<p>That's crazy expensive. $56,006 in undergrad tuition fees. How easy, or hard, is it to get a scholarship to Northwestern?</p>
<p>Northwestern is generally really good at meeting financial need. However, they don’t have much merit aid.</p>
<p>Generally only people with a few hundred thousand dollars in annual income pay full price. </p>
<p>Otherwise, the average student at NU pays about 50% of sticker price.</p>
<p>I think this might be part of my parents’ problem with the school :/</p>
<p>So, say you have a combined income of 300K. Now take out taxes. Now take out tuition. Now take out your brother’s tuition. Whoa, that’s over half the yearly income of two people right there. Now take out a mortgage for a house purchase based on said income level. Take out car insurance. Medical insurance. Money being sent to relatives/grandparents. Whatever. </p>
<p>I think it’s safe to say there’s a significant subset of people that would have to make huge sacrifices to send their kids to NU yet do not qualify for any or much need-based aid. In fact, I suspect many families would find it literally financially impossible to send their children to this class of school. But, it’s good that they offer generous need-based money, for families that qualify. </p>
<p>I suppose whether or not your parents saved enough or ever considered that they might be paying 56K a year in tuition would play a significant factor in this. I will say I think my parents never dreamed that college could cost so much, both being first-generation state school (on scholarship) graduates who commuted locally to boot. So, they made their life decisions accordingly…probably all they could have done better, though, was to have started a college fund when I was a baby. That, they didn’t do.</p>
<p>All you can do is have an honest discussion with them. Mine won’t give me that much, but perhaps you can impress on your parents its importance…</p>
<p>So yah, Chicagobound?</p>
<p>[Office</a> of College Aid](<a href=“http://collegeaid.uchicago.edu/cost.shtml]Office”>http://collegeaid.uchicago.edu/cost.shtml)</p>
<p>I’m not sure I really understand your point, in general. U Chicago also, to my knowledge, does not offer merit aid.</p>
<p>UChicago does offer merit aid whereas Northwestern does not (except in specific cases, such as “talent scholarships” for the school of music and National Merit Scholarships), which is a definite plus to my parents…though not necessarily to the wise among us (if it’s so hard to even get into, what are my chances for merit? Mostly likely zilch). OP are you NMF or applying to the school of music? 'Cause then, yes.</p>
<p>But, this wasn’t a UChicago versus Northwestern thing. Both are expensive private schools that are extremely selective. For a person who is lucky just to get into them, affording them becomes a whole other issue (if you do not qualify for significant need-based aid). That was my point in general.</p>
<p>While full freight at NU is unquestionably very, very expensive, I am under the impression that all of the top private universities and LACs are roughly comparable in terms of full tuition and fees. That’s why, although I find the cost of private colleges these days to be nothing less than shocking, I don’t see any reason to single out NU (and frankly, I like NU better than the overwhelming majority of comparably priced, top schools).</p>
<p>^No one is singling out NU, simply pointing to valid concerns with the cost.</p>
<p>Also, your statement about most selective privates being roughly equivalent in cost is both true and untrue…A significant amount of good private schools do offer merit, if a limited amount. Duke, WUStL, UChicago, Smith, to name a few, and I am sure there are others. And also, a significant amount of good privates don’t (Ivies, NU, I am sure others).</p>
<p>$56K is not just tuition. That figure represents an estimate of annual (3 Quarters) attendance including books, room, food fees etc. I think tuition is around $35-$38K.
You do not have to make $300K to pay full boat. Our family received $0 aid and we are less than $200K. None the less, do not regret it. Fantastic school and a great opportunity for any student accepted.</p>
<p>Jimmy, how much of loan did you take?</p>
<p>I’m applied to NU for ED. I stand a good chance of getting in, but i’m really worried about price. So if i my family makes about 200k a year, I’ll probably have to pay full price?</p>
<p>^^ That’s exactly my situation. I’m curious how much exactly we’ll have to pay as well.</p>
<p>Generally, you should only do ED if you’re able and willing to pay a lot…</p>
<p>We refinanced our house and pulled equity to fund NU costs. Will retire to a nice double wide and eat Alpo.</p>
<p>Just kidding !! We did use equity in the house. Low mortgage rates were better than student loans.</p>
<p>Good Luck to you and our family. If you guys can swing it great. If not, don’t dwell on it go to a different school work hard and have a blast.</p>