Northwestern University: Statistics

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Position Category
#31 of 14,131 In the World
#27 of 2,597 In North America
#25 of 2,496 In the United States
#3 of 100 In Illinois
#1 of 4 In Evanston
#10 of 4,040 For Nanotechnology
Top100 For 160 other topics
Subject rankings

Quick Review

Acceptance rate
7%
Average SAT
1530
Average ACT
34
Avg. cost to attend
$22,095 /y
Aid receiving
58%
Undergraduates
8,993
Graduates
14,168
Male:Female Ratio
46:54
Control
Private
not-for-profit
Highest Degree
Doctor's degree

Northwestern University Acceptance rate and admissions statistics

Northwestern University has an acceptance rate of 7% and is among the top 1% of the most difficult universities to gain admission to in the United States. The university reports the admission statistics without distinguishing between local and international students.

Total Men Women
Acceptance Rate 7% 7% 7%
Applicants 51,261 23,535 27,725
Admissions 3,695 1,652 2,043
Freshmen enrolled full time 2,038 919 1,119

1,594 students enrolled in some distance education courses.

1,123 enrolled exclusively in distance education.

SAT scores

Among admitted applicants
965 or 47%
submitted SAT

25% of them
had 1490
or below

75% of them
had 1570
or below

Typical SAT scores of first-years in Northwestern University are 1490-1570 (middle 50% range).

ACT scores

Among admitted applicants
638 or 31%
submitted ACT

25% of them
had 33
or below

75% of them
had 35
or below

Typical ACT scores of first-years in Northwestern University are 33-35 (middle 50% range).

Admissions requirements

College-preparatory program Required
Recommendations Required
Secondary school record Required
TOEFL Required
SAT/ACT Considered but not required
Secondary school GPA Considered but not required
Secondary school rank Considered but not required
Formal demonstration of competencies Neither required nor recommended
Other Tests Neither required nor recommended

Enrollment demographics by race or ethnicity

White 8560 (37%)
Nonresident Alien 4794 (21%)
Asian 3697 (16%)
Hispanic 2330 (10%)
Race or Ethnicity unknown 1386 (6%)
Black or African American 1296 (6%)
Two or more races 1059 (5%)
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander 17 (0.1%)
American Indian or Alaska Native 10 (0%)

Costs per year: Tuition, Housing, Fees

The average net cost to attend Northwestern University is $22,095 per year, calculated as the sum of the average cost of tuition, room and board, books, and supplies, reduced by the amount of average financial aid received.

The final cost of attendance varies for each student based on household income, residency, program, and other factors.

Net average cost to attend
$22,095/year
Average aid awarded
$61,716
Students receiving aid
58%

Average costs by household income

<$30K $3,393
$30-48K $2,389
$48-75K $6,079
$75-110K $19,672
$110K+ $48,102

Tuition and fees

UndergraduatesGraduates
Tuition in-district $62,391$51,869
Tuition in-state $62,391$51,869
Tuition out-of-state $62,391$51,869
Fee in-district $1,077$1,155
Fee in-state $1,077$1,155
Fee out-of-state $1,077$1,155

Room and board costs

Dormitory capacity 4,456
Combined charge for room and board $19,440
Room charge $11,748
Meal charge $7,692

Northwestern University majors

Northwestern University has granted 2,063 bachelor's degrees across 77 programs, 4,866 master's across 102 programs, and 1,088 doctorate degrees across 66 programs. Below is a table with majors that lead to degrees at Northwestern University.

