Northwestern University
Vs. Peer Institutions
Admissions Profile
ROI Sensitivity AnalysisAssuming 4 Years to Graduation
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
ROI Efficiency Metrics⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Program ROI Analysis
Certificates
Bachelor's Degrees
Anthropology
Applied Mathematics
Area Studies
Biological and Physical Sciences
Biology, General
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Communication and Media Studies
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
Community Organization and Advocacy
Computer and Information Sciences, General
Computer Engineering
Computer Science
Dance
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Economics
Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research
Engineering, General
English Language and Literature, General
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
Fine and Studio Arts
Geography and Cartography
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
History
Human Resources Management and Services
Industrial Engineering
Information Science/Studies
Journalism
Manufacturing Engineering
Materials Engineering
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Music
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
Non-Professional Legal Studies
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science and Government
Psychology, General
Psychology, Other
Public Health
Public Policy Analysis
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
Religion/Religious Studies
Research and Experimental Psychology
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Science, Technology and Society
Social Sciences, General
Social Sciences, Other
Sociology
Statistics
Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
Master's Degrees
Anthropology
Applied Mathematics
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Biology, General
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
Biotechnology
Botany/Plant Biology
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Business/Commerce, General
Business/Managerial Economics
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
Communication and Media Studies
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
Community Organization and Advocacy
Computer Engineering
Computer Science
Design and Applied Arts
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Education, Other
Educational Administration and Supervision
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians
Engineering-Related Fields
Engineering, Other
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other
English Language and Literature, General
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Fine and Studio Arts
Health and Medical Administrative Services
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities
History
Human Resources Management and Services
Information Science/Studies
Journalism
Legal Professions and Studies, Other
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
Materials Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies
Medical Illustration and Informatics
Music
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
Non-Professional Legal Studies
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science and Government
Psychology, General
Public Administration
Public Health
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Science Technologies/Technicians, Other
Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education
Sociology
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
Statistics
Graduate Certificates
Biotechnology
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General
Public Administration
Doctoral Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
Anthropology
Applied Mathematics
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Biology, General
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
Botany/Plant Biology
Business/Managerial Economics
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
Communication and Media Studies
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
Computer Engineering
Computer Science
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Economics
Education, Other
Engineering Physics
English Language and Literature, General
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Finance and Financial Management Services
Fine and Studio Arts
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
History
Human Resources Management and Services
Industrial Engineering
Marketing
Materials Engineering
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Music
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science and Government
Psychology, General
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
Religion/Religious Studies
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Sociology
Systems Science and Theory
Professional Degrees
Law
Legal Professions and Studies, Other
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies
Medicine
Other Programs
Educational Administration and Supervision
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.
Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.