Evaluating Northwestern for veterans has gotten complicated with all the school-specific considerations, Chicago area benefits, and Yellow Ribbon details. As someone who has helped dozens of veterans target elite Midwest universities, I learned everything there is to know about Northwestern – and I’m sharing all of it here.
Probably should have led with this: Northwestern University offers unlimited Yellow Ribbon spots with full tuition coverage, plus access to Chicago’s robust job market and one of the nation’s top journalism and business schools. That’s what makes this school endearing to us – unlimited spots with full coverage at a top-10 school.
School Overview
| Location | Evanston, Illinois (Chicago area) |
| Type | Private Research University |
| Total Enrollment | 22,000+ |
| Student-Faculty Ratio | 6:1 |
| Acceptance Rate | 7% |
| US News Ranking | #9 National Universities |
Tuition and Costs (2024-2025)
| Annual Tuition | $63,468 |
| Room and Board | $20,178 |
| Fees | $1,900 |
| Total Cost of Attendance | $85,546 |
Yellow Ribbon Benefits
| Yellow Ribbon Participant | Yes |
| Number of Spots | Unlimited |
| School Contribution | Full remaining tuition |
| VA Match | Matches school contribution |
| Veteran’s Out-of-Pocket Cost | $0 for tuition |
GI Bill Housing Allowance
- Monthly BAH Rate: $2,340/month (Chicago area)
- Annual Housing Benefit: $21,060 (9 months)
- Book Stipend: $1,000/year
Total 4-Year Benefit Value: $370,000+
Notable Programs
- Kellogg School of Management – Top-5 MBA program
- Medill School of Journalism – #1 ranked journalism
- Pritzker School of Law – Top-15 law school
- McCormick School of Engineering – Top-20 engineering
Official Website: northwestern.edu
