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Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?Data Sources
Academics
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Value
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Diversity
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Campus
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Athletics
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Party Scene
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Professors
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Location
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Dorms
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Campus Food
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Student Life
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Safety
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Northwestern is an elite private university located in Evanston, Illinois in the Chicago Area. It is a mid-size institution with an enrollment of 8,794 undergraduate students. Admissions is extremely competitive as the Northwestern acceptance rate is only 7%. Popular majors include Economics, Psychology, and Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia. Graduating 97% of students, Northwestern alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $58,900.
About
EVANSTON, IL 60208
About Northwestern...
- Common App Accepted
- Private
- SAT/ACT Optional
Athletic Division
NCAA Division I-FBS
Athletic Conference
Big Ten Conference
Compare to Other Colleges
- Illinois
- Evanston
Northwestern University Rankings
Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.
See All Northwestern University Rankings
NU Admissions
Acceptance Rate
7%
Application Deadline
Deadline for application submissions. Please contact the school for more details.
January 3
SAT Range
1490-1570
ACT Range
33-35
Application Fee
$75
SAT/ACT
Considered but not required
High School GPA
Considered but not required
Early Decision/Early Action
Yes
Application Website
Students also applied to ...
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University of Chicago
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University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
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Dartmouth College
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Washington University in St. Louis
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Vanderbilt University
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University of Pennsylvania
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Columbia University
More
Read More About Admissions
Will You Get Into NU?
Test Scores and High School GPA for Northwestern University
See Other CollegesCost
Net Price
$22,095/ 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
$61,716/ year
National
$7,535
Students Receiving Financial Aid
58%
Find Private Student Loans
Find College Scholarships
Find college scholarships
Academics
Professors
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Based on faculty accomplishments, salary, student reviews, and additional factors.
Student Faculty Ratio
4:1
Evening Degree Programs
Yes
84%
of students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes.90 responses
69%
of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want.107 responses
36%
of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.107 responses
Read More About Academics
Majors
Most Popular Majors
Economics
335 Graduates
Psychology
198 Graduates
Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia
185 Graduates
Biology
150 Graduates
Political Science and Government
110 Graduates
Neuroscience and Neurobiology
103 Graduates
Computer Science
102 Graduates
Communications
90 Graduates
Drama and Theatre Production
90 Graduates
Information Science
87 Graduates
More
See All Majors
Online
Programs Offered Entirely Online
Total number of complete undergraduate programs offered online or through distance learning.
Offers Online Courses
College offers distance education courses.
Yes
Online Certificate Programs
Total number of certificate degree programs offered online or through distance education.
Online Associates Programs
Total number of associate degree programs offered online or through distance education.
Online Bachelor's Programs
Total number of bachelor's degree programs offered online or through distance education.
Explore All Online Majors
How Students Learn
Based on class setting of student enrollment.
Mix of Online and on Campus
0%
On Campus
100%
Online
0%
Students
Full-Time Enrollment
8,794Undergrads
Part-Time Undergrads
363
Undergrads Over 25
3%
Pell Grant
21%
Varsity Athletes
6%
Poll
What one word or phrase best describes the typical student at this school?
Based on
61 responses
Busy
39%
Engaged
21%
Stressed
16%
Stressed
8%
Depressed
5%
Pressured
3%
smart
3%
More
Read More About the Students
Campus Life
Freshmen Live On-Campus
100%
Poll
45%
of students say that Greek life is average, and no one will treat you differently if you don't join.109 responses
Poll
55%
of students say varsity sporting events are attended, but not a huge part of campus life.139 responses
Poll
What one word or phrase best describes your school?
Based on
57 responses
Great academic environment
33%
Stressful
23%
Busy
19%
Fast-paced
11%
Career Oriented
4%
Home away from home
4%
Overrated
4%
More
Read More About Campus Life
After College
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
$69,000/ year
National
$33,028
Graduation Rate
97%
National
49%
Employed 2 Years After Graduation
92%
National
83%
89%
of students feel confident they will find a job in their field after graduation.45 responses
Read More About Life After Graduation
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Northwestern University Reviews
Rating 3.7 out of 5 1,500 reviews
Rating 5 out of 5
The 90s were a different time. While NU is a larger, private school, I really had a small school, community feel. Lived in the Residential College system (CRC & Willard) was great for getting to know people, appreciate traditions, and feel like you're at home. The campus is beautiful, along Lake Michigan. It's easily walkable from one side to the other, even in bad weather. Bikes are still common to see. I loved my time there and had hoped one of my sons would become Wildcats as well. On a recent visit, I noted that there wasn't much updated at Norris, the student life building. New buildings on campus that I toured were beautiful, with a lot to offer undergraduates. I can speak to the advantages of saying that I am a Northwestern alum. It has opened many doors for me, even in central Pennsylvania. The alumni network is incredible.
- Alum
- 8 days ago
Rating 5 out of 5
Northwestern has overall been a very enjoyable university to attend. The Professors who lead classes are incredibly knowledgeable about the subjects they teach, and they strive to make all the classes interesting. While everything is very difficult, professors take the time to thoroughly explain everything and are there to help the students. Outside the classroom, Evanston is a nice town. Downtown is a short walk away and Chicago is a train ride to downtown. The food on campus is not the best, but they are working towards developing new ideas and making it better.
- Junior
- 29 days ago
Rating 4 out of 5
Attending Northwestern University allows me to be of service to people in my community. Its strong emphasis on community service and social justice aligns perfectly with my goals of advocating for systemic change. By participating in Northwestern’s outreach programs and leveraging its vast network, I bring attention to the issues plaguing our community and work towards sustainable solutions.
The process to switch majors within McCormick is seamless. Starting at Weignberg my freshman year, I had to wait a whole quarter before switching schools and major.
- Junior
- 2 months ago
