Tuition and Fees
Summer Session students are billed for tuition on a per-unit basis. At Northwestern one credit unit equals four quarter hours or two and two-thirds semester hours of credit. Most courses at Northwestern count as one unit of credit, though some carry more credit, with a corresponding increase in tuition. If a course carries less or more than one unit of credit, the number of units appears at the end of the course description. All checks and money orders for tuition, deposits, and fees must be drawn on a U.S. Bank in U.S. Dollars and payable to Northwestern University. Please include the student's name on the check or money order.
2025 Tuition and Fees
- Tuition, per course/unit of credit: $5,597
- Lab 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 $5,597/unit of credit.
- Tuition for approved currently employed secondary education teachers, per course/unit of credit: $2,200
- $130 technology fee for courses ending with -DL
- Full-time Northwestern employees may qualify for a reduced tuition rate for undergraduate, professional development, and Summer Institute classes. You must submit a Tuition Benefit Application one month before registration. If this form is not filed, you will be billed for the full tuition. For further information please visit the Human Resources Employee Reduced Tuition Benefits page or contact the Office of Human Resources: askHR@northwestern.edu
- Financial Aid through Northwestern University is not available for visiting students.
Non-refundable Fees
- Tuition deposit: $250
- Registration fee: $50
- Late registration fee: $75
- Retroactive registration fee: $225
- Late payment penalty: $200
Adding and Dropping Courses
Please visit the Registration Information tab for information regarding any changes in registration and see the important note under the Refund Policy section below.
Refund Policy and Schedule
While the tuition deposit and registration fees are not refundable under any circumstances, students may be eligible to receive a full or partial tuition refund.
Important Note: Summer Session tuition is billed per class. This creates specific policies regarding drop and withdrawal dates and how this might affect your tuition refund. BE SURE you understand the drop/withdrawal policies for summer before dropping a course.
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 Office of Student Accounts considers the date the completed Change of Registration form is received at the SPS Registrar's office to be the effective date in making financial adjustments, so students must submit a drop form before the first day of class in order to receive a full tuition refund.
Please visit the Student Financial Services Withdrawal Calculator and click on the SPS & Summer Session tab to calculate any potential refund due, if dropping after the first day of class.
As Summer Session classes begin and end on different dates throughout the summer, you should consult with Student Financial Services to help determine your potential refund.
Office of Student Finance
Phone: 847-491-5224
studentaccounts-ev@northwestern.edu
Billing and Payment
The Office of Student Finance issues student bills. A due date is shown on each University bill, and payment must be received by that date. Failure to receive bills is not sufficient cause to extend due dates. More information on bills and payment methods can be found on the Student Financial Services page.
eBill and ePay
An electronic option for billing and payment of tuition and fees is available at no charge to students and authorized payers such as their parents. Additional information on eBill and ePay can be found on the Student Financial Services page.
Financial Obligations
You are responsible for fulfilling your financial obligations to the University. If your bill is unpaid at its due date, you may incur a financial hold on your student account and you may also incur a $200 late payment fee.
Until all financial obligations are paid in full, the financial hold could cause:
- Registration to be canceled or prevented
- Diplomas or transcripts to be held
- Enrollment or degrees to be unconfirmed
- You also are liable for any costs associated with collection of your unpaid bills, including, but not limited to, collection agency costs, court costs, and legal fees.
For more information about tuition, fees and billing, visit the Student Financial Services Tuition page.
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!
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