Programs
Enrichment and credit-bearing, accelerated programs designed for students at every age and stage of talent development.
Understanding Tuition and Fees
Center for Talent Development (CTD) tuition and fees vary by the type and length of the program. View general tuition information below. Course specific fees, including any supply or lab fees, are listed on course description cards in the Explore Courses tool.
Assessments
NWEA MAP and CogAT
Fee: $75 per test
Northwestern University's Midwest Academic Talent Search (NUMATS)
The total cost for a student to participate in NUMATS consists of two fees paid during a one-step** registration process: the test fee and the NUMATS fee. The test fee payment is sent by NUMATS to the appropriate testing agency. The NUMATS fee covers registration processing and access to CTD's online MyCTD Toolbox, which provides a variety of resources including follow-up materials that help you interpret your child’s test scores.
**Students age 13 or older registering for the ACT or students in grade 9 registering for SAT must do so in a two-step process. After completing and paying for the NUMATS portion of your registration, you will receive an e-mail with additional instructions for registering for the test directly with ACT or SAT.
PSATTM 8/9 - Not available for individual registration in 2020-2021
SAT® |
Fee |
|---|---|
NUMATS Fee |
$45 |
Test Fee |
|
| without essay | $52 |
| with essay | $68 |
Total |
|
| without essay | $97 |
| with essay |
$113 |
ACT® |
Fee |
|---|---|
NUMATS Fee |
$45 |
Test Fee |
$55 |
Total |
$100 |
Please note that for 2020-2021, ACT registration must be completed in a two-step process as described above and on the NUMATS web page. Families of students age 13 or older at the time of registration may register for the test through ACT (not CTD). Pricing is provided only for reference.
Visit the NUMATS web page for registration deadlines and test dates.
Payment Policies
- Fees are not refundable and may not be transferred to a future academic year.
In-person Summer Leapfrog-Spark, Solstice & Spectrum
Program Tuition per course
| 1/2 Day Leapfrog-Spark | $350 |
| Full-Day Leapfrog-Spark | $700 |
| Solstice | $1,625 |
| Spectrum | $2,385 |
Payment Policies
Tuition for Leapfrog-Spark programming is due in full at the time of application.
A $500 dollar tuition deposit is due at the time of application for Solstice and Spectrum Programs. The balance is due within 30 days of enrollment and no later than two weeks before the start of the class.
Leadership and Service-Learning Programs
Leadership Intensive (Winter and Spring 2021)
Tuition: $525
Payment in full is due at the time of application.
Tuition increases by $25 after the Early Application Tuition Discount Deadline.
- Winter Early Application deadline is January 27.
- Spring Early Application deadline is April 5.
Leadership Intensive (Summer 2021)
Tuition: $765
Payment in full is due at the time of application.
Tuition increases by $25 after the Early Application Tuition Discount Deadline.
- Summer Early Application deadline is June 7.
Civic Leadership Institute (Summer 2021)
Tuition: $1,480
Payment Policies
- Deposit of $500 is due at the time of application ($60 for those applying for financial aid). Payment of the remaining balance is due within 30 days of acceptance to the program.
- Tuition increases by $25 after the Early Application Tuition Discount Deadline of June 7.
- Students who complete an application but are not enrolled in the program will be provided a full refund.
- A payment plan is available for students in Civic Leadership Institute. Families needing a payment plan should contact CTD-admissions@northwestern.edu for assistance in submitting an application.
Online and Hybrid Programs (Academic Year)
Program |
Tuition(Per Course) |
|---|---|
| Family Program (4 weeks) | $195 |
| CTD Encounters at Home | $75 |
| CTD Weekend at Home | $300 |
| Enrichment (9 weeks) | $575^ |
| Core Essentials (9 weeks) | $595^ |
| Honors (1 credit) | $750^ |
| Honors (2 credits) | $1,215^ |
| AP® (1 credit) | $750^ |
| AP® (2 credits) | $1,215^ |
| Hybrid Courses** | Vary by Course*** |
**Hybrid courses are not currently available, because in-person programming has been suspended in response to the pandemic.
***Please see the individual course descriptions in the Explore Courses tool for tuition information.
^Tuition increases by $25 after the Early Application Tuition Discount Deadline.
Winter Deadline: January 3
Spring Deadline: March 21
Payment Policies
- Full payment is due with the application.
- Textbooks, lab equipment, and fees, computer programs, and hardware for online courses, if required, must be purchased separately by students. See course descriptions or acceptance materials for details.
Online Program Discounts
Center for Talent Development offers discounted tuition for school districts and homeschool groups that enroll five or more students for courses with the same start date. See CTD Online for Schools for details.
Online and Hybrid Programs (Summer)
Program |
Tuition(Per Course) |
|---|---|
| Family Program (4 weeks) | $195 |
| Leapfrog-Spark Online (1 week) | $300 |
| Encounters at Home (1 week) | $300 |
| Global Leadership Intensive (1 week) | $400 |
| Solstice Online (2 weeks) | $765 |
| Spectrum Online (3 weeks) | $1,480 |
| Equinox Online (3 weeks) | $1,480 or $2,000*** |
| Enrichment (9 weeks) | $575^ |
| Core Essentials (9 weeks) | $595^ |
| Accelerated Summer Option (1 credit) | $750^ |
| Accelerated Summer Option (2 credits) | $1,215^ |
***Tuition varies by the course type. Please see the individual course descriptions in the Explore Courses tool for tuition information.
^Tuition increases by $25 after the Early Application Tuition Discount Deadline.
Accelerated Summer Option (1 & 2 credits) Deadline: May 3
Enrichment & Core Essentials Deadline: June 4
Payment Policies
- Full payment is due with the application, except in the cases of students applying for financial aid and for Spectrum and Equinox online courses. Spectrum and Equinox online courses require a $500 deposit with the application, and payment of the remaining balance is due within 30 days of acceptance to the program.
- Textbooks, lab equipment, and fees, computer programs, and hardware for online courses, if required, must be purchased separately by students. See course descriptions or acceptance materials for details.
Online Program Discounts
Center for Talent Development offers discounted tuition for school districts and homeschool groups that enroll five or more students for courses with the same start date. See CTD Online for Schools for details.
Weekend Programs
Program |
Tuition |
|---|---|
|
CTD Weekend at Home |
$300 |
|
CTD Encounters at Home |
$75 |
|
In-Person Tadpole Academy Parent-Child Classes |
Not currently available |
|
In-Person Saturday and Sunday classes; |
Not currently available |
Payment Policies
- Full payment is required with the application.
- Some WEP classes have an additional lab, materials, or textbook fees. See individual course descriptions for details.
Additional Information
Before completing an application, please review all program eligibility requirements and related program policies.