Northwestern University

Evanston, IL
PrivateUrbanWebsite
Acceptance Rate
7%
Enrollment
8,960
Graduation Rate
96%
Student-Faculty Ratio
6:1
Median Earnings (10yr)
$89,363
Retention Rate
97%

Admissions

SAT Range (25th–75th)14901560
8001600
ACT Range (25th–75th)3335
136

Test Policy: Test Flexible

How Do You Compare?

Enter your stats to see your fit

LimitedExceptional

Cost & Financial Aid

In-State Tuition
$65,997
Out-of-State Tuition
$65,997
Avg Net Price
$27,143
Room & Board
$20,334
Total COA
$87,804
Median Debt
$15,000

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30,000
$1,243
$30,001–48,000
$3,373
$48,001–75,000
$6,485
$75,001–110,000
$14,059
$110,001+
$48,837
Pell Grant Rate: 19%
Federal Loan Rate: 19%

Feeling overwhelmed by costs?

A college admissions consultant can help you build a financial aid strategy and maximize your scholarship opportunities.

Find an Advisor

Net Price Estimator

Estimate your actual cost after financial aid based on family income.

Sticker Price$86,331
Estimated Net Price$27,143 (avg)

This is a rough estimate based on published IPEDS data. Actual aid depends on your full financial profile, merit scholarships, and institutional policies.

Northwestern University's Official Net Price Calculator

Outcomes

Graduation Rate
96%
Median Earnings (10yr)
$89,363
Retention Rate
97%
Median Debt
$15,000

Top Programs

Social Sciences
17.0%
Communication
14.0%
Engineering
13.6%
Biology
9.5%
Computer Science
8.2%
Visual & Performing Arts
7.2%
Psychology
6.5%
Public Administration & Social Services
4.9%
Business & Marketing
4.7%
Mathematics & Statistics
3.5%

Top Majors

MajorGraduatesEarnings (4yr)
Economics338$105,795
Journalism151$63,740
Psychology, General139$61,389
Neurobiology and Neurosciences136
Political Science and Government121$71,052
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication102$47,162
Communication and Media Studies101$77,066
Music98$39,940
Computer Science94$130,650
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft93$36,466
Biology, General91$69,257
Industrial Engineering87$107,105
Community Organization and Advocacy73$77,788
Mechanical Engineering67$92,129
Public Policy Analysis66