Today Northwestern is a major private research university located on lakefront campuses in Evanston and Chicago. Approximately 2,300 full-time faculty teach 13,500 full-time students, 7,700 of whom are undergraduates.
A freshman class numbering more than 1,900 is selected from nearly
15,000 candidates. Sixty percent enroll with financial aid. Women
constitute approximately half the undergraduate population; more
than a fourth of the undergraduates are minority students.
Students come to Northwestern from all 50 states. Forty-four percent
of this year's entering class is from the Midwest, 21 percent from the East,
18 percent from the West, 9 percent from the South, and 7 percent
from foreign countries.
The median secondary school ranking of the students in the current
freshman class is in the 96th percentile. Moreover, the median combined
score of the Scholastic Aptitude Test for the class as a whole is approximately 1400. More than 40 percent of the freshman class
was recognized by the National Merit Corporation for distinguished
academic achievement.
The Northwestern student body ranks among the top 15 schools nationally
in the number of National Merit and National Achievement scholars.
About one-third of the freshman class received some form of advanced
placement upon entrance.
Although its primary function is academic, the University also provides a special kind of community within the cities of Evanston and Chicago. Cultural, social, and athletic events are available on campus. Extensive nonacademic programming is offered through Norris University Center, the residential colleges, and various residential groups. The fine and performing arts complex further enriches the Northwestern environment.