Northwestern University
School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More
About Northwestern University
School Type: Private
Religious Affiliation: Not applicable
Status: Non-profit
Military Friendly: No
Accreditation: regional
Northwestern University is a medium-sized private university located on an urban campus in Evanston, Illinois. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 8,847, and admissions are extremely selective, with an acceptance rate of 7%. The university offers 116 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 95%, and a student-faculty ratio of 6:1. Tuition and fees for students are $60,276.
Rankings
Learn more about how this school compares to other schools with rankings by BestColleges.
- #1 Ranked in Best Online Master's in Data Science Programs of 2022
- #1 Ranked in Best Master's in Audiology and Speech Pathology Programs
- #2 Ranked in Best Colleges in Illinois
- #2 Ranked in Best Colleges in Illinois + Full List of Schools
- #4 Ranked in Best Master's in Chemical Engineering Programs
- #4 Ranked in Best Doctorate in Marketing Programs
- #5 Ranked in Best Master's in Philosophy Programs
- #6 Ranked in Best Philosophy Programs
- #6 Ranked in Best Chemical Engineering Programs
- #10 Ranked in Best Doctorate in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Programs
- #10 Ranked in Best Doctorate in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Programs
Admissions Breakdown
Acceptance Rate Insight
7% of students were accepted during the 2021-2022 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.
Retention Rate Insight
99% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2020 and returned in Fall 2021.
Graduation Rate Insight
95% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2015. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.
Application Considerations
Test scoresConsidered (not required)
High school transcriptRequired
High school rankRecommended
Letter of recommendationRequired
High school GPARecommended
Open admissionNo
Completion of college prep programRequired
Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL)Required
Transfer Credit Policy
Dual enrollmentImplied no
Credit for qualified life experience*Implied no
Advance placement (AP) creditsYes
*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.
SAT & ACT
ACT 25th-75th Percentile33-35
SAT 25th-75th Percentile1460-1560
Learning Environment
Student Body Stats
24k
Students enrolled
7%
Online student enrollment
6:1
Student to faculty ratio
Ways Students Can Learn
Demographics
White
41%
Unknown
6%
Black
6%
Hispanic
10%
Two or more races
4%
Non-U.S. Citizen
18%
Asian
16%
American Indian/Alaska Native
0%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
Socio-economic diversity
20% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.
Online Programs
Offers Online Programs
Yes
Online Programs
30
Total Online Enrollment
1,740
Student Location Breakout
Bar graph visual depicting student location breakout percentages.7% online, 93% on-campus.
Percent of Programs Online
93% On-campus
7% Online
Types of Online Programs Offered
CertificatesNot offered
AssociateNot offered
Bachelor'sNot offered
Graduate Certificate20% online
Master's12% online
Doctorate4% online
Student Charges
Tuition and Required Fees
| Student Level | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | $59,784 | $59,784 |
| Graduate | $54,672 | $54,672 |
Cost of Undergraduate Attendance
Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2021–2022 academic year.
| Costs to Consider | Price |
|---|---|
| Books and supplies | $1,200 |
| On-campus room and board | $17,758 |
| On-campus other expenses | $2,600 |
| Off-campus (not with family) room and board | Currently unavailable |
| Off-campus (not with family) other expenses | Currently unavailable |
| Off-campus (with family) other expenses | Currently unavailable |
Total Undergraduate Cost
| Total cost by category | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| On-campus | $81,342 | $81,342 |
| Off-campus without family | $60,984 | $60,984 |
| Off-campus with family | $60,984 | $60,984 |
Financial Breakdown
Students Receiving Aid
Federal Grant Aid
20%
State Grant Aid
8%
Institution Grant Aid
56%
Pell Grant
20%
Average Aid Awarded
Financial Outlook
$15k
Average student debtafter graduation
$72k
Average salary 6 years after starting school
Varsity Athletic Teams
NCAA Division I-FCS
of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.
Participation
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Football
- Golf
- Soccer
- Swimming Diving
- Tennis
- Wrestling
- Fencing
- Field Hockey
- Lacrosse
- Softball
- Track Field Xcountry
- Volleyball
Degrees Awarded by Program
Degrees given for the 2021-2022 academic year.
| # | Programs | BA | MA | Doc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies. | |||
| 2 | Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, And Group Studies. | |||
| 3 | Biological And Biomedical Sciences. | |||
| 4 | Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services. | |||
| 5 | Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs. | |||
| 6 | Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services. | |||
| 7 | Education. | |||
| 8 | Engineering Technologies/Technicians. | |||
| 9 | Engineering. | |||
| 10 | Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians. | |||
| 11 | English Language And Literature/Letters. | |||
| 12 | Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences. | |||
| 13 | Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics. | |||
| 14 | Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences. | |||
| 15 | Health Professions And Related Programs. | |||
| 16 | History | |||
| 17 | History. | |||
| 18 | Legal Professions And Studies. | |||
| 19 | Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities. | |||
| 20 | Mathematics And Statistics. | |||
| 21 | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies. | |||
| 22 | Natural Resources And Conservation. | |||
| 23 | Parks, Recreation, Leisure, And Fitness Studies. | |||
| 24 | Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, And Kinesiology. | |||
| 25 | Philosophy And Religious Studies. | |||
| 26 | Physical Sciences. | |||
| 27 | Psychology. | |||
| 28 | Public Administration And Social Service Professions. | |||
| 29 | Science Technologies/Technicians. | |||
| 30 | Social Sciences. | |||
| 31 | Visual And Performing Arts. |
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Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), [2021-2022]. In the absence of IPED data, information was collected directly from the school and is accurate as of the date of collection. Contact the school directly for the most current and complete information.