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Northwestern University

#1 in Best Colleges in Illinois
  • 4 Year
  • Evanston, IL
  • 1,346 reviews
    How to Apply
    A+
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Academics
      A+
    2. Value
      A+
    3. Diversity
      A+
    4. Campus
      A-
    5. Athletics
      A
    6. Party Scene
      A-
    7. Professors
      A+
    8. Location
      A
    9. Dorms
      B
    10. Campus Food
      B
    11. Student Life
      A+
    12. Safety
      B+
    View Full Report Card
    Northwestern is an elite private university located in Evanston, Illinois in the Chicago Area. It is a mid-size institution with an enrollment of 8,205 undergraduate students. Admissions is extremely competitive as the Northwestern acceptance rate is only 9%. Popular majors include Economics, Communications, and Psychology. Graduating 94% of students, Northwestern alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $58,900.
    About Northwestern University...
    Athletic Division
    NCAA Division I-FBS
    Athletic Conference
    Big Ten Conference
    Address
    633 Clark St
    Evanston, IL 60208
    Website
    northwestern.edu

    Northwestern University Rankings

    Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

    Admissions

    Acceptance Rate
    9%
    Application Deadline
    January 2
    SAT Range
    1420-1560
    ACT Range
    32-34
    Application Fee
    $75
    SAT/ACT
    Required
    High School GPA
    Required
    Early Decision/Early Action
    Yes

    Cost

    Net Price
    $26,099/ year
    National
    $15,523
    Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.
    Average Total Aid Awarded
    $44,247/ year
    National
    $7,535
    Students Receiving Financial Aid
    61%

    Academics

    Professors
    A+
    Based on faculty accomplishments, salary, student reviews, and additional factors.
    Student Faculty Ratio
    6:1
    Evening Degree Programs
    Yes
    85%
    of students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes.82 responses
    72%
    of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want.88 responses
    41%
    of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.88 responses

    Majors

    Most Popular Majors
    • Economics
      383 Graduates
    • Communications
      249 Graduates
    • Psychology
      202 Graduates
    • Journalism
      149 Graduates
    • Political Science and Government
      137 Graduates
    • Biology
      126 Graduates
    • Industrial Engineering
      100 Graduates
    • Radio and Television
      98 Graduates
    • Mechanical Engineering
      93 Graduates
    • Drama and Theatre Production
      91 Graduates

    Students

    Full-Time Enrollment
    8,205Undergrads
    Part-Time Undergrads
    495
    Undergrads Over 25
    1%
    Pell Grant
    18%
    Varsity Athletes
    6%
    Poll
    What one word or phrase best describes the typical student at this school?
    Based on 43 responses
    Report
    • Busy
      42%
    • Engaged
      26%
    • Stressed
      23%
    • Approachable
      2%
    • Depressed
      2%
    • Diverse
      2%
    • Pressured
      2%

    Campus Life

    Freshmen Live On-Campus
    99%
    Poll
    48%
    of students say that Greek life is pretty big.90 responses
    Poll
    57%
    of students say varsity sporting events are attended, but not a huge part of campus life.120 responses
    Poll
    What one word or phrase best describes your school?
    Based on 38 responses
    Report
    • Great academic environment
      32%
    • Stressful
      29%
    • Busy
      26%
    • Fast-paced
      5%
    • Boring
      3%
    • Career Oriented
      3%
    • Home away from home
      3%

    After College

    Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
    $69,000/ year
    National
    $33,028
    Graduation Rate
    94%
    National
    49%
    Employed 2 Years After Graduation
    92%
    National
    83%
    88%
    of students feel confident they will find a job in their field after graduation.43 responses
    Colleges like Northwestern University
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    Northwestern University Reviews

    1,346 reviews
    All Categories
    I have been to the Evanston campus once, but in that visit I was astounded by the various opportunities offered by the university. Every program, whether that be the musical program, theater, biology, medicine, or integrated science, was fleshed out to a point of great immersion and understanding. Not to mention that there was an overall atmosphere of learning and curiosity. Highly recommend!
    Start Your Review of Northwestern University
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    While Northwestern may be ranked as one of the top schools in the nation, these high reviews may be slightly deceiving. Undergraduate education here is honestly what you might see at other universities and colleges--something that I didn't expect until I came here. As a McCormick Engineering major at least, you'll have your share of good and bad professors and experience even some classes that are impossible to do well in. While Northwestern has some very nice, new dorms, you might be located to one of the older ones. The food is not very good. The weather during late fall, early spring, and the entirety of winter quarter is brutally cold. That said, one of the best things about Northwestern, is the campus life and the people. I've made some of my closest friends here and the campus is beautiful with good weather. Graduating from this school will look great to any employer and there are a lot of resources for you to succeed here; just don't think it will be easy.
    There are plenty of things to love about Northwestern University. To start the campus really is beautiful and the lakeside location only helps to add to the campus aesthetics. In addition, there is no denying the academic rigor on campus. Students are motivated learn and professors are equally motivated to teach. That said, the academic environment can become a bit overwhelming or aggressive. Students need to be hyper organized to stay on top of assignments as there is a narrow margin between missing an assigned reading and falling significantly behind in a class.