Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks National Louis University #272 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. National Louis University sits in the 94.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting stronger graduate outcomes than many comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks National Louis University #842 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- National Louis University's composite ranking reflects a consistent pattern: graduates earn about $17,390 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a result that stands out given the university's broad-access mission and its concentration in education and related fields. The mobility ranking reinforces that story — National Louis University moves a substantial share of students into stable, community-anchored careers at a level that places it well above many private four-year peers.
Azimuth ranks National Louis University #263 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 82.3 percentile. The current structured profile shows retention at 50.4% and a six-year graduation rate of 30.1%. Return on investment ranks #379, with graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $63,065. Graduates earn about $17,390 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 94.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability sits in the 85.7 percentile; published cost of attendance is $24,154, and the middle-income net price is $12,996. Access sits in the 84.7 percentile, with 55.1% receiving Pell Grants and 50.4% first-generation.
Published cost of attendance is $24,154. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $12,462, middle-income families pay around $12,996, higher-income families pay approximately $17,956. Azimuth ranks National Louis University #205 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 85.7 percentile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,750; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $17,284. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $63,065, median federal debt projects to a monthly payment of about $223 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
National Louis University is a private university in Chicago, IL, with a strong concentration in Education — a good fit for students who want to enter teaching, school leadership, counseling, or related human-services fields and who value an institution that serves a broad, mixed enrollment in an urban setting. The earnings case is grounded in the institution's program mix. Graduates earn median $63,065 four years after enrollment, placing National Louis University in the 63.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and earn about $17,390 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing National Louis University in the 94.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The access profile is broad. 55.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 50.4% are first-generation college students — signals that National Louis University actively serves cost-sensitive and first-generation families. Median student debt at graduation is $19,750, which is a realistic figure to weigh against the stable, public-sector earnings typical of Education-oriented careers. Fit depends on two realistic filters: program interests should align with Education and related applied fields, since that concentration shapes most of the institution's outcomes, and students who need to borrow should model debt against the salary trajectories common in education and social-service roles, which tend to be steady but not high-ceiling.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the National Louis University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Actuarial Science
77 graduates
Clinical Research Coordinator
30 graduates
Brewery/Brewpub Operations/Management
23 graduates
Criminology
63 graduates
Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other
47 graduates
National Louis University's program mix is anchored in education and human services — a signature that reflects the university's long-standing focus on preparing teachers, counselors, and child development professionals for local labor markets. Education accounts for the largest share of degree output, with Education representing 27% of graduates, Business representing 19%, and Social Sciences representing 8%.
This concentration positions National Louis University closer to a specialized professional-preparation institution than a broad research university, with a program portfolio shaped around workforce needs in education, early childhood, and behavioral health. The highest aggregate-return program is Teacher Education, which combines meaningful cohort scale with competitive earnings four years after enrollment.
Among the most-enrolled programs, Teacher Education program graduates 215 students annually with median earnings of $46,398, and Azimuth ranks the program #91 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods and Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services round out the largest fields by cohort size, with 77 and 69 graduates respectively, reflecting the institution's depth in applied human-services and education-adjacent pathways.
The highest-earning programs at National Louis University are led by Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, where graduates earn median earnings of $74,144 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #43 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Health Administration and Criminology also deliver comparatively strong early-career pay within the institution's portfolio.
Many of these programs are local-labor pathways — fields like education, early childhood development, and counseling where graduates typically enter regional employment markets rather than high-mobility national career tracks. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides useful context for how these program families align with broader labor-market demand.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New York Institute Of Technology Similar quality tier (#10726 ranked) | NY | 81% | $70,080 | #10726 | Compare |
Tufts University Similar quality tier (#10729 ranked) | MA | 11% | $83,214 | #10729 | Compare |
Case Western Reserve University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#10714 ranked) | OH | 37% | $87,989 | #10714 | Compare |
University Of Tulsa Similar quality tier (#10751 ranked) | OK | 62% | $61,408 | #10751 | Compare |
University Of Rochester Similar quality tier (#10756 ranked) | NY | 40% | $79,042 | #10756 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Published cost of attendance is $24,154. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $12,462, middle-income families pay around $12,996, higher-income families pay approximately $17,956.
Azimuth ranks National Louis University #205 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 85.7 percentile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,750; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $17,284.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $63,065, median federal debt projects to a monthly payment of about $223 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Graduates of National Louis University earn median 4-year earnings of $63,065, placing National Louis University in the 63.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $17,390 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 94.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks National Louis University #379 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major.
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods reports 215 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $46,398, ranked #109 nationally in its major. Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods reports 77 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $74,144, ranked #42 nationally in its major.
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services reports 69 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $45,388, ranked #57 nationally in its major. Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other reports 68 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $52,616, ranked #59 nationally in its major.
