Financial Information

Students are enrolled for a total of six quarters. Tuition is approximately $12,252.00 per quarter.

At Northwestern, we understand how expensive graduate school is and have found ways to help defer the cost of the program.

• Work Study Program: Each student has the opportunity to work for four hours per week for a genetic counseling faculty member for a total of 40 hours per quarter. In exchange for this, the students will have $2200.00 each quarter remitted from their tuition.
• Scholarships: The Center for Genetic Medicine offers four scholarships per year (two for first year students and two for second year students). First year student scholarship awardees will receive $3000.00 per quarter for four quarters (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer) and $500.00 towards books. This totals $12,500.00! Second year scholarship awardees will receive $3750.00 per quarter (Fall, Winter), for a total of $7500.00 during the second year of training.
• Perkins Loan Remission Program: Perkins loans are needs-based, federally subsidized loans from the University at a low interest rate for up to $6000.00 per year. If you qualify and receive one of these loans, and then graduate and obtain a full time genetic counseling position and board certification and/or licensure, the university will remit or cancel loans on a yearly basis as follows:
  • 15% first and second working years
  • 20% third working year
  • 25% fourth and fifth working years
  • This has the potential to allow you up to $10,000 to $12,000 additional loan remission!
• Funding for Research: Students are given up to $1000.00 for their research projects so that they do not need to fund their own work.
• Funding for Local and National Meetings: Students are given up to $800.00 to $1000.00 to attend the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) Annual Education Conference during their second year of training. In addition, if NSGC or another professional genetics society plans a regional meeting in the Chicago area, the program will potentially fund attendance at that meeting as well.

There are many websites that list a variety of scholarships for which you may be eligible (e.g. Michigan State University Libraries site). The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation offers additional scholarship opportunities that can be applied to any graduate program. If you wish to investigate this option, please speak with your undergraduate institution to see if you can be nominated for the award.

Click here for more information regarding financial aid at Northwestern University.