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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 April 2025

Arts & Humanities

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Top 10 most represented university on Broadway, per Playbill
award
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

120+
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
7.5%
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. 

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 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.

Image of Evanston

Evanston

Image of Chicago

Chicago

Image of Doha

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. 

Undergraduate Financial Aid

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22% of class of 2028 receives Pell Grants, which are awarded to undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need.
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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. 

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.

  • 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