Northwestern

Northwestern University

Northwestern
#44 / #20
Global Influence / U.S. Influence
#24
Most Desirable School
Private university in Evanston, Illinois, U.S.

Northwestern University Featured Rankings

About Northwestern University

By James Barham, PhD

The founding of Northwestern University was spearheaded by the physician and politician John Evans, for whom the town of Evanston, Illinois, is named. The school is a private institution whose campus lies along Lake Michigan, just north of Chicago.

Northwestern was originally intended to serve the needs of the geographical area corresponding to the former Northwest Territory (Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and eastern Minnesota)—hence the school’s name.

The university is particularly renowned for its many distinguished professional schools, including the:

  • Bienen School of Music
  • Medill School of Journalism, Media, and Integrated Marketing Communications
  • Pritzker School of Law
  • Kellogg School of Management
  • Feinberg School of Medicine
  • McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

Northwestern is also home to several multi-disciplinary and more-focused research initiatives, including the:

  • Institute for Global Health
  • Institute for Sustainability and Energy
  • Global and Research Opportunities
  • Pritzker School of Law’s celebrated Exoneration Initiative

In addition, Northwestern is a premier research university in the arts and sciences; its enormous library holdings comprise some five million volumes.

Now with campuses in Chicago itself (including the state-of-the-art Northwestern Memorial Hospital complex only blocks from Lake Michigan) and in Doha, Qatar, Northwestern is one of the top private research universities in between the East and West Coasts. Situated as it is on the Great Lakes, Northwestern contributes greatly—together with the University of Chicago several miles to the south—to making the greater Chicago area the intellectually vibrant “third coast” of the United States.

Altogether, some 19 Northwestern-connected individuals have received the Nobel Prize, including:

  • George Stigler—economics
  • Franco Modigliani—economics
  • Robert Lucas—economics
  • Saul Bellow—literature
  • Ralph Bunche—peace

Northwestern’s Department of Philosophy was the long-time home of the distinguished Canadian philosopher, Charles Taylor, while Northwestern University Press played a pivotal role in introducing the translated writings of Continental authors working in the phenomenological, existentialist, poststructuralist, and postmodern traditions to an English-speaking philosophical audience.

Other notable Northwestern alumni and faculty include the:

  • Anthropologist, Mary Douglas
  • Actors, Patricia Neal, Jennifer Jones, Charlton Heston, Warren Beatty, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, & Zooey Deschanel
  • Television personalities, Jerry Springer & Stephen Colbert

According to Wikipedia, Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1851 to serve the historic Northwest Territory, it is the oldest chartered university in Illinois. The university has its main campus along the shores of Lake Michigan in the Chicago metropolitan area.

Northwestern University's Online Degrees

Undergraduate Certificate in Income Tax Preparation Certificate
  • Required Credits: 18
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Undergraduate Certificate in Accounting Technology
  • Required Credits: 20
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting-Cpa Preparation Certificate
  • Required Credits: 36
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Undergraduate Certificate in Accounting Associate
  • Required Credits: 42
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
AAS in Accounting
  • Required Credits: 63
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate of Completion in Creativity As Competitive Edge
  • Required Credits: None Reported
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate of Completion in Customer Experience Innovation
  • Required Credits: None Reported
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate of Completion in Customer Loyalty: A Strategic Approach
  • Required Credits: None Reported
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate of Completion in Digital Marketing Strategies: Data, Automation, Ai & Analytics
  • Required Credits: None Reported
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate of Completion in Essentials Of Marketing
  • Required Credits: None Reported
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate of Completion in High-Performance Marketing Communications: Strategies For Success
  • Required Credits: None Reported
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate of Completion in Market Research: Consumer Behavior And Analytics
  • Required Credits: None Reported
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate of Completion in Mastering Sales: A Toolkit For Success
  • Required Credits: None Reported
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate of Completion in Operations Management: Digital Strategy
  • Required Credits: None Reported
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate of Completion in Product Strategy
  • Required Credits: None Reported
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate of Completion in Professional Certificate In Digital Marketing
  • Required Credits: None Reported
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate of Completion in Strategic Change Management
  • Required Credits: None Reported
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate of Completion in Strategies That Build Winning Brands
  • Required Credits: None Reported
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Undergraduate Certificate in Microsoft User Certificate
  • Required Credits: 10
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Undergraduate Certificate in Microsoft Office Specialist Certificate
  • Required Credits: 10
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Undergraduate Certificate in Microsoft Office Advanced Specialist Certificate
  • Required Credits: 14
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate of Completion in Artificial Intelligence: Strategie For Leading Business Transformation
  • Required Credits: None Reported
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate of Completion in Legal Strategy For Business
  • Required Credits: None Reported
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate of Completion in Negotiating In A Virtual World
  • Required Credits: None Reported
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate of Completion in Privacy Law And Data Protection
  • Required Credits: None Reported
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Undergraduate Certificate in Basic Early Childhood Education Certificate
  • Required Credits: 19
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
AA in Associate In Arts
  • Required Credits: 60
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported
Certificate of Completion in Leading Diversity, Equity And Inclusion
  • Required Credits: None Reported
  • Completion Time: None Reported
  • Format: None Reported

Northwestern University Admissions, Retention, and Graduation Information

Annual ApplicationsAcceptanceGraduation RateMedian SAT ScoreMedian ACT Score
51,2617%97%153034

How Much Does Northwestern University Cost To Attend?

