Northwestern University
Northwestern University (NU) is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1851, it is the oldest chartered university in Illinois. Northwestern was initially affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church but later became non-sectarian. By 1900, the university was the third-largest university in the United States, after Michigan and Harvard. Northwestern became a founding member of the Big Ten Conference in 1896 and joined the Association of American Universities in 1917.
At a glance
- Acceptance rate: 8%
- Average net price: $29,167
- Undergraduate enrollment: 10,421
- Graduation rate (150%): 95%
- Graduation rate (200%): 96%
- 8-year Outcome Measures award rate: 97%
- Student to faculty ratio: 6:1
- Median earnings (10 years): $89,363
- Median earnings (8 years): $83,487
- Median earnings (6 years): $76,844
- Control: Private nonprofit
- Locale: City, small
- Calendar: Quarter
- City: Evanston, IL
Majors and programs
The most common programs at Northwestern include Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Digital Communication and Media, Biology.
- Econometrics and Quantitative Economics (238 bachelor's) · median earnings $126,006 4 years after graduation · median debt $15,250
- Digital Communication and Media (165 bachelor's) · median earnings $51,471 4 years after graduation · median debt $15,000
- Biology (137 bachelor's) · median earnings $71,181 4 years after graduation · median debt $14,684
- Computer Science (120 bachelor's) · median earnings $155,106 4 years after graduation · median debt $14,646
- Information Science (110 bachelor's) · median earnings $163,740 4 years after graduation · median debt $11,425
- Neuroscience (110 bachelor's) · median earnings $54,279 4 years after graduation · median debt $17,309
- Psychology (93 bachelor's) · median earnings $73,646 4 years after graduation · median debt $13,500
- Drama and Dramatics (91 bachelor's) · median earnings $49,316 4 years after graduation · median debt $17,000
- Mechanical Engineering (78 bachelor's) · median earnings $98,277 4 years after graduation · median debt $13,942
- Speech Communication and Rhetoric (77 bachelor's) · median earnings $93,541 4 years after graduation · median debt $17,687
Degree mix: Business 36%, Engineering 15%, Computer Science 8%, Health 12%, Biological Sciences 7%, Psychology 9%, Communication 13%.
Award levels offered: Certificates, Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral.
Cost
Northwestern students from families earning $0 to $30,000 pay about $1,243 a year after aid.
- Net price, $0 to $30,000: $1,243
- Net price, $30,001 to $48,000: $3,373
- Net price, $48,001 to $75,000: $6,485
- Net price, $75,001 to $110,000: $14,059
- Net price, $110,001 and above: $48,837
- In-state tuition and fees: $68,322
- Out-of-state tuition and fees: $68,322
- Books and supplies: $1,794
- On-campus room and board: $21,126
- Off-campus room and board: $21,126
- Off-campus with family: $3,075
- Typical cost of attendance: $91,242
- Sticker vs net gap: 68%
- Students receiving any aid: 100%
- Pell Grant recipients: 19%
- Federal loan recipients: 17%
- Average institutional grant: $60,666
- Average federal loan: $5,773
- Median debt at graduation: $15,000
Admissions
Northwestern admits 8% of applicants. Of students admitted, 55% enrolled.
- Applications: 49,474
- Admitted: 3,806
- Enrolled: 2,105
- Yield (first-choice signal): 55%
Who actually goes here
- Undergraduates: 10,421
- Women: 55%
- Commuter share (estimated): 57%
- Part-time undergraduates: 3%
- Age 25 and older: 3%
- Graduate students: 11,386
- Graduation rate: 95%
- Come back after freshman year: 98%
- First-generation: 15%
Faculty and campus
- Full-time faculty: 43%
- Student to faculty: 6:1
- Professor salary: $240,495
- Associate professor salary: $144,508
- Assistant professor salary: $119,619
- On-campus housing capacity: 4,476
- Average SAT: 1,540
- Average ACT: 34
- Study abroad: Available
- Online programs: Available
Common questions
What is the Northwestern acceptance rate? Northwestern admits 8% of applicants, based on the latest IPEDS admissions file.
How much does Northwestern cost? Students from families earning $0 to $30,000 pay about $1,243 a year after aid. Average net price is $29,167.
What majors does Northwestern offer? Popular programs include Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Digital Communication and Media, Biology, Computer Science, Information Science.
What is the average salary after Northwestern? Median earnings 10 years after entry are $89,363 for Title IV aid recipients in College Scorecard.
What is the Northwestern graduation rate? In the IPEDS Outcome Measures cohort, 97% earned an award within eight years. The first-time, full-time 150% graduation rate is 95%.
Scorecard earnings and debt cover Title IV aid recipients, not cash-pay or private-loan students. Northwestern University official site: https://northwestern.edu.