Major Bachelor Master Doctoral
Management Science 1,495
Digital Communication and Media & Multimedia 185 431 6
Business Administration and Management, General 347
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics 239 55 31
Counseling Psychology 294
Law 290
Programs for Foreign Lawyers 281
Computer Science 102 96 9
Medicine 154
Biology & Biological Sciences, General 129 1 17
Mechanical Engineering 72 35 18
Information Science & Studies 69 50
Psychology, General 93 8 12
Legal Professions and Studies, Other 110
Neuroscience 92 17
Drama and Dramatics & Theatre Arts, General 90 7 7
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering 43 40 20
Engineering, Other 101
Speech-Language Pathology & Pathologist 72 28
Physical Therapy & Therapist 93
Speech Communication and Rhetoric 90 3
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, General 87
Public Administration 87
Chemistry, General 19 7 56
Industrial Engineering 55 15 9
Political Science and Government, General 57 5 10
Community Organization and Advocacy 71
Radio and Television 68
Materials Engineering 19 21 26
Chemical Engineering 34 9 17
Civil Engineering, General 16 33 11
Engineering & Engineering-Related Technologies & Technicians, Other 55
History, General 32 14 9
Tax Law & Taxation 54
Public Health, General 53
Sport and Fitness Administration & Management 53
Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education 52
Statistics, General 25 18 6
Orthotist & Prosthetist 48
Public Policy Analysis, General 47
Computer Engineering, General 15 23 5
Health Communication 43
Sustainability Studies 43
Cell & Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Other 41
English Language and Literature, General 24 9 8
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other 41
Biotechnology 40
Music Performance, General 20 19 1
Industrial and Organizational Psychology 39
Electrical and Electronics Engineering 11 20 7
Health and Wellness, General 38
Mathematics, General 25 3 10
Engineering & Industrial Management 36
Sociology, General 13 11 12
Physician Assistant 35
Voice and Opera 17 17 1
Stringed Instruments 12 16 3
Marriage and Family Therapy & Counseling 30
Manufacturing Engineering 27
Medical Science & Scientist 27
Applied Mathematics, General 10 10 6
Higher Education & Higher Education Administration 26
Communication Sciences and Disorders, General 17 8
Psychology, Other 23
Organizational Behavior Studies 16 4
Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics 19
Medical Informatics 19
Physics, General 12 3 4
Genetic Counseling & Counselor 18
Mechanical & Mechanical Engineering Technology & Technician 18
Audiology & Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathology & Pathologist 1 16
Environmental Science 17
Robotics Technology & Technician 17
Anthropology, General 5 8 3
Biostatistics 15
Artificial Intelligence 14
Clinical Psychology 14
Health Services & Allied Health & Health Sciences, General 14
Music, General 7 1 6
Education, Other 1 12
Health and Medical Administrative Services, Other 13
Neurobiology and Anatomy 13
Philosophy 7 6
Keyboard Instruments 2 4 6
Botany & Plant Biology, Other 9 2
Creative Writing 1 10
Marketing & Marketing Management, General 9 2
Music Teacher Education 4 7
Playwriting and Screenwriting 11
Science Technologies & Technicians, Other 11
Art History, Criticism and Conservation 5 3 2
Linguistics 6 3 1
Bioethics & Medical Ethics 9
Computer and Information Sciences, General 9
Engineering Physics & Applied Physics 1 8
Geology & Earth Science, General 3 6
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services, Other 2 1 6
Systems Science and Theory 3 6
Art & Art Studies, General 3 5
Documentary Production 8
Legal Studies 4 4
Behavioral Sciences 7
Conducting 3 4
Learning Sciences 7
Music Theory and Composition 5 1 1
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Other 6
Biological and Physical Sciences 6
Engineering Mechanics 2 4
Film & Cinema & Media Studies 2 4
American & United States Studies & Civilization 5
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General 5
Comparative Literature 2 1 2
Dance, General 5
Economics, General 5
Education, General 5
Environmental & Environmental Health Engineering 5
Liberal Arts and Sciences & Liberal Studies 2 3
Operations Research 1 4
Slavic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General 2 1 2
African-American & Black Studies 1 1 2
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, Other 4
Design and Visual Communications, General 4
Engineering, General 4
Hispanic and Latin American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General 4
Humanities & Humanistic Studies 4
Jazz & Jazz Studies 4
Religion & Religious Studies 2 2
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General 3
French Language and Literature 2 1
Acting 2
Asian-American Studies 2
Astronomy 1 1
German Language and Literature 2
Health Information & Medical Records Administration & Administrator 2
Musicology and Ethnomusicology 1 1
Near and Middle Eastern Studies 2
Secondary Education and Teaching 2
Writing, General 2
Advanced Legal Research & Studies, General 1
Biomedical Sciences, General 1
Computer and Information Sciences, Other 1
Directing and Theatrical Production 1
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Other 1
Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American & Chicano Studies 1
Social Sciences, General 1
Spanish Language and Literature 1
Grand Total 2,063 4,866 1,088

Northwestern University has a graduation rate of 97%, which is among the 2% highest for universities in the US.

Total Men Women
Graduation rate 97% 95% 98%
  • Full-time retention rate - 98%

Publications & Citations

Northwestern University is a world-class research university with 198,901 scientific papers published and 8,186,178 citations received. The research profile covers a range of fields, including Biology, Medicine, Chemistry, Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Genetics, Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, Biochemistry, and Psychology.

