Statistics bachelor's degree outcomes at Northwestern University
Evanston, IL · Private nonprofit · Federal field 2705
Data scope
Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.
The short version
Reported earnings are notably above the same-degree benchmark.
$30,257 above the national median for the same field and credential.
Debt pressure
11.4% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
$149,205 / year
10-year scenario
+162% · Strong payoff
Price evidence
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price+$596,820
$20,000Annual price+$516,820
$29,000Current college-wide context+$480,820
$40,000Annual price+$436,820
$60,000Annual price+$356,820
$80,000Annual price+$276,820
$100,000Annual price+$196,820
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
Not availableEarnings growth, year 1 → 5$77,917 → Not availableNot availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohortNot availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohortNot availableYear-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median29Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt medianNot availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credentialNot availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT
Size, aid and an earnings floor.
The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.
62Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment15Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers31Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count33Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,808Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$122,682$87,874 above the preliminary benchmark
Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student.
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$29,167
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$14,000
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$122,682
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$148/mo
Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.
WHAT WILL IT COST?
Published college costs provide the starting point.
Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.
Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.
$77,917Year 1
$122,682Year 4
Not availableYear 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
1.4% of gross monthly earnings
Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.
Gross monthly earnings$10,224
Estimated loan payment$148
29borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$122,682 vs. $92,425
$30,257 above the national median for the same field and credential.
Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?
Related occupations, wages and outlook.
Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.
BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Statisticians$119,760 median wageIL estimate · 480 jobs · 15-2041+11.0% projected U.S. growth · 1.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeActuaries$115,430 median wageIL estimate · 2,280 jobs · 15-2011+9.2% projected U.S. growth · 1.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$77,080 median wageIL estimate · 2,390 jobs · 25-1022+1.7% projected U.S. growth · 3.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeNatural Sciences Managers$159,670 median wageIL estimate · 2,810 jobs · 11-9121+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeData Scientists$106,560 median wageIL estimate · 10,520 jobs · 15-2051+34.6% projected U.S. growth · 24.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMathematicians$130,970 median wageIL estimate · 60 jobs · 15-2021+0.6% projected U.S. growth · 0.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeSurvey Researchers$54,080 median wageIL estimate · 320 jobs · 19-3022-4.8% projected U.S. growth · 0.6k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degree
Possible alternatives
Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.
Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.
Chicago, IL
University of Chicago
$7,507 higher earnings · $14,307 lower annual net price