tuition & financial aid

We believe education should be affordable and available to everyone, not just an elite group of people. That’s why NLU’s base tuition is often less than what it would cost to attend a community college. And for many, after grants and scholarships, the cost of attending could actually be zero dollars.

Being able to afford one of the most respected career-focused degrees in the Chicago area is within reach.

Tuition and fees (All Programs except Culinary Arts, Nursing & Certificates)

$13,410/
year

Tuition

Student Fee

U-Pass (optional)

$12,195

$825

$390

Maximum grants and scholarships

$15,459/
year

Maximum Federal Pell Grant

Maximum IL State MAP Grant

$7,395

$8,064

Your out-of-pocket costs

Culinary Programs

Approximate tuition

$6,400 per term

Nursing Program

Additional fees apply to Undergraduate tuition after term five

Certificate Programs (Total Program Cost)

Medical Assistant tuition

CCNA, IT Support Specialist & Registered Behavior Technician tuition

$7,500

$6,250

NLU awards $4.5 million in grants and scholarships each year.

Since 1886, NLU has advocated for making career-launching higher education accessible to as many people as possible. One way that belief comes to life: helping students graduate debt-free through a diverse range of financial awards.

NLU Forward Scholarship: $0 tuition for qualifying students Illinois residents with an annual family income under $75,000 a year might qualify for a completely debt-free undergraduate degree with this needs-based scholarship.

Bold Futures Scholarship: 50 full-tuition awards for 2026 high school graduates
‍Illinois high school seniors with a 3.0 GPA or higher can apply for this merit-based scholarship via video by April 17th. Apply now

More scholarship opportunities

NLU Community Heroes Scholarship: Reduces tuition by up to 15%

Presidential Honors Scholarship: up to $2,000

Individual District Scholarship (If not offered in your district, call the NLU Counselor Hotline. 1-847-947-5687)

External scholarships, such as The Dream.US: up to $33,000 plus a stipend up to $6,000

NLU Student Finance is here to assist students with:

Preparing and completing the FAFSA/Alternative Application

Understanding and submitting financial aid paperwork

Working through verification steps, which may include the need to provide additional information

One-on-one appointments are available to make sure students have the funding they need to complete their degree.

A picture of a book and some coins above of the book

Additional Aid Options

You can also get aid from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

NLU FAFSA CODE: 001733

And the Alternative Application For Illinois - Rise Act

If you or your student have questions, contact studentfinance@nl.edu or 888.658.8632 (ext. 5350)