 430 |
| Counseling Psychology | Master's | 330 |
| Law | Doctoral professional practice | 293 |
| Econometrics and Quantitative Economics | Bachelor's | 238 |
| Programs for Foreign Lawyers | Master's | 217 |
| Business Administration and Management, General | Master's | 217 |
| Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia | Bachelor's | 165 |
| Medicine | Doctoral professional practice | 141 |
| Computer Science | Master's | 139 |
Similar schools
Other private nonprofit four year schools in Illinois
Same state, same sector, nearest by completions.
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
96%
completion rate
6,891
completions
Graduate data being added
See the pageDePaul University
Chicago, IL
68%
completion rate
5,746
completions
Graduate data being added
See the pageLoyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL
73%
completion rate
4,978
completions
Graduate data being added
See the pageFor school staff
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Sources: federal figures for Northwestern University. Federal figures from College Scorecard and IPEDS. Occupation pay from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS for Illinois. Counts under 10 are not published.
Updated September 18, 2026 · Methodology · Report a problem with this page