Loyola University Chicago tuition is approximately $50,270 a year for undergraduates, with mandatory fees of about $1,446 on top. Once housing, food and books are added, the published total cost of attendance reaches roughly $74,990 a year.
Almost nobody pays that. 99% of Loyola undergraduates receive financial aid, and the average award is $25,796, which brings the typical net cost to somewhere near $49,000. That gap between sticker price and net price is the single most important thing to understand about this university's cost, and it is the reason you should never rule Loyola out on the headline figure alone.
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Loyola University Chicago Tuition and Fees Breakdown
| Line item | Annual cost |
| Tuition | $50,270 |
| Mandatory fees | $1,446 |
| Room | $10,950 |
| Board (meal plan) | $6,380 |
| Books and supplies | $1,600 |
| Published total cost of attendance | $74,990 |
An important caveat on these figures. Loyola sets tuition by school and college, so a single university-wide number is always an approximation. The source used here also lists a combined tuition-and-fees figure that does not reconcile with its own component lines, which is a common problem with third-party cost aggregators.
Before you budget on any of this, check Loyola's own bursar pages for your specific college. The structure of the costs below is reliable. The exact dollars need confirming.
What Loyola Actually Costs After Aid
| * | Amount |
| Published total cost of attendance | $74,990 |
| Average financial aid award | $25,796 |
| Students receiving financial aid | 99% |
| Approximate average net cost | About $49,194 |
A 99% aid rate is not generosity in the ordinary sense. It means Loyola, like most private US universities, sets a high published price and discounts it heavily and almost universally. The sticker price functions as a starting point, not a bill.
What follows practically:
Run the net price calculator before anything else. Loyola is required to publish one. Fifteen minutes there tells you more than any tuition article, including this one.
Compare net price, never sticker price. A Loyola offer at $49,000 net against an Illinois public at $19,352 published is a real difference. A Loyola offer at $30,000 net against a public university where you receive nothing is a much closer call.
Aid packages are not fixed forever. Ask what happens in years two to four, and whether merit awards are renewable and on what GPA condition.
Room and Board Is Where You Have Control
Tuition is fixed. The $17,330 room and board line is not.
Loyola's main campus is in Rogers Park on Chicago's far North Side, with the Water Tower Campus downtown. Rogers Park is one of the more affordable neighbourhoods in the city, which gives Loyola students a genuine advantage over students at universities in Lincoln Park or the Loop.
Chicago student rent for 2026
| Option | Typical monthly cost |
| Shared room, Lakeview | $750 to $1,300 |
| Shared room, Hyde Park | $800 to $1,300 |
| Lincoln Park, varies by room type | $750 to $3,200 |
| Studio or one bedroom, Loop and South Loop | $1,600 to $2,500 |
At the lower end of the shared-room range, a nine-month private lease can undercut the $10,950 university room charge meaningfully. At the upper end it does not. The calculation depends on the neighbourhood, whether you need a twelve-month lease, and how you value the convenience of on-campus living.
Two Chicago-specific points that help:
- Nine-month leases are available here. Chicago does not run on a single turnover date the way Boston does, and academic-year terms are more common. If you go home in summer, paying twelve months for nine months of use is an avoidable cost worth asking about.
- Security deposits must be returned within 45 days of move-out under Chicago rules. Some buildings charge a non-refundable move-in fee instead. These are different things with different protections, so confirm which one applies before you sign.
Acolyte Living lists verified options across Chicago, including MDA Apartments and Tailor Lofts for students based at the downtown campus.
Before signing anything, use our apartment tour checklist, and weigh the options with college dorms versus off-campus housing.
How Loyola Compares in Illinois
| Institution | Published annual cost |
| Illinois average, in-state public | $19,352 tuition and fees |
| Illinois average, out-of-state | $20,985 tuition and fees |
| Loyola University Chicago | About $51,716 tuition and fees, $74,990 total |
For an Illinois resident, a public university is dramatically cheaper on paper. Loyola competes on aid, class size and specific programmes rather than on price, and the question is always whether your individual net offer closes that gap.
For an out-of-state or international student the calculation shifts, because the public in-state discount does not apply to you. Compare the DePaul acceptance rate guide for the other major Chicago private, and our overview of colleges in Illinois for the full picture.
If cost is the deciding factor, the transfer route is worth pricing seriously. See the best community colleges in the US.
Other Costs to Budget For
The published cost of attendance covers the predictable items. These are the ones that catch students out:
- Health insurance. US universities typically require coverage and bill you for their plan unless you waive it with proof of your own. This can run into four figures.
- Programme fees. Nursing, science and business courses often carry additional course or lab fees beyond the general mandatory fee.
- Transport. A CTA pass, or a longer commute if you live further out for cheaper rent.
- Move-in costs. A deposit or move-in fee, plus furnishing a room if the lease is unfurnished.
- Flights home for international students, which no cost of attendance figure includes.
International students should also read renting without a credit history in the USA and co-signing student leases in the USA, since a private lease in Chicago will usually require a guarantor.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is Loyola University Chicago tuition?
Approximately $50,270 a year for undergraduates, plus about $1,446 in mandatory fees. Loyola sets rates by school and college, so confirm your specific programme with the bursar.
What is the total cost of attendance at Loyola Chicago?
About $74,990 a year, covering tuition, fees, room at $10,950, board at $6,380 and books at $1,600.
What does Loyola Chicago actually cost after financial aid?
The average aid award is $25,796 and 99% of undergraduates receive aid, bringing the typical net cost to roughly $49,194. Use Loyola's net price calculator for your own estimate.
Do most students pay full price at Loyola?
No. 99% of undergraduates receive some financial aid, so the published sticker price is a starting point rather than what a typical family pays.
How much is room and board at Loyola Chicago?
About $17,330 a year in total: $10,950 for room and $6,380 for board.
Is it cheaper to live off campus at Loyola Chicago?
It can be. Shared rooms in nearby Chicago neighbourhoods start around $750 to $1,300 a month, so a nine-month lease at the lower end can undercut the $10,950 room charge. It depends on the neighbourhood and lease length.
How does Loyola Chicago tuition compare to Illinois public universities?
Illinois public institutions average $19,352 in-state and $20,985 out-of-state in tuition and fees, well below Loyola's published rate. The comparison only becomes meaningful once you have your individual aid offer.
When does Loyola set its tuition rates?
Annually, and rates are published by school and college on the bursar's site. Always check the current academic year rather than relying on a figure from a previous cycle.
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The Bottom Line
Loyola University Chicago tuition of around $50,270 and a total cost of attendance near $74,990 make it an expensive university on paper, but with 99% of students receiving aid averaging $25,796, the published figure describes almost nobody's actual bill. Run the net price calculator, compare net against net, and treat the $17,330 room and board line as the part you can genuinely negotiate down by living off campus on a nine-month lease.