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Northwestern Cost Comparison

It is common to experience some “sticker shock” when you review the total estimated expenses for a program. Your tuition may be the same, but the study abroad program may be more or less expensive than the same quarter(s) at Northwestern, depending upon the relative costs of non-tuition expenses such as housing, meals, and local travel. Study abroad program costs also include estimated airfare to your destination, which is not included in Northwestern’s estimated on-campus cost.

The information on this page is intended to provide some context and help you understand how your program's costs compare to the estimated cost of Northwestern for the same academic period.

If you are a financial aid recipient, keep in mind that your financial aid will be adjusted based on your program's costs; your family contribution (i.e., total out-of-pocket costs) should be the same as if you were in Evanston.

Northwestern Costs 2025-2026

Keep in mind that some of these figures, like tuition and fees, are real costs (standard, unlikely to change), while other figures, such as room/board and personal expenses, are estimates (vary by student). Your actual living expenses, both in Evanston and abroad, will vary based on your personal spending habits.

Visit the Undergraduate Financial Aid and Student Finance websites for additional information.