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Northwestern University

Facts

Northwestern at a glance.

The Northwestern Difference

If you are at Northwestern, you are part of an innovative, collaborative and multidimensional community delivering an impact that is rare in higher education.

Northwestern is a comprehensive research university that is deeply interdisciplinary across multiple schools and units. Our rigorous yet empathetic academic environment provides a robust mixture of theory and practice, with an emphasis on top-tier research, new knowledge, creative expression and practical application.

Academics

Northwestern is one of only four top-10 national universities also ranked in the top 20 in four graduate school rankings.

Rankings from U.S. News & World Report as of September 2025

Arts & Humanities

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Top 10 most represented university on Broadway, per Playbill
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13 Grammy Awards won by Bienen School of Music faculty and alumni since 2015
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Block Museum of Art named a top US campus museum by The New York Times
Explore Arts at Northwestern

Journalism & Marketing

100+
Media outlets worldwide sponsoring journalism residencies for undergrads
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30+ Pulitzer Prizes won by alumni of Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications
1st
integrated marketing program, launched in 1991
Visit the Medill School website
7.4%
Acceptance rate
74%
of undergrads combine multiple areas of study
6:1
Student to faculty ratio

Research

A top research university, Northwestern is home to more than 90 school-based centers and 20 University research centers.

With an interdisciplinary culture, our research spans a spectrum of areas including neuroscience, nanotechnology, biotechnology and drug discovery. 

Innovation and Entrepreneurship

  • 100+ innovation-based courses taught each year
  • $2.6 billion in revenue from patents and intellectual property licensing revenue
  • 10 million+ patients impacted by Northwestern therapeutics

Visit the Innovation & Entrepreneurship website

Northwestern University's clinical affiliates are world-class healthcare providers.

#1
Hospital in Illinois (Northwestern Memorial Hospital)
#1
Rehabilitation Hospital (Shirley Ryan Ability Lab)
#1
Children's Hospital in IL (Lurie Children's Hospital)

Campuses

Find a global presence and close-knit community on three campuses.

Image of Evanston

Evanston

Image of Chicago

Chicago

Image of Doha

Doha

Student Body

9,000+
Undergraduate Students
>96%
of Class of 2024 were employed, pursuing further education or service within six months of graduation
14,000+
Graduate Students

Financial Aid

Our commitment to affordability begins with financial aid that meets 100% of every undergraduate student’s demonstrated financial need.

Northwestern awarded more than $250 million in scholarships to students in 2024–25. 

Undergraduate Financial Aid

Most students whose families earn less than $70K per year attend Northwestern at no cost. 
Most students whose families earn less than $150K per year attend Northwestern tuition-free.
$14.3 billion
In Total Endowment

Athletics

A founding member of the Big Ten Conference, Northwestern teams have gone on to national and conference championships.

Just as critically, student-athletes are supported in the classroom. Northwestern is tied for top NCAA overall graduation success rate (98%) among Football Bowl Subdivision schools. 

field hockey
2024 NCAA field hockey national champions
lacrosse
Eight NCAA women's lacrosse titles since 2005
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Two Big Ten West football titles since 2018 and undefeated in five straight bowl games
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Recent conference championships in basketball, fencing, field hockey, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis and wrestling

Notable Alumni

Northwestern graduates go on to do amazing things.

  • Rubén Castillo
    Former chief judge, US District Court, Northern District of Illinois
  • Stephen Colbert
    Emmy Award-winning television host
  • Gillian Flynn
    Best-selling author, Gone Girl
  • Claudia López Hernández
    Former mayor, Bogotá, Colombia
  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus
    Emmy Award-winning actress
  • Meghan Markle
    Humanitarian and Duchess of Sussex
  • George R.R. Martin
    Best-selling author, A Game of Thrones
  • Seth Meyers
    Emmy Award-winning television host
  • J.B. Pritzker
    Governor, State of Illinois
  • Patrick G. Ryan
    Chairman and CEO, Ryan Specialty
  • Roxana Saberi
    Author and journalist
  • Gwynne Shotwell
    President and COO, SpaceX
  • Michael Wilbon
    Commentator, ESPN
  • Andrew Youn
    Co-Founder, One Acre Fund