Tuition
Summer 2026 tuition and fees
- Undergraduate tuition, per course/unit of credit: $5,781
- Lab Course fee: $250 (This fee applies to labs that are a mandatory extension of a one credit class in Chemistry and Physics. Biological Science laboratory classes or any other stand-alone lab classes are billed at $5,781 x unit of credit.)
- Graduate tuition, per course/unit of credit: $8,173*
- Graduate tuition, full-time (3 or 4 courses): $22,973*
- The Graduate School tuition for Resident Master’s Study (TGS 588): $7,659*
- Graduate tuition for Continuous Registration (TGS 512): $100/quarter*
- Online courses: $130 technology fee (courses designated with -DL)
- Late payment fee: $200
- Financial aid information
*These fees do not apply for the School of Professional Studies (SPS) Graduate Programs.
For courses ending in -CN or -DL: Northwestern students who are not in the School of Professional Studies must obtain consent from their college adviser, their Dean’s Office, or their program to enroll in these courses and will need to submit a dual registration form. These requests are processed one week before the start of summer.
Drops and Withdrawals
Students who have registered for a course are considered enrolled for the duration and are expected to attend all sessions of the courses for which they are registered. Excessive absences do not signal a student's intent to drop or withdraw and is cause for failure in the course. The student is also responsible to pay any tuition balance remaining on their account.
SUMMER DROP POLICY: Summer session drop deadlines differ from those during the regular academic year due to the unique structure of summer enrollment. Summer tuition adjustments follow a prorated schedule due to the varying course lengths and session dates offered throughout the summer term. As a result, the last day to drop courses via CAESAR and the applicable tuition adjustment period varies by session. Students are responsible for reviewing the Summer Drop Schedule chart carefully to determine the applicable deadlines for their specific course session. In order to receive a full tuition refund, the Registrar's Office must receive a drop form before the start of a course. Students may review the withdrawal calculator on the Student Finance website to check on tuition refund. The Summer Tuition Adjustment Calculator can be found here.
BE SURE you understand the drop/withdrawal policies for summer, including how a drop could affect your financial aid. More information can be found below:
The following policies apply to all changes in registration:
- Failure to attend a course does not, in itself, constitute a drop or withdrawal under any circumstances and incurs a failing grade (F) on official transcripts.
- Failure to drop a course within the time allowed is regarded as a failure and is recorded with a grade of F.
- You may withdraw entirely from Summer Session by filling out the Cancellation/Withdrawal Form available in the Office of the Registrar. If 60% of the course has elapsed on the date of withdrawal, the course remains on your transcript with a grade of W.
Refund Policy and Schedule
Students may be eligible to receive a full or partial tuition refund, less any non-refundable fees and deposits. Northwestern University's refund policy is based on the percentage of time (number of days in the session, including weekends and holidays) that you were enrolled as a student in your class. The Student Finance Office considers the effective date in making financial adjustments the date of the drop in CAESAR or the date the completed Change of Registration form is received at the Office of the Registrar.
Please visit the Student Finance website (SPS & Summer Session tab) to calculate any potential refund amount due.
For further details regarding tuition and the refund policy, please contact:
Student Finance Office - Evanston Campus:
Phone: 847-491-5224
studentaccounts-ev@northwestern.edu
Office of Student Finance - Chicago Campus:
Phone: 312-503-8503
studentaccounts-chicago@northwestern.edu
Earn while you learn — become an RA this summer
The Northwestern University College Preparation Program is looking for resident advisors to help guide high school students through a summer of learning and fun at Northwestern.
- Earn salary, including room and board
- Work with bright, motivated high school students from around the country and abroad
- Plan exciting events and gain valuable experience
- Enjoy Northwestern campus life and Chicago this summer!