Skip to Main Content
ejojola / CC BY
CollegeGrad School

Northwestern University

#1 in Best Colleges in Illinois
  • 4 Year
  • Evanston, IL
  • 1,373 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 8,161 undergraduate students. Admissions is extremely competitive as the Northwestern acceptance rate is only 8%. Popular majors include Economics, Psychology, and Journalism. Graduating 95% of students, Northwestern alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $58,900.
    northwestern.edu
    633 Clark St
    Evanston, IL 60208
    About Northwestern...
    Athletic Division
    NCAA Division I-FBS
    Athletic Conference
    Big Ten Conference
    Compare to Other Colleges

    Northwestern University Rankings

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

    NU Admissions

    Acceptance Rate
    8%
    Application Deadline
    January 2
    SAT Range
    1430-1550
    ACT Range
    33-35
    Application Fee
    $75
    SAT/ACT
    Required
    High School GPA
    Required
    Early Decision/Early Action
    Yes

    Cost

    Net Price
    $27,540/ 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
    $45,427/ year
    National
    $7,535
    Students Receiving Financial Aid
    66%

    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.89 responses
    42%
    of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.89 responses

    Majors

    Most Popular Majors
    • Economics
      384 Graduates
    • Psychology
      178 Graduates
    • Journalism
      171 Graduates
    • Biology
      132 Graduates
    • Political Science and Government
      132 Graduates
    • Communications
      106 Graduates
    • Drama and Theatre Production
      93 Graduates
    • Neuroscience and Neurobiology
      92 Graduates
    • Industrial Engineering
      87 Graduates
    • Computer Science
      86 Graduates

    Students

    Full-Time Enrollment
    8,161Undergrads
    Part-Time Undergrads
    481
    Undergrads Over 25
    1%
    Pell Grant
    19%
    Varsity Athletes
    6%
    Poll
    What one word or phrase best describes the typical student at this school?
    Based on 43 responses
    Report
    • Busy
      44%
    • Engaged
      26%
    • Stressed
      23%
    • Approachable
      2%
    • Depressed
      2%
    • Pressured
      2%

    Campus Life

    Freshmen Live On-Campus
    100%
    Poll
    47%
    of students say that Greek life is pretty big.91 responses
    Poll
    57%
    of students say varsity sporting events are attended, but not a huge part of campus life.121 responses
    Poll
    What one word or phrase best describes your school?
    Based on 39 responses
    Report
    • Great academic environment
      31%
    • Stressful
      28%
    • Busy
      26%
    • Fast-paced
      5%
    • Home away from home
      5%
    • Boring
      3%
    • Career Oriented
      3%

    After College

    Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
    $69,000/ year
    National
    $33,028
    Graduation Rate
    95%
    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
    More

    Northwestern University Reviews

    1,373 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
    Rate It!
    Northwestern is an amazing, one of a kind school. The people are what make northwestern so great, as there is a place for everyone at NU. With its many undergraduate schools, northwestern brings together both students and faculty specializing in engineering, journalism, theater, and liberal arts and sciences all on one campus. These are some of the brightest and most fascinating people in the world, and they are the reason northwestern is so special. Positioned on Lake Michigan with two beaches on campus and the famous lakefill, northwestern's campus has a stunning natural beauty and waterfront location that is unrivaled by any american college. The campus contains blends of old and new, which speaks to NU's legacy and its future.
    Online classes were the same as in-person classes - just online! Since NU is on the quarter system, our online class period lasted a lot longer than semester schools. Overall, everyone is unmotivated for online classes which is a bummer. But it is what it is.