Tuition (in-state)
$63,468
Price by Family Income
IncomeAverage Net Cost
0 - 30K$3,393
30K - 48K$2,389
48K - 75K$6,079
75K - 110K$19,672
110K+$48,102

Source: National Center for Education Statistics

How Much Do Northwestern University Graduates Make?

If you graduate from Northwestern University, then you can expect to earn an average of $93,400 per year. You also have a 92% chance of being employed after 10 years.

Northwestern University's Demographics

Demographic data is for full-time, on-campus students.

Student BodyUnder-GradsGraduates
26,8629,92716,935

Where is Northwestern University?

Northwestern University is located at 633 Clark St, Evanston IL 60208

How Safe is Northwestern University?

Northwestern University has a violent crime rate of less than .01% and a property crime rate of less than .01%. Evanston has a violent crime rate of less than .01% and a property crime rate of less than .01%.

What Is Northwestern University Known For?

Northwestern University is known for it's academic work in the following disciplines:

Northwestern University's Top Areas of Influence With Degrees Offered

Business
#13
World Rank
#12
Historical Rank
#12
USA Rank
business Degrees
Sociology
#30
World Rank
#35
Historical Rank
#13
USA Rank
sociology Degrees
Law
#33
World Rank
#37
Historical Rank
#14
USA Rank
Economics
#23
World Rank
#31
Historical Rank
#14
USA Rank
economics Degrees
Anthropology
#34
World Rank
#45
Historical Rank
#15
USA Rank
anthropology Degrees
Communications
#40
World Rank
#47
Historical Rank
#16
USA Rank
communications Degrees
Chemistry
#57
World Rank
#78
Historical Rank
#17
USA Rank
chemistry Degrees
Philosophy
#55
World Rank
#92
Historical Rank
#18
USA Rank
philosophy Degrees
Education
#45
World Rank
#49
Historical Rank
#18
USA Rank
education Degrees
Political Science
#53
World Rank
#62
Historical Rank
#20
USA Rank
political-science Degrees
Literature
#46
World Rank
#74
Historical Rank
#20
USA Rank
literature Degrees
History
#49
World Rank
#56
Historical Rank
#20
USA Rank
history Degrees
Engineering
#58
World Rank
#77
Historical Rank
#22
USA Rank
engineering Degrees
Medical
#46
World Rank
#46
Historical Rank
#23
USA Rank
medicine Degrees
Mathematics
#83
World Rank
#113
Historical Rank
#25
USA Rank
math Degrees
Social Work
#37
World Rank
#41
Historical Rank
#26
USA Rank
social-work Degrees
Psychology
#47
World Rank
#56
Historical Rank
#27
USA Rank
psychology Degrees
Earth Sciences
#138
World Rank
#143
Historical Rank
#35
USA Rank
earth-science Degrees
Religious Studies
#149
World Rank
#171
Historical Rank
#36
USA Rank
religious-studies-hub Degrees
Biology
#115
World Rank
#140
Historical Rank
#38
USA Rank
biology Degrees
Physics
#156
World Rank
#175
Historical Rank
#43
USA Rank
physics Degrees
Computer Science
#106
World Rank
#106
Historical Rank
#44
USA Rank
computer-science Degrees
Nursing
#144
World Rank
#144
Historical Rank
#70
USA Rank
nursing Degrees

Who Are Northwestern University's Most Influential Alumni?

Northwestern University's most influential alumni include professors and professionals in the fields of Business, Economics, and Criminal Justice. Here are some of Northwestern University's most famous alumni:

Stephen Colbert
Stephen Colbert
An American comedian and writer.
George Stigler
George Stigler
An American economist.
John Paul Stevens
John Paul Stevens
A United States Supreme Court justice .
Saul Bellow
Saul Bellow
A Canadian-American writer.
Robert Hanssen
Robert Hanssen
A FBI agent who spied for Soviet and Russian intelligence services.
Aaron Director
An American economist .
Charles W. Morris
An American philosopher .
Walter Dill Scott
Walter Dill Scott
A President of Northwestern University and psychologist.
J. Gordon Melton
J. Gordon Melton
An American religious scholar.
Alston Scott Householder
An American mathematician .
Adam Przeworski
A Polish-American academic.
Joseph Greenberg
An American linguist.

Who Are Northwestern University's Most Influential Faculty?

Northwestern University's most influential faculty include professors in the fields of Business, Economics, and Criminal Justice. Here are some of Northwestern University's most famous alumni:

Dean Karlan
Dean Karlan
An American economist.
ContraPoints
ContraPoints
A YouTube personality.
Xinwen Zhu
A Chinese mathematician.
Janice Eberly
Janice Eberly
An American economist.
Eric Klinenberg
Eric Klinenberg
An American sociologist.
Efraim Benmelech
An American economist.
Mark Hersam
Mark Hersam
An American materials scientist.
Jennifer Richeson
Jennifer Richeson
An American psychologist.
Emmy Murphy
Emmy Murphy
An American mathematician.
Alex Zunger
Alex Zunger
An American physicist.
Kevin Costello
An Irish mathematician.
Robert K. Elder
An American journalist.