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.
#10
Rankings from U.S. News & World Report as of April 2025
Arts & Humanities
Top 10 most represented university on Broadway, per Playbill
13 Grammy Awards won by Bienen School of Music faculty and alumni since 2015
Block Museum of Art named a top US campus museum by The New York Times
Journalism & Marketing
120+
Media outlets worldwide sponsoring journalism residencies for undergrads
30+ Pulitzer Prizes won by alumni of Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications
1st
integrated marketing program, launched in 1991
Northwestern's colleges and schools, in order of their founding
- Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences (1851)
- Feinberg School of Medicine (1859)
- Pritzker School of Law (1859)
- School of Communication (1878)
- Bienen School of Music (1895)
- Kellogg School of Management (1908)
- McCormick School of Engineering & Applied Science (1909)
- Graduate School (1910)
- Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications (1921)
- School of Education & Social Policy (1926)
- School of Professional Studies (1933)
- Northwestern University in Qatar (2008)
7.5%
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.Northwestern Medicine Hospital affiliates are highly ranked 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.
Chicago
Doha
Student Body
8,000
Undergraduate Students
96%
of Class of 2023 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 2023–24.
22% of class of 2028 receives Pell Grants, which are awarded to undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need.
64% of undergraduates receive financial aid. Northwestern awarded more than $250 million in scholarships to students in 2023-24.
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.
2024 NCAA field hockey national champions
Eight NCAA women's lacrosse titles since 2005
Two Big Ten West football titles since 2018 and undefeated in five straight bowl games
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.
- Stephen Colbert
Emmy Award-winning television host and comedian - Gillian Flynn
Novelist and screenwriter whose novels include Gone Girl - Claudia Lopez
Political scientist and Colombian politician - Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Emmy award-winning actress and comedian - Meghan Markle
Actress and member of the British royal family - George R.R. Martin
Writer of short stories and novels including the Game of Thrones fantasy series - Seth Meyers
Comedian and talk show host - J.B. Pritzker
Politician and philanthropist - Patrick G. Ryan
Prominent businessman - Roxana Saberi
Journalist and author - Gwynne Shotwell
Businesswoman and engineer - Rubén Castillo
Former United States district judge - Michael Wilbon
Sports journalist and TV personality - Andrew Youn
Social entrepreneur