Center for Talent Development (CTD) tuition and fees vary by the type and length of the program.
View tuition and fees for CTD’s assessment, weekend, online, hybrid, summer, and service-learning programs:
Talent Search Assessment
The total cost for a student to participate in Northwestern University’s Midwest Academic Talent Search (NUMATS) consistes 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, as well as access to CTD Backpack, our interactive online community for gifted students and their families.
*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 SAT.
2019-2020 Fees:
PSAT™8/9 |
|
NUMATS Fee |
$43 |
Test Fee |
$38 |
Total |
$81 |
SAT® |
NUMATS Fee |
$43 |
Test Fee |
|
without essay |
$49.50 |
with essay |
$64.50 |
Total |
|
without essay |
$92.50 |
with essay |
$107.50 |
ACT® |
|
NUMATS Fee |
$43 |
Test Fee |
$52.00 |
Total |
$95.00 |
Visit the Talent Search Assessment page for registration deadlines and test dates.
Payment Policies
- Fees are not refundable and may not be transferred to a future academic year.
- A late fee of $30 for ACT is assessed during late registration periods.
- There is a $30 charge for returned checks.
Weekend Programs
2019-2020 Tuition:
Program |
Tuition |
Saturday & Sunday classes - Fall 2019 & Winter 2020 (8 week sessions) |
$430 |
Saturday & Sunday classes - Spring 2020 (6 week session) |
$340 |
Tadpole Academy Parent-Child Classes for Age 3 |
$120 |
Accelerated Weekend Experience (AWE) (single weekend) |
$265 (2-day course)
|
Payment Policies
- Full payment is required with the application.
- Some WEP classes have additional lab, materials or textbook fees—see course descriptions for details.
Weekend Program Discounts
Students applying for both WEP and AWE will receive a $60 discount. If applying for both a morning and afternoon WEP session, you will receive a $60 discount, but two applications must be completed.
Online Program
2019-2020 Tuition & Fees:
|
Tuition
|
Family Program (4 weeks) |
$150 |
Enrichment (9 weeks) |
$565 |
Core Essentials (9 weeks) |
$595 |
Honors Electives (1 credit) |
$725 |
Honors (2 credits) |
$1,190 |
AP® (1 credit) |
$750 |
AP® (2 credit) |
$1,195 |
Accelerated Summer Option (1 credit) |
$725 |
Accelerated Summer Option (2 credit) |
$1,195 |
Payment Policies
- Full payment, plus a late fee if required, is due with the application.
- Family, Enrichment, Core Essentials and ASO applications that are received after the session’s application deadline will be assessed a $25 late fee. Honors/Honors Elective/AP® course applications submitted after the session’s application deadline will be processed for enrollment the following month.
- Textbooks, lab equipment and fees, computer programs and hardware for online courses must be purchased separately by students. Textbook requirements can be verified in the CTD online bookstore at http://bookstore.mbsdirect.net/ctd.htm.
Online Program Discounts
Center for Talent Development offers a discounted tuition for school districts and homeschool groups that sign up five or more students for courses with the same start date. See Gifted LearningLinks for Schools for details.
Hybrid Courses
2019-2020 Tuition & Fees:
Tuition for hybrid courses (online courses with an in-person component) varies by course. Please see the the individual course descriptions for tuition information.
Payment Policies
- Full payment, plus a late fee if required, is due with the application.
- Applications that are received after the application deadline will be assessed a late fee.
Summer Program
2020 Tuition & Fees:
Leapfrog (Half-day courses, 1-week program):
|
Tuition, First Course
|
Tuition, Second Course or More
|
Half-Day Leapfrog Course |
$345 |
$310 |
Leapfrog - Spark (All-day courses, 1-week programs):
|
Tuition
|
All-Day Leapfrog - Spark Course |
$670 |
Leapfrog - Spark Payment Policies
- Unlike the other CTD Summer Programs, Leapfrog-Spark tuition rates will not change after May 14.
- Online application requires credit card payment. Contact the Admissions office if you are unable to pay via credit card.
- Unless applying for financial aid, Leapfrog-Spark applications must include payment for the total tuition.
- Students applying for Financial Aid may apply with a $60 deposit. The Financial Aid (FACTS) application must be completed in a timely manner, otherwise the full deposit will become due to maintain the student's seat if enrolled.
- Fees include tuition and basic materials. A few courses require an additional lab or materials fee.
