National Louis University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Chicago, Illinois. It enrolls 4,406 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
61/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes6
Value77
Affordability87
Selectivity10
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 95.1%, National Louis University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
95.1%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether National Louis University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
4.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending National Louis University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $12,641 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$12,641
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
55%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
22%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$12,705
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,700
Books & Supplies
$0
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,490
Total Cost of Attendance
$24,154
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$12,462
$30,001 – $48,000
$11,567
$48,001 – $75,000
$12,996
$75,001 – $110,000
$15,447
Over $110,000
$17,956
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,12510%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$19,750Medianpercentile
$23,08475%percentile
$32,20890%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $15,000
↓ $4,750
No Pell $9,167
↓ $10,583
Dependent students $7,500
↓ $12,250
Independent students $15,042
↓ $4,708
Female students $12,574
↓ $7,176
Male students $9,166
↓ $10,584
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,954, less than completers ($19,750), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
47% of full-time students who enrolled at National Louis University graduate within six years, and 54% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
47%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
54%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered National Louis University earn a median of $45,799 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$45,799
Earning > $25K
71%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$47,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$62,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$38,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$54,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$63,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $15,300, about 24% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
22.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 67% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
National Louis University is home to 4,406 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 50% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
4,406
Part-Time
35%
First-Generation
50%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 49.7%2,191
Black 22.1%973
White 14.0%618
International 6.4%282
Asian 2.1%91
Other 2.0%90
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at National Louis University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityChicago, Illinois
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
41%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Quarterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
National Louis University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
45 distinct programs across
12 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at National Louis University is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$105M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$60,477
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
198 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
18
9%
$67,631
Associate Professors
55
28%
$64,327
Assistant Professors
115
58%
$57,838
Instructors
2
1%
$61,931
Lecturers
8
4%
$55,491
Pros & Cons of National Louis University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how National Louis University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, National Louis University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about National Louis University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about National Louis University.
Is National Louis University hard to get into?
National Louis University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 95.1%.
What is the acceptance rate at National Louis University?
National Louis University has an acceptance rate of 95.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does National Louis University cost?
The average net price after aid at National Louis University is $12,641 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is National Louis University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $45,799 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $12,641 per year. That's roughly 3.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is National Louis University known for?
National Louis University is best known for its programs in Teacher Education (K-12), Teacher Education (K-12), Curriculum & Instruction. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do National Louis University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering National Louis University are $45,799, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is National Louis University accredited?
Yes. National Louis University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend National Louis University?
National Louis University enrolls 4,406 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at National Louis University?
National Louis University graduates 47% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is National Louis University a public or private college?
National Louis University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is National Louis University located?
National Louis University is located in Chicago, Illinois.
What programs does National Louis University offer?
National Louis University offers 45 distinct programs. The most popular include Teacher Education (K-12), Teacher Education (K-12), Curriculum & Instruction.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at National Louis University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at National Louis University is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Rankings That Feature National Louis University
National Louis University appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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