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Northwestern University
Evanston, IL
Located in Evanston, Illinois, Northwestern University is a prestigious private research university with a rich history and a strong commitment to academic excellence. Established in 1851, the university has consistently been ranked as one of the top universities in the United States. Northwestern University is renowned for its distinguished faculty, innovative research, and rigorous academic programs across a wide range of disciplines.
Northwestern University is organized into twelve schools and colleges, including the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, the Kellogg School of Management, the McCormick School of Engineering, and the Medill School of Journalism. The university offers an extensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs, providing students with a diverse and challenging academic experience. With a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary learning, Northwestern encourages students to explore and pursue their interests across various fields.
The university boasts a vibrant campus culture, offering students a wide array of extracurricular activities, clubs, and organizations to engage in. Northwestern is also home to numerous nationally-ranked athletic teams known as the Wildcats, competing in the NCAA Division I. Situated on the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan, the campus provides students with a picturesque environment and easy access to the vibrant city of Chicago. With its exceptional academic programs, thriving campus life, and prestigious reputation, Northwestern University remains a sought-after institution for students aspiring to receive a top-notch education.
Located in Evanston, IL and set in a suburban environment, Northwestern University is a private university. This educational institution operates on a quarterly calendar. Admissions is extremely competitive, with an acceptance rate of a mere 7%. The freshman retention rate at Northwestern University is 97% and the six-year graduation rate is 96%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 1. The transfer application deadline is March 15.
To find out more about what Northwestern University has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
8,846
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
7%
Acceptance Rate
$67,158
Tuition
6:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
96%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Knowing as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission increases your chances of getting admitted. Discover some relevant info about admission at Northwestern University.
According to the newest information reported, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 3,739 in 2024. Northwestern University has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores for the applicants who choose to submit them. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is one of the most difficult schools to get into. Having a long tradition of academic success and a dedication to encouraging intellectual curiosity, Northwestern University provides a superior educational experience.
Test Scores
Out of the number of students who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 50% and ACT scores 29%. 92% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 6% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 2% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 93, 5 between 24-29 and 2 in the range between 18-23.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by January 1. For transfer students, note that the application deadline is March 15.
7%
Acceptance Rate
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. When you create your list of possible schools to attend, make sure to consider the freshmen retention rate.
The freshman retention rate for Northwestern University was 97% in 2024, which is an excellent retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It provides valuable insight into the percentage of students who complete their studies within a designated timeframe. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 96%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Choosing a school that is the right place for you is not a simple task. You can better understand the culture and life of the school by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2024, the institution had an enrollment of 22,801 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 75% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 8,846, 926 of which were foreign students. The number of transfer students at this school was 237.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 8,859 male and 10,471 female full-time students in 2024. There were 4,880 full-time graduate male and 5,501 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. An inclusive student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Northwestern University.
This school had 1,922 Asian students and 641 Afro-American students in 2024. 1,329 students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 679 as multirace. The school also had 5 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 8 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 334 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to consider before applying to any college or university. The latest information on the expenses that most students at this school incur are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Northwestern University? Here is what you need to know.
Tuition in 2024 was $67,158 for full-time domestic students. Since Northwestern University is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2024 were required to pay additional fees in the amount of $1,164.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to take into account the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,794.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What do colleges and universities typically charge for accommodation and meals?
At Northwestern University, the 2024 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $21,126.
| Tuition | $ 67,158 |
| Room and Board | $ 21,126 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,794 |
| Total Expense | $ 90,078 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial support can be a great deal for a number of students. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Northwestern University, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 1,008 freshmen. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $65,293.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
3,719 students secured some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Northwestern University is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 3,855. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution reached $12,490,766, and state $4,279,700. The students of Northwestern University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $236,490,168, and external in the amount of $6,845,567.
$10,250
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $1,229,949. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $1,295,278 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
Majors
Faculty
6:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio is the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Northwestern University was 6:1: that means 6 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. The faculty of this school consists of 1,771 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 1,031 male and 740 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Northwestern University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some details about social life at Northwestern University.
It has a campus size of 250 acres.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
There are 400 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. This number includes sororities and fraternities. Students interested in music can join the Northwestern University band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. Interested in media and communication? Northwestern University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Northwestern University provides a number of services necessary for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of Northwestern University.
All in all, campus life at Northwestern University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Northwestern University.
Career Counselling
At Northwestern University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Northwestern University is located in Evanston, IL.
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Northwestern University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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According to the latest information, you would need to pay about 67,158 USD per academic year for Northwestern University.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Northwestern University is 7%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Northwestern University is 97%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.