Overview
Enrollment
| Location | Evanston, Illinois |
| Online | northwestern.edu |
| School Type | Private 4 Year |
| Setting | Small City |
| Size | Large |
| Status | Non-profit |
| On Campus Housing | Yes |
| Level of Study | Undergrad/Graduate |
Northwestern University sits along Lake Michigan's shoreline in Evanston, Illinois, located 12 miles north of downtown Chicago. The suburban campus spans 240 acres featuring a mix of collegiate Gothic and modern architecture, with several buildings designed by notable architects. Founded in 1851, Northwestern operates as a private research institution known for its selective admission process and academic rigor, particularly in fields such as journalism, performing arts, engineering, and business through its Kellogg School of Management. The university maintains a residential campus system where most undergraduate students live in campus housing for their first two years, while also operating a satellite campus in Chicago's Streeterville neighborhood that houses the medical and law schools. Northwestern competes in NCAA Division I athletics as a member of the Big Ten Conference, with its football team playing home games at Ryan Field.
Ratings
Overall
Academics
Resources
Outcomes
Value
Northwestern is rated within the top 4% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 10 out of 10. Learn how ratings are calculated
Rankings
Rankings for Northwestern University within the 2024 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.
#15 in Best Colleges in the U.S.
#15 in Best Private Colleges in the U.S.
#2 in Best Colleges in Illinois
#2 in Best Private Colleges in Illinois
#10 in Best Value Colleges in the U.S.
#1 in Best Value Colleges in Illinois
View the CollegeSimply ranking methodology.
Getting In
Admission Standards
| SAT | 1490/1570 |
| ACT | 33/35 |
| Estimated GPA | 3.92 |
Applications Accepted
| Applications Due | Jan 1, 2025 |
| Applicant Competition | Extreme |
| Application Fee | $75 |
Annual Cost to Attend
Tuition
| Fee | Cost |
|---|---|
| Books and Supplies | $1,590 |
| Other Fees | $1,077 |
| Room and Board | $19,440 |
| Budget for Other Expenses | $4,896 |
| Total One Year Cost | $89,394 |
Outcomes
Average Salary After 10 Years
Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate
Popular Areas of Study
| Subject | Percent of Class |
|---|---|
| Social Sciences | 25% |
| Communication | 14% |
| Engineering | 11% |
| Visual and Performing Arts | 9% |
| Psychology | 8% |
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Questions and Answers
CollegeSimply Advisor posts about Northwestern University.
- Strengthen my Northwestern application?
- Does my ACT score fit for Big 10 schools?
- Understanding SAT requirements for Big 10
- Do I need subject tests for Northwestern?
- Impact of SAT essay on Big 10 applications
- Is a 32 ACT score competitive for top colleges?
- Class Rank and Application Strategy for Big 10 Schools
- Class Rank?s Role in Big 10 College Admissions
- Best Chicago colleges for computer science?
- Applying to Northwestern: Is a 3.7 GPA enough?
- Exploring superscore potential for ACT retake
- What ACT score do I need for competitive colleges?
- Can subscores explain a weak composite score?
- Comparing AP and College Credits?
- Northwestern University Music Program Info
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=147767 IPEDS survey data for Northwestern University.
Current students may use the Northwestern University GPA calculator to determine their current college GPA.
Last updated February 24, 2024