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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 institution follows a quarterly calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 7%. The freshman retention rate at Northwestern University is 98% and the six-year graduation rate is 95%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 1. The transfer application deadline is March 15.
Read more about what Northwestern University has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
9,060
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$69,375
Tuition
6:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
95%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to discover as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the university in order to maximize your chances of being accepted. Read on to find out some important info about admission policy and requirements at Northwestern University.
According to the most recent data, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 3,806 in 2025. Northwestern University has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores if the applicant chooses 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. This renowned institution with a rich history offers an unparalleled learning experience to its students.
Test Scores
46% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 23% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 97% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 3% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 2% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 97, 3 between 24-29 and 2 in the range between 18-23.
Deadlines
The application deadline for Northwestern University is January 1. For transfer students, the application deadline is March 15.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Northwestern University was 98% in 2025, which is an outstanding retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this academic institution, the proportion of students graduating in six years is 95%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by finding out more about its student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution enrolled 23,431 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 76% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 9,060, 1066 of which were foreign students. 277 students were accepted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 9,117 male and 10,549 female full-time students in 2025. 4,880 full-time graduate men and 5,501 full-time graduate women attended 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. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 1,925 Asian students and 752 Afro-American students in 2025. 1,422 undergraduates at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 716 as multirace. The school also had 5 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 14 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 402 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you send an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition price for this university.
In 2025, tuition amounted to $69,375 for all full-time domestic students. Northwestern University is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2025 were mandated to pay additional fees in the amount of $1,214.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to consider 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 $1,539.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Northwestern University was $21,975 in 2025.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 69,375 |
| Room and Board | $ 21,975 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,539 |
| Total Expense | $ 92,889 |
Financial Aid
Financial aid for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. If you wish 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.
According to the most recent data, 950 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average financial aid package awarded to students reached $68,110.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
3,744 students were granted some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Northwestern University is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 3,836. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution added up to $15,805,078, and state $4,405,915. The students of Northwestern University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $244,820,928, and external in the amount of $7,209,319.
$21,215
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. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $1,315,310. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $1,442,503 USD.
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.
In 2025, this ratio at Northwestern University was 6:1. That means that there were 6 times more students than teachers at this school. This school has recently reported to have 1,807 faculty members. This number included 1,046 men and 761 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Northwestern University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some info about students' life at Northwestern University.
It has a campus size of 250 acres.
Student Organizations
Involvement in student organizations can make your educational experience more dynamic and gratifying.
There are 400 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. This number includes sororities and fraternities. Those who have a talent for music can join the Northwestern University band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. For students looking to explore media and communication, Northwestern University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Northwestern University offers a number of services important for a comfortable and secure life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. Dormitory entrances at the school are electronically operated. There is a security patrol available 24/7. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
There is a medical 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. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset 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 69,375 USD per academic year for Northwestern University.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Northwestern University is 7%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Northwestern University is 98%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2025 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 © 2025 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