Solstice (2-week program)
|
Tuition through May 14, 2020 |
Tuition after May 14, 2020 |
Commuter Student |
$1,625 |
$1,675 |
Residential Student |
$2,835 |
$2,885 |
Spectrum & Equinox (3-week programs)
|
Tuition through May 14, 2020 |
Tuition after May 14, 2020 |
Commuter Student |
$2,385 |
$2,485 |
Residential Student |
$4,135 |
$4,235 |
Equinox: iOT Engineering and CPU Architecture
|
Tuition through May 14, 2020 |
Tuition after May 14, 2020 |
Commuter Student |
$3,975 |
$4,075 |
Residential Student |
$5,550 |
$5,650 |
Equinox 5-week AP® Chemistry
|
Tuition through May 14, 2019 |
Tuition after May 14, 2019 |
Commuter Student |
$3,015 |
$3,115 |
Residential Student |
$5,695 |
$5,795 |
Equinox LaunchX (residential only)
Visit the LaunchX website for application and tuition information
Solstice, Spectrum & Equinox Payment Policies
- Residential fees cover tuition, room and board, books, basic materials, weekend activity costs, and health center fees.
- Commuter fees include tuition, books, basic materials, and lunch.
- Selected courses carry a lab or materials fee; see course descriptions for fee details.
- Applications must be accompanied by a $500 tuition deposit. Payment in full must accompany each application submitted after June 14, 2020.
- Students applying for Financial Aid may apply with a $60 deposit. The financial aid (FACTS) application must be completed in a timely manner, otherwise the full deposit will become due to maintain the student's seat if enrolled.
- Students applying for more than one session must pay tuition deposits for each session.
- A five-month payment plan is available for students in Solstice, Spectrum, Equinox, and CLI.
- Tuition balances must be paid by check, money order, or credit card within 30 days of acceptance in the program. For students who receive their program acceptance after June 14, 2020, the final payment is due upon notification of acceptance. Students with an outstanding balance after June 11, 2020 may lose their place in the program.
- Unless a payment plan has been approved, accounts must be paid in full by Opening Day or students will not be allowed to check in and attend class.
Service-Learning Programs
Civic Education Hybrid 2020 Tuition & Fees:
Tuition includes the following program expenses:
- Online course site
- Lodging and meals during face-to-face session
- Service project materials and speaker fees
- Staff instruction online and instruction and 24-hour supervision while on site, with a staff to student ratio of at least 1:6
Note: Students are responsible for their own travel to and from the program site for the face-to-face session.
|
Early Application Tuition |
Regular Application Tuition |
Civic Education Hybrid |
Varies by course. Please see description. |
Vaires by course. Please see description. |
CivicWeek 2020 Tuition & Fees:
Tuition includes all program expenses:
- Lodging and meals throughout the program
- Transportation to and from program activities
- Service project materials and speaker fees
- Staff instruction and 24-hour supervision, with a staff to student ratio of at least 1:6
- Recreational expenses
Note: Students are responsible for their own travel to and from the program site. CivicWeek offers a shuttle service to the site from the nearest major airport for a small fee.
|
Early Application Tuition |
Regular Application Tuition |
Weeklong Program |
$1,495 |
$1,545 |
4-day Program |
$995 |
$1,045 |
CivicWeek Payment Policies
- Applications received by January 15 (for spring programs) and May 14 (for summer programs) are subject to the early bird tuition rate; applications received after these dates are subject to the regular tuition rate.
- The tuition balance is due within 30 days of admission to the program, no later than the regular application deadline of March 1 (for spring programs) and June 15 (for summer programs). Students with an outstanding balance at these deadlines may lose their place in the program.
- Applications received after (March 1 for spring programs and June 10 for summer programs) must be accompanied by payment in full.
- Payments may be made by credit card or by check or money order made payable to Northwestern University.
Civic Leadership Institute 2020 Tuition & Fees:
|
Early Application Tuition (through April 9, 2020) |
Regular Application Tuition (after April 9, 2020) |
Baltimore & Evanston |
$4,250 |
$4,350 |
Tuition includes all program expenses:
- Room and board for three weeks
- Service project and field trip fees
- Books and materials
- Staff instruction and supervision
Civic Leadership Institute Payment Policies
- Applications received by April 9 are subject to the early bird tuition rate; applications received after April 9 are subject to the regular tuition rate.
- All applications must be accompanied by a tuition deposit of $500. Financial aid applicants may pay a reduced tuition deposit of $60.
- The tuition balance is due within 30 days of admission to the program, no later than June 10. Students with an outstanding balance at this deadline may lose their place in the program.
- Applications received after June 10 must be accompanied by payment in full.
- Payments may be made by credit card or by check or money order made payable to Northwestern University.
- All accounts must be up to date on Opening Day or students will not be allowed to check in.