Northwestern Health Sciences University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Northwestern Health Sciences University charges a net price of $35,887/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $71,774. Graduates earn a median $48,666 ten years after entry, $306/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 234.6 years — a 20-year net return of $-65,654, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Northwestern Health Sciences University's 234.6-year payback ranks #1,259 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 2% of them, and #36 of 68 in Minnesota.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $35,887/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $71,774 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $48,666 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $306/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $7,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 234.6 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $-65,654 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
How we compute this. Payback = total net cost ÷ annual earnings premium, where the premium is median earnings 10 years after entry minus the $48,360 baseline (BLS 2024 median for a high-school-diploma worker 25+). Total net cost = net price × 2 years. We do not discount future dollars. The institution-wide earnings figure blends every major — a specific program's payback can be far better or worse. Full method on the methodology page.