- AcademicsA+
- ValueA+
- DiversityA
- CampusB+
- AthleticsA+
- Party SceneA-
- ProfessorsA+
- LocationB+
- DormsC
- Campus FoodB+
- Student LifeA+
- SafetyB
Northwestern University is ...
Private not-for-profit
Athletic Division
NCAA Division I-FBS
Athletic Conference
Big Ten Conference
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
11%
SAT Range
1400-1560
ACT Range
32-34
Application Fee
$75
SAT/ACT
Required
High School GPA
Required
Early Decision/Early Action
Yes
Application Website
Students also applied to ...
Will You Get In?
Test Scores and GPA for Northwestern UniversitySee Other Colleges
Cost
Net Price
$29,326/ year
National
$15,523Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.
Academics
Professors
A+
Based on faculty accomplishments, salary, student reviews, and additional factors.
Student Faculty Ratio
7:1
Evening Degree Programs
Yes
- 85%
- of students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes.82 responses
- 73%
- of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want.84 responses
- 42%
- of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.84 responses
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Majors
Most Popular Majors
Economics
398 GraduatesCommunications
262 GraduatesPsychology
230 GraduatesBiology
149 GraduatesJournalism
143 GraduatesDrama and Theatre Production
136 GraduatesPolitical Science and Government
119 GraduatesRadio, Television, and Digital Communication
91 GraduatesHistory
90 GraduatesMathematics & Statistics
89 Graduates
Students
Full-Time Enrollment
8,298Undergrads
Undergrads Over 25
1%
Pell Grant
15%
Varsity Athletes
6%
Campus Life
Freshmen Live On-Campus
99%
Poll
- 48%
- of students say that Greek life is pretty big.86 responses
Poll
- 57%
- of students say varsity sporting events are attended, but not a huge part of campus life.116 responses
After College
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
$65,900/ year
National
$33,028Graduation Rate
94%
National
49%Employed 2 Years After Graduation
93%
National
83%- 88%
- of students feel confident they will find a job in their field after graduation.43 responses
Northwestern University Reviews
1,280 reviews
All Categories
I attended Northwestern because of the music program and the professor I would be working with. My professor was amazing, and so was the music program as a whole. I was able to pursue a double major with an outside field, and while it was difficult and busy, the administration helped me every quarter by allowing me to take extra classes to finish on time. The campus is beautiful, but there is always construction. It is not a huge party school, but there are parties and lots of other ways to have fun. I loved the proximity to Chicago and the public transit system. Overall, I liked the student body. There was a general hard work ethic, and though my majors weren't particularly competitive, I know there were some that were fairly cut-throat. The mental health services can be improved upon, but I felt that NU was a very accepting, diverse, and progressive school overall. Financial aid was great, and getting better!
Northwestern University is not only beautiful, with the lakefill and the insane view of Chicago, but I have made incredible friends and gained such an amazing education so far. The professors really care about you personally, your education, and your potential. They always push you to exceed limits you never thought you could reach. Not only do I learn so much in the classroom, but also in my extracurriculars. Northwestern students are passionate, hardworking, and collaborative. On the weekends, there are always multiple parties, plays, musicals, acapella shows, sports games, and comedy shows. I cannot imagine myself anywhere else.
Northwestern's defining feature is the unique spirit of camaraderie and collaboration that permeates every element of college life. Northwestern tries to incorporate a lot of group projects and get students active in their studies outside of just coursework and exams through its hundreds of student-run groups.
At Northwestern, you are actively encouraged to take a variety of classes outside your major, and you really get to explore different disciplines. Northwestern has a quarter system, which means that in a given school year you will take about 12-13 courses instead of the semester standard of 10.
Throughout my years here, I have made friends studying every discipline, and they have opened my eyes to a world of knowledge. I encourage anyone with a desire to learn a wealth of information and experience a collaborative learning environment to apply.
At Northwestern, you are actively encouraged to take a variety of classes outside your major, and you really get to explore different disciplines. Northwestern has a quarter system, which means that in a given school year you will take about 12-13 courses instead of the semester standard of 10.
Throughout my years here, I have made friends studying every discipline, and they have opened my eyes to a world of knowledge. I encourage anyone with a desire to learn a wealth of information and experience a collaborative learning environment to apply.