Skip to main content

Master's Programs

For students in The Graduate School, the academic year runs from the Fall quarter through the Summer quarter, so the Summer 2025 quarter is the last term of the 2024-2025 academic year. The Fall 2025 quarter is the first term of the 2025-2026 academic year. 

If your program starts in the Summer quarter and you plan to borrow Federal Direct Loans for your first quarter of enrollment (Summer), be sure to complete the correct FAFSA for that academic year. 

(The Cost of Attendance for the 2025-2026 academic year is not yet available.)

Your Cost of Attendance for the 2024-2025 academic year is the total of your direct and indirect costs as listed below. To determine your tuition cost, add the quarterly tuition rates for the enrollment category or for the number of credits/units you will be taking in each term. Add the fees for those terms. Then add the total indirect cost for the number of terms you will be enrolled.

*The U.S. Dept. of Education deducts origination fees from each federal student loan disbursement. These amounts represent the average quarterly loan fees for students in The Graduate School. Your actual loan fees will be based on the specific loan amount you borrow.
Direct (Fixed) Costs

These costs are set by the University and will appear on your  your Northwestern University Customer Account in CAESAR. IMPORTANT: All students must maintain health insurance that meets the University’s standards. You will have the opportunity to waive the Northwestern University Student Health Insurance Plan (NU-SHIP) via CAESAR if you have other comparable coverage. Students enrolled in the Fall quarter will be billed for the annual premium amount ($5,571) in the Fall term (for coverage from Sept 1 through Aug 31). Students admitted in subsequent terms will be charged a pro-rated premium amount based on the number of quarters of coverage remaining.

Tuition/Fees Fall 2024 Winter 2025 Spring 2025 Summer 2025

Single credit/unit

$7,935 $7,935 $7,935 $7,935

2 credits/units

$15,870 $15,870 $15,870 $15,870

3 - 4 credits/units

$22,304 $22,304 $22,304 $22,304

Resident in Master's Study (TGS 588)

$7,436 $7,436 $7,436 $7,436

Continuous Registration (TGS 512)

$100 $100 $100 $100

Health Services Fee

$276 $276 $276 $0
Indirect (Variable) Costs

These expenses are not billed on your Northwestern University Customer Account but can be used to help you budget your living expenses for the year. 

Category  Cost for 1 quarter Cost for 2 quarters Cost for 3 quarters Cost for 4 quarters
Housing & Food $7,050 $14,100 $21,150 $28,200
Books $739 $1,478 $2,217 $2,956
Personal Expenses $900 $1,800 $2,700 $3,600
Transportation $516 $1,032 $1,548 $2,064
Loan Fees* $584 $1,168 $1,752 $2,336
Total Indirect Costs $9,789 $19,578 $29,367 $39.156