Publications
198,901
Citations
8,186,178

Publication / Citation count by topic

Biology
130,135 / 5,846,833
Medicine
121,290 / 4,576,050
Chemistry
99,580 / 4,855,923
Engineering
80,851 / 3,817,418
Physics
79,596 / 3,735,627
Computer Science
77,366 / 3,261,744
Genetics
71,850 / 3,162,816
Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
69,583 / 2,717,457
Biochemistry
62,328 / 3,152,042
Psychology
61,945 / 2,422,329
Pathology
59,191 / 2,424,799
Quantum and Particle physics
52,339 / 2,563,292
Environmental Science
50,159 / 2,247,102
Surgery
44,234 / 1,435,031
Organic Chemistry
43,713 / 2,345,174
Materials Science
43,296 / 2,287,088
Psychiatry
39,089 / 1,470,333
Mathematics
38,453 / 1,606,081
Statistics
32,656 / 1,339,800
Political Science
30,917 / 1,196,134
Law
30,003 / 1,175,262
Sociology
29,434 / 1,136,551
Philosophy
29,236 / 1,193,328
Neuroscience
28,582 / 1,250,584
Geology
27,539 / 1,211,782
Immunology
26,853 / 1,069,875
Radiology and Nuclear medicine
26,204 / 883,564
Optical Engineering
25,464 / 1,170,887
Geography and Cartography
22,144 / 916,114
Oncology and Cancer research
21,623 / 817,838
Business
20,354 / 898,229
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
19,794 / 785,851
Paleontology
19,571 / 856,357
Metallurgical Engineering
18,812 / 985,182
Economics
18,409 / 812,460
Anatomy and Physiology
18,198 / 655,385
Linguistics
16,137 / 657,586
Public Health
15,986 / 617,907
Demography
15,507 / 625,479
History
14,952 / 583,889

Annual publication & citation counts

Year Publications Citations
1991 1742 25671
1992 1775 29700
1993 1844 28386
1994 1980 30943
1995 2062 33339
1996 2247 38930
1997 2266 42486
1998 2283 48667
1999 2395 54126
2000 2617 62687
2001 2677 70724
2002 3401 83537
2003 3394 93401
2004 3692 105262
2005 3841 122381
2006 4148 139387
2007 4453 158583
2008 4921 177200
2009 5189 201394
2010 5289 229548
2011 5714 259584
2012 6165 289404
2013 6654 319819
2014 7040 346160
2015 7452 372382
2016 7996 391545
2017 8423 419750
2018 9089 464409
2019 9653 515363
2020 10552 596398
2021 10657 668292
2022 10181 681017
2023 9940 686741
Academic rankings

Northwestern University alumni

  1. Zooey Deschanel

    Zooey Deschanel
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1980-.. (age 44)
    Occupations
    singer-songwritervoice actoractortelevision actormusician
    Biography

    Zooey Claire Deschanel is an American actress and musician. She made her film debut in Mumford (1999) and had a supporting role in Cameron Crowe's film Almost Famous (2000). Deschanel is known for her deadpan roles in comedy films such as The Good Girl (2002), The New Guy (2002), Elf (2003), The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005), Failure to Launch (2006), Yes Man (2008), The Happening (2008), 500 Days of Summer (2009) and Our Idiot Brother (2011). She has also ventured into dramatic film territory with Manic (2001), All the Real Girls (2003), Winter Passing (2005), Bridge to Terabithia (2007) and The Driftless Area (2015). From 2011 to 2018, she starred as Jess Day on the Fox sitcom New Girl, for which she received nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and three Golden Globe Awards.

  2. Hugh Hefner

    Hugh Hefner
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1926-2017 (aged 91)
    Occupations
    writerfilm produceractorjournalistnightclub owner
    Biography

    Hugh Marston Hefner was an American magazine publisher. He was the founder and editor-in-chief of Playboy magazine, a publication with revealing photographs and articles.

  3. David Schwimmer

    David Schwimmer
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1966-.. (age 58)
    Occupations
    film actortelevision actorfilm producerfilm directorstage actor
    Biography

    David Lawrence Schwimmer is an American actor, director, comedian, and producer. He gained worldwide recognition for portraying Ross Geller in the sitcom Friends, for which he received a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1995. While still acting in Friends, his first leading film role was in The Pallbearer (1996), followed by roles in Kissing a Fool; Six Days, Seven Nights; Apt Pupil (all 1998); and Picking Up the Pieces (2000). He was then cast in the miniseries Band of Brothers (2001) as Herbert Sobel.

  4. George R. R. Martin

    George R. R. Martin
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1948-.. (age 76)
    Enrolled in Northwestern University
    Graduated with bachelor's degree in journalism
    Occupations
    screenwriterfilm producerplaywrightscience fiction writerwriter
    Biography

    George Raymond Richard Martin, also known as GRRM, is an American novelist, screenwriter, television producer, and short story writer. He is the author of the series of epic fantasy novels A Song of Ice and Fire, which were adapted into the Emmy Award-winning HBO series Game of Thrones (2011–2019) and its prequel series House of the Dragon (2022–present). He also helped create the Wild Cards anthology series, and contributed worldbuilding for Elden Ring.

All 100 notable alumni

General info

Alternative names NU
Founded 1851
Motto Quaecumque Sunt Vera
Whatsoever things are true (Philippians 4:8 AV)
Colors purple, white
Academic calendar September to August (September - December; January-March; April-June; June-August)
Total FTE staff 10,735
Carnegie classification Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity

Location and contacts

Address 633 Clark St
Evanston, Illinois, 60208
United States
City population 78,000
Phone 8474913741

Northwestern University in social media