2026 Enrolled Student Survey FAQ
These questions are designed to address questions about the Enrolled Student Survey. Questions that are not addressed here may be directed to NUsurvey@northwestern.edu.
What is the Enrolled Student Survey?
The Enrolled Student Survey is one of a series of
regular surveys administered by the
Office of Institutional Research focused on the undergraduate student experience. It is administered to all enrolled Evanston undergraduate students. This year, the survey opened on Feb. 24, 2026 and will close on March 8, 2026.
Why does Northwestern conduct the Enrolled Student Survey?
The survey is a way for Northwestern to gain insight into the student experience to inform improvements to programs and services across the University. Northwestern has administered the Enrolled Student Survey since 2003.
What information does the Enrolled Student Survey seek?
The survey asks students questions about activities in and out of the classroom, how their skills and abilities have changed since enrolling at Northwestern, and their sources of advice about academic, career and personal choices. The questions may vary slightly from year to year but generally remain the same to support our ability to assess trends in the college student experience over time.
Are results of the Enrolled Student Survey published?
Survey results are
published online and are available for anyone with a Northwestern NetID.
Why is the Enrolled Student Survey being administered during Winter Quarter this year?
Northwestern traditionally has administered the Enrolled Student Survey every other year during Spring Quarter. This year, the University is administering the Enrolled Student Survey during Winter Quarter to better understand the undergraduate student perspective at a time of unprecedented change in higher education. In the spring, a third party will administer an unrelated campus climate survey as required by the
resolution agreement between Northwestern and the federal government. More details about that survey will be made available in the spring. The Enrolled Student Survey is wholly separate from the campus climate survey noted in the federal agreement.
Are individual responses to the Enrolled Student Survey confidential, secure and protected?
Yes, all surveys administered and analyzed by the Office of Institutional Research adhere to strict standards for handling confidential data. The Enrolled Student Survey is a confidential survey but is not anonymous. Individual identifiers are used to send customized reminder messages to non-respondents, and they may be used to link data from University systems to aid in analysis. Any reporting of results is done in aggregate so that identifying characteristics of individuals cannot be implied. Individually identifiable response data are never provided to students, faculty, administrators or any external party.