Northwestern University

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL, USA

Northwestern University is a 4-year private research institution in the Chicagoland area. Northwestern is home to 12 colleges and schools and is renowned for its Medill School of Journalism, Kellogg School of Management, and Bienen School of Music. In addition to academic facilities, the NU campus features the Dearborn Observatory and Shakespeare Garden. To escape the rigors of academia, NU’s location in the town of Evanston provides access to coffee shops, theatres, and the city of Chicago.

Admissions

Key Admissions Stats

Institution Type
Private
  • Not for Profit
  • Coed

Need Aware

This school may consider an applicant’s financial situation when deciding admission

Level of Institution
4 Year
Campus Setting
Small city
0
100
7%
Acceptance Rate

Admissions Requirements

SAT
SAT is not checked
No
ACT
ACT is not checked
No
Transcript
Transcript is checked
Yes

Important Deadlines

Application TypeApplication DeadlineReply Deadline
Early Decision Acceptance is binding so student must attend college if accepted.November 1February 1
Fall Regular DecisionJanuary 1May 1

Admitted Student Stats

In-State Students
25%
Out-Of-State Students
73%
39%
Submitting ACT
43%
Submitting SAT
Average ACT Composite: 35
0
36
Average SAT Composite: 1506
0
1600

Academics

Key Academic Stats

Highest Degree Offered
Doctorate
Total Number of Students
23,409
Total Number of Undergrads
8,847
Academic Calendar

Quarter

See your fit
Classroom Sizes

2-19 Students
77%
20-39 Students
13%
40-99 Students
6%
100+ Students
1%
0
100
84%
Graduate in 4 Years US National: 28%
0
100
94%
Graduate in 6 Years US National: 52%
Student:Faculty Ratio
6:1
US National: 21:1

Tuition, Cost & Aid

Key Financial Stats

Average Net Price
$28,344
Calculate your net cost
Tuition
In-State Tuition In-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who meet the state's or institution's residency requirements. In-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students residing in the locality in which they attend school and may be a lower rate than in-state tuition if offered by the institution.
$63,468
Out-of-State Tuition Out-of-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who do not meet the state’s or institution’s residency requirements. Out-of-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students not residing in the locality in which they attend school.
$63,468
Additional Costs
Room and Board The weighted average for room and board and other expenses is generated as follows:
  • (amount for on-campus room, board and other expenses * # of students living on-campus.
  • + amount for off-campus (with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus with family
  • + amount for off-campus (not with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus not with family)
divided by the total # of students. Students whose living arrangements are unknown are excluded from the calculation. For some institutions the # of students by living arrangement will be known, but dollar amounts will not be known. In this case the # of students with no corresponding dollar amount will be excluded from the denominator.
$19,440
Books and Supplies
$1590

Aid & Grants

0
100
100%
Need Met
Students Receiving Gift Aid Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal gift aid. Federal gift aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
18%
Average Aid Per Year
$50,310
Students Receiving Grants Percent of undergraduate students awarded grant aid. Grant aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
18%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$6,742
Average Institution Grant Aid Per Year
$47,524

Student Loans

Students Borrowing Loans Loans to students - Any monies that must be repaid to the lending institution for which the student is the designated borrower. Includes all Title IV subsidized and unsubsidized loans and all institutionally- and privately-sponsored loans. Does not include PLUS and other loans made directly to parents.
23%
Average Loan Amount Per Year
$5,696
Average Debt at Graduation The median federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated. This figure includes only federal loans; it excludes private student loans and Parent PLUS loans.
$14,500
Median Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 5.05% interest rate.
$148

Campus Life

Key Campus Stats

Student Gender
Male
Female
46%
54%
Student Organizations
400
Size of Town
Small city
LGBTQIA Student Resource Groups
LGBTQIA Student Resource Groups is checked
Yes
On Campus Women's Center
On Campus Women's Center is checked
Yes

Housing

0
100
60%
Undergrads Living on Campus
On-campus living required of freshman
No

Athletics

Divisional Sports Nickname
Wildcats
School Colors
purple and white
Varsity Athletics Association
NCAA
Varsity Athletics Conference Primary
Big Ten Conference

Campus Safety

24-HR security patrol
24-HR security patrol is checked
Yes
Campus emergency phones
Campus emergency phones is checked
Yes

After Graduation

Post Grad Stats

Top 5 Cities
Chicago
New York
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Washington
Average Salary
6 years after graduation
$93,400

What Students Are Saying

Northwestern is very good at challenging its students with a variety of academic courses and sequences. The faculty are very attentive to students' needs, and it is easy to meet with professors to discuss any questions or comments related to coursework. The social atmosphere is vast; there are dozens of student groups and organizations, and although it may seem overwhelming, everyone finds their niche.
Claudia from Park Ridge, NJ
This is a wonderful environment with excellent faculty. Good food, great people, and an awesome lakeview! I cannot recommend this school highly enough.
William from Smithfield, VA
Northwestern University is a top-tier university and is sometimes considered the ivy of the Midwest. It has a beautiful, lakeside campus and is just a train ride away from Chicago, providing endless opportunities and adventures. The university also
Melissa from Florida
Northwestern is an extraordinary university with incredible opportunities across many fields.

Northwestern's location is excellent, with Chicago just an L ride away, and all of the culture and metropolis close, but not abrasive.

Northwestern campus creates a beautiful environment that fosters creativity.
Aurora from Madison, WI
the campus is absolutely gorgeous, and all of the professors, secretaries, and students i had met on the trip were wonderful, driven people. hearing about the opportunity that this school gives to it's students allows me to feel a sense of how much each student in northwestern is cared for. everyone at northwestern would not want to be anywhere else, and neither did i.
jeremy from naperville, il
This is a very academically rigorous school and the quarter system doesn't make it any less challenging, if anything it makes it more difficult. However, this doesn't take away from the school. Everyone here is so passionate and welcoming, no one wants to see their classmates do poorly and people are always willing to help one another out.
Naomi from Chicago, IL