Students
Profile of First-Year Class, 2008
- Total applications: 25,013
- Admitted: 6,552
- Enrolled: 2,078
| Class of 2012 Freshmen Application Totals | |
| Total Applicants | 25,013 |
| Offers of Admission | 6,552 |
| Percent Admitted | 26.2 |
| Enrolling Freshmen | 2,078 |
| Percent Enrolled | 31.7 |
| Percent of Enrolling Class admitted under Early Decision | 26 |
| Percent Applying Online* | 99 |
*Paper and online applications undergo the same review process. Applicants should use the format they prefer.
| Class of 2012: Gender Distribution | ||||
| Applied | Admitted | Enrolled | Percent Enrolled | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 11,415 | 3,187 | 1,006 | 48 |
| Female | 13,598 | 3,365 | 1,072 | 51 |
| Class of 2012: Minority Background | ||
| Number | Percent | |
|---|---|---|
| African-American | 87 | 4.2 |
| Asian-American | 429 | 20.6 |
| Hispanic | 135 | 6.5 |
| American Indian | 4 | <1 |
| Total | 665 | 31.5 |
| Class of 2012: Geographic Distribution of Enrolled Freshmen | |
| Other Countries* | 140 |
| Middle Atlantic | 413 |
| Midwest | 776 |
| New England | 114 |
| South | 214 |
| Southwest | 121 |
| West | 300 |
*Countries most represented: Canada, China, France, India, Japan, Pakistan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and United Kingdom
| Degrees Conferred, 2006-07 | |
| Certificate/Diploma | 16 |
| Bachelor's | 2,089 |
| Master's | 2,665 |
| Post-Master's Certificate | 33 |
| Doctorate | 462 |
| First Professional | 416 |
| Total | 5,681 |
| Graduation Rate | |
| Percent who graduate in four years | 86 |
| Percent who graduate in five years. Northwestern offers several five-year programs. | 92 |
Alumni
Northwestern's approximately 190,000 alumni include leaders in government, law, science, education, medicine, media and the performing arts.
Prominent alumni include:
- Zach Braff, actor, writer, and director
- Elisabeth Bumiller, reporter, New York Times
- Stephen Colbert, TV comedian
- Douglas Conant, president and CEO, Campbell Soup, Co.
- Rahm Emanuel, Chief of Staff for President Barack Obama
- Joe Girardi, manager, New York Yankees
- Heather Headley, Tony Award-winning actress, star of The Lion King and Aida
- Garry Marshall, producer, writer, and director
- David Schwimmer, actor
- David Skorton, president, Cornell University
- Graham Spanier, president, Pennsylvania State University
- John Paul Stevens, U.S. Supreme Court Justice
- Edward J. Weiler, NASA astrophysicist and administrator
- Julia Wallace, editor, Atlanta Journal Constitution
- Wayne Watson, chancellor, Chicago City Colleges
- Mary Zimmerman, Northwestern Professor and Tony Award-winning theater director