Tuition

2024-2025 Year*

Total cost-to-degree = $72,328. This amount covers tuition for four quarters (a one-year program).

Per credit fee (for part-time students) = $6,027

*The School of Communication sets tuition in the spring for the subsequent academic year. Tuition increases will be posted as soon as they are finalized

Financial Aid

The MA in Sound Arts and Industries program is administered under the School of Communication and is not affiliated with The Graduate School. Please do not contact TGS regarding financial aid.

If you have questions, contact us at 847-467-5267 or sound@northwestern.edu.

Program-Based Funding

A limited number of merit-based scholarships are available from the MA in Sound Arts and Industries program at the time of admission. To be considered for a scholarship, applicants must submit 1-5 samples of work that relate to their interest in sound.  Samples of work are not required for admission to the MA in Sound Arts and Industries but are required for scholarship consideration.

• These samples may be audio, time-based media, and/or written work.
• Submissions of audio or time-based media must not exceed 10 minutes in total, excerpts of longer works are acceptable and encouraged.
• Submission of works that are not audio or time-based media must not exceed 8-10 pages per project, with a limit of 1 written project.
• For each sample submitted, please include your role(s) in the project. All media must be credited. If you do not credit the work, it will not be considered for review.

Examples of acceptable audio or time-based media may include but are not limited to the following:

• finished or in-progress podcasts/audio drama
• audio documentary
• video documentation of video games
• film or other media
• musical score and/or sound design from film and/or video games
• instrumental, electronic, and/or vocal performance recordings or videos of self or others
• field recordings
• recordings of live performances that the applicant designed and/or engineered
• recordings, videos, and/or photographs and accompanying artist statement of installations/exhibits

Examples of non-time-based audio or media may include but are not limited to the following:

• scripts for podcasts
• screenplays
• academic research papers

For applicants with non-sound related academic or professional experience who are unsure of what type of work samples to include, email sound@northwestern.edu.

Scholarship award amounts will be included in the admission offer letter. As a professional degree program, there are no teaching or research positions available.