The total cost of attending Northwestern University for a complete four-year undergraduate education requires a significant financial investment, with sticker prices routinely exceeding $90,000 per academic year when factoring in standard tuition, mandatory fees, housing, and meal plans. Over four years, the cumulative gross cost typically surpasses $360,000 before financial aid. However, the university meets the full demonstrated need of admitted students through generous institutional grants and scholarships, meaning many families pay substantially less than the full sticker price.