Northwestern Medill Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition for the Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications Professional program is $5,463 per unit. Each class is typically one unit. Students typically take one or two units per quarter.

MS in IMC Professional Program Tuition
2024 Academic Year per Unit,
Annual Tuition Estimates*
Per Unit $5,463
Total Units 13
Annual Tuition $34,814**
Application Fee $100
Tuition Deposit $500

*Tuition and costs effective as of February 5, 2024. Tuition rates are not inclusive of textbooks and fees. Tuition and costs are subject to change and should be confirmed on the University’s official tuition listing at northwestern.edu/sfs/tuition/graduate/medill-school-of-journalism.html.

**Annual tuition has been calculated for a student taking two units per quarter in the fall, winter, and spring quarters. The total estimated tuition is $71,019, based on the current tuition rate. Typical time to degree completion is two years.

Financial Aid

Financial aid available to students includes private loans and, for students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, federal student loans.

Federal Loans

Federal financial aid for Northwestern University Medill graduate students includes the Unsubsidized Direct loan and the Graduate PLUS loan. A combination of federal student loans are awarded to eligible graduate students up to the cost of the attendance.

Please note: You must be enrolled in at least two units per quarter to qualify for federal financial aid. The federal financial aid interest rate is subject to change annually. If at any time your enrollment status changes, please contact the Medill Office of Graduate Admissions and Financial Aid as soon as possible because this will affect federal financial aid eligibility.

All part-time students applying for federal student loans will initially be offered funding to cover tuition costs and loan fees. If there is need for additional expenses, students can request an adjustment to their cost of attendance budget based on special circumstances. Please contact Associate Director of Graduate Admissions and Financial Aid Donna Su to request an adjustment.

Private Loans

Students may choose to apply for private loans to subsidize their educational costs. Although international students are not eligible for federal student loans, all students may apply for private loans. Please refer to Northwestern University's list of private loan programs and lenders, which was compiled following a review of competitive interest rates and fees, quality of servicing, and borrower benefits.

Fill Out Your FAFSA

In order to be considered for federal financial aid, students must be enrolled in a minimum of two classes per quarter. All applicants who wish to apply for federal financial aid for the MS in IMC Professional program must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Federal financial aid is only available each quarter that a student is enrolled in a minimum of two classes. If a student drops below the minimum, it will affect their ability to receive federal financial aid.

The FAFSA school code for Northwestern University is 001739.

Start Your FAFSA

Explore Your Options for Tuition Reimbursement

Many employers offer tuition reimbursement to help their staff members grow professionally. After all, it’s in their best interest to keep and support good employees. Prepare for a successful discussion with your boss about helping to finance your graduate degree with our five-step guide to tuition reimbursement. Download the guide and take your next step with confidence.

Get the Guide

What is Cost of Attendance?

  • The cost of attendance represents a school’s best estimate of the costs you will incur over the school year.
  • For U.S. citizens and permanent residents using federal financial aid, these figures are used to determine your financial aid eligibility (the amount in student loans you can take out to fund the program).
  • The cost of attendance includes expenses of two types:
    • Fixed (Tuition): Charges that will appear on your bill and are the same for every student.
    • Variable (Books/supplies and loan fees): Variable charges are estimated based on historical data. These numbers may vary student to student. The estimated cost covers all purchases for course-related materials such as books, course packets, etc. Part-time students may also borrow additional funds for living expenses and/or immersive course travel expenses.
  • Loan Fees: The Department of Education charges loan fees on the Unsubsidized Direct Loan (currently 1.057%) and Graduate PLUS Loan (currently 4.228%). Loan fees are automatically taken out of your loan amount when the loan disburses to your student/tuition account.

2023-2024 Academic Year Cost of Attendance

Fixed Expenses Fall Quarter 2023 Winter Quarter 2024 Spring Quarter 2024 Total

Tuition Part-Time
(2 units per quarter)*

$10,926 $10,926 $10,926 $32,778
Variable Expenses Fall Quarter 2023 Winter Quarter 2024 Spring Quarter 2024 Total
Books/Supplies $300 $300 $300 $900
Transportation $540 $540 $540 $1,620
Room/Board $6,000 $6,000 $6,000 $18,000
Personal Expenses $1,600 $1,600 $1,600 $4,800
Loan Fees $317 $317 $317 $951
Total Cost of Attendance $19,683 $19,683 $19,683 $59,049

Questions?

For more information about financial aid, please contact MedillFinAid@northwestern.edu.