About Northwestern University

Founded in 1851, Northwestern University. is a Private college. Located in Illinois, which is a city setting in Illinois, the campus itself is Urban. The campus is home to 8,791 full time undergraduate students, and 13,032 full time graduate students.

The Northwestern University Academic calendar runs on a Quarter basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 7:1. There are 1466 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Northwestern University include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate10%
Application Deadline1-Nov
Application Fee75
SAT Range1400-1560
ACT Range32-34

Admissions at NU are considered Most Selective, with ,80% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 6 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

100% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 91% were in the top quarter, and 9% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Northwestern University.

11%
“We”re apathetic”
32%
“We know about current events and vote”
49%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
9%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
4%
“We save it for the classroom”
14%
“Sometimes, but not often”
54%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
28%
“All the time, including weekends”
1%
“I”m always terrified”
11%
“I only go out in groups”
51%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
37%
“I feel extremely safe”
15%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
70%
“We bought the gear”
16%
“We live for the big game”
3%
“It”s not really our thing”
18%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
55%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
24%
“We”re a very artistic group”
5%
“Haven”t met them”
12%
“Available in class”
59%
“They keep regular office hours”
24%
“They”re always available”
1%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
11%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
66%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
22%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
0%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
12%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
57%
“We only party on weekends”
31%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
4%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
54%
“There might be people who do”
39%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
3%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
11%
“We”re apathetic”
32%
“We know about current events and vote”
49%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
9%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
4%
“We save it for the classroom”
14%
“Sometimes, but not often”
54%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
28%
“All the time, including weekends”
1%
“I”m always terrified”
11%
“I only go out in groups”
51%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
37%
“I feel extremely safe”
15%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
70%
“We bought the gear”
16%
“We live for the big game”
3%
“It”s not really our thing”
18%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
55%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
24%
“We”re a very artistic group”
5%
“Haven”t met them”
12%
“Available in class”
59%
“They keep regular office hours”
24%
“They”re always available”
1%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
11%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
66%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
22%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
0%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
12%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
57%
“We only party on weekends”
31%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
4%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
54%
“There might be people who do”
39%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
3%
“There”s a huge drug scene”

Northwestern University REVIEWS

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  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    153 Students rated on-campus housing 3.7 stars. 13 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    121 Students rated off-campus housing 3.2 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    157 Students rated campus food 3.3 stars. 12 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    160 Students rated campus facilities 4.1 stars. 32 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    161 Students rated class size 4.1 stars. 38 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    159 Students rated school activities 4.3 stars. 50 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    158 Students rated local services 4.1 stars. 45 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    162 Students rated academics 3.8 stars. 36 % gave the school a 5.0.

What's your overall opinion of Northwestern University?

48 Students rated Northwestern University

Grace - 10/28/2023

If you live in South Campus, you can avoid the party life, which is mainly up North. South campus is great if you want more of the liberal arts lifestyle, North is better for STEM. At first, the dorm bathrooms were regularly cleaned, but there was definitely an unexplained period of time when the bathroom didn't get cleaned for two weeks. There is a good variety of food at the dining hall, but not culturally diverse.

GU - 09/02/2022

kyflg

Kaho - 07/21/2022

I attended Northwestern as a student-athlete. A part of my undergraduate years was spent wrestling with depression and anxiety. During this time, I saw a critical issue of ignorance regarding mental health. Even today, many do not know how to help a depressed or anxious person, and this is especially true in collegiate sports. On the varsity team, I fought with the coaches to allow me to continue attending team practices because they were afraid my mere presence would negatively impact other players. As such, people’s good intentions can have adverse effects simply because they do not know any better. Although Northwestern has a dedicated mental health support program/office, I often heard complaints from fellow students that they were not effective enough. Although their referral services were quite good, I hope that their on-campus program will become more developed over time.

Hannah - 07/25/2020

The main thing that drew me to this school was the dual-degree program. This was a major deciding factor for me, as I was allowed to pursue both a science and music degree at the same time. This program (and the quarter system) makes it possible for me to graduate with two bachelor degrees in five years.

Northwestern University FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at Northwestern University?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Northwestern University is 10%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.

  2. Describe the students at your school.

    My classmates overall are very intelligent, social, and amiable.

    Read all  169 answers
  3. What is your overall opinion of this school?

    Evanston is a nice suburb with nice scenic landscapes. It is certainly nice to be by a beach. However, unless you are going to be eating at restaurants, Evanston doesn't offer much for nightlife.

    Read all  145 answers
  4. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    If I could go back in time, I would say to truly investigate the diversity on campus. Many schools advertise their diversity; be it religious, social, or academic, but there is a major difference between: having diversity because they university can attest to the presence of certain people/classes/groups, and having a truly balanced sense of this diversity in the enivornment. In other words, I wish I had realized beforehand that just because Northwestern says they have a diversity of socio-economic statuses of their students, I should have been more dilligent in investigating the accuracy of this statement. Of course there are some lower-income students, but the overwhelming majority are rich,white kids. When the majority of the student body really represents one specific type of student, in NU's case: rich white kid in a sorority or fraterinity with a work-hard-play-hard mentality-aiming for a prestigious professional life, it becomes stifiling.

    Read all  144 answers
  5. What is the stereotype of students at your school?

    Nerdwestern. They suck.

    Read all  143 answers
  6. Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?

    somewhat. i've found most people to be very nice and helpful. it's not like people are sabotaging each other. the dating scene is pretty difficult, but it is a personal thing and depends on how many groups of friends you have and how often you go out. I know a lot of people who are in "serious" relationships, "serial daters," and single&looking.

    Read all  141 answers
  7. What are the academics like at your school?

    The professors are awesome. I know a lot of professors that know my name, and the classes I've taken with them have been fairly sizeable. They are understanding if you need an extention on a paper or if you have some other scheduling problem. The theatre dept is, in my opinion, the best in the country because it not only offers a world class education in your area of interest (performance, design, etc), but it also gives students an opportunity to study other subjects, which are important to know in this field. they encourage the intelligent artist. the actual theatre-related classes are fantastic. I love my acting class and the design classes I've taken have been very insightful.

    Read all  140 answers
  8. What are the most popular student activities/groups?

    The dating scene, I have found, is rather sparse. There are a good deal of attractive people at Northwestern, and a good deal of dateable people as well--but it just seems that people are most intent on finding someone to hook up with than for a real relationship. Not being in a fraternity or sorority might also decrease your chances of finding someone you like.

    Read all  134 answers
  9. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    As an undeclared major, Northwestern was the perfect selection. Its specialization in majors as specific as industrial and design engineering to horn performance easily allows the wandering high school graduate to explore options previously unthought of. With seven prestigious undergraduate colleges highly skilled in their field of study, I am exceptionally grateful that I have the ability to take classes in all the schools to find what major really suits me. Majoring in something applicable and personally enjoyable was a significant factor in my final decision, and Northwestern provided me with an impeccable choice.

    Read all  84 answers
  10. What's unique about your campus?

    The best thing about the school is the amount of student-run extraccuricular activities and also the location -- close to a city, in a safe suburban town, beautiful campus on a beach.

    Read all  33 answers
  11. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    Northwestern University is a place where students become well-rounded individuals posessing a basic knowledge of a wide variety of topics while immersing themselves in the best of their chosen fields.

    Read all  31 answers
  12. What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

    The competition is huge!

    Read all  29 answers
  13. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    The kind of person who shouldn't attend this school is one who is looking for a party or state school, one who can't handle large amounts of reading, or one who is looking to date someone.

    Read all  26 answers
  14. What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?

    For some of my science classes, I felt the professors cared more about their research than teaching.

    Read all  24 answers
  15. What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?

    There are two stereotypes that I think people associate with Northwestern--that we're total nerds or that we just really like to party. As a matter of fact, the slogans "Nerdwestern" and "Northwasted" are both purchasable on tee shirts in the Evanston area. I don't think either of them is necessarily accurate, though. Sure, there are some people here who go crazy on weekends, but I also have a LOT of friends who don't drink. Lots of people here are "nerds," in a sense, but not traditionally so--everyone is just really interested and passionate about the things that they're studying and the activities they're involved in. It might sound cliched, but I think Northwestern is a little undefinable. We have theater, dance, and music programs, but we also have a prominent engineering school. We have future journalists and teachers and doctors, but everyone is more than that. So many people have multiple (and sometimes seemingly unlikely combinations of) passions. We really do have all types here, and I think that makes Northwestern an un-stereotypable campus.

    Read all  24 answers
  16. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    The most frustrating thing about Northwestern University is the high tuition costs. Though I am incredibly lucky to have an opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive in such an enriching environment, the financial situation puts a strain on my life and on that of my family's. Passing up an exciting social event is just a minor short-run consequence of having to make financial ends meet, but not being able to study as much as I'd like is an unfortunate additional stress and loss of potential learning such an incredible opportunity comes with.

    Read all  22 answers
  17. Describe your favorite campus traditions.

    My school is best known for its academic prominence and the success of the journalism program(Medill). Stephen Colbert is also an alumn.

    Read all  21 answers
  18. What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?

    The amount my school challenges me. There is not a day that I don't find myself working hard to solve a problem in class, or perfect a group project. Everyone in my school's community is so willing and ready to contribute their best to any activity.

    Read all  21 answers
  19. What kind of person should attend this school?

    A student serious about his or her theological studies, training, and ministry calling.

    Read all  16 answers
  20. Describe the dorms.

    Alison and Willard are the best dorms in the south. Elder, CCI, and Slivka are probably the best in the north. I basing these answers on room size, sociability, not too loud at night, etc. But the dorm food sucks, and everyone has to deal with it freshman year and if you stay on campus.

    Read all  10 answers
  21. When you step off campus what do you see?

    There's a cute downtown Evanston scene just off campus, with great places to shop and eat. Edzo's Burger Shop is my favorite, followed by Andy's Frozen Custard. I love the cute cafes like Kafein and Unicorn Cafe as well for studying if your roommates are too loud.

    Read all  10 answers

Student Body

Students

50%

female

50%

male

8,791

Total Undergrad Enrollment

13,032

Total Grad Students

60%

Out-Of-State

30%

In-State

10%

International

Organizations

415

Student Organizations

23

Fraternities

19

Sororities

Housing

Yes

On-Campus Housing

23%

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
N/A
% Asian/Pacific Islander
17%
% Black or African-American
6%
% Hispanic/Latino
12%
% White or Caucasian
48%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

62% of students attending Northwestern University receive some sort of financial aid. 15% were awarded federal grants. While 25% received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$50,855

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$1,620

Books and Supplies

$15,489

Room and Board

67,964

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$9,339
$30 - $48K
$7,150
$48 - $75K
$12,763
$75 - $110K
$22,983
$110K & UP
$40,222

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

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