Head-to-head comparison
Northwestern University vs University of Chicago: which has better ROI?
Option A Evanston, IL
Northwestern University
- Net price / year
- $29,167
- Earnings, 10 years
- $89,363
- Payback
- 2.8 yrs
Option B Chicago, IL
University of Chicago
- Net price / year
- $14,860
- Earnings, 10 years
- $91,885
- Payback
- 1.4 yrs
University of Chicago has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $59,440 in 1.4 years versus 2.8 years at Northwestern University, on median earnings of $91,885 vs $89,363 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Northwestern University | University of Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,167 | $14,860 |
| Total net cost | $116,668 | $59,440 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $89,363 | $91,885 |
| Median debt | $15,000 | $15,000 |
| Payback | 2.8 yrs | 1.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $703,392 | $811,060 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Northwestern University or University of Chicago?
University of Chicago, at $14,860 a year after aid versus $29,167 — a gap of $14,307 a year, or $57,228 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Northwestern University or University of Chicago graduates earn more?
University of Chicago graduates report a median $91,885 ten years after entry, $2,522 more than the $89,363 at Northwestern University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Northwestern University or University of Chicago?
Completers at both borrow a median $15,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
96% of students finish at University of Chicago, against 95% at Northwestern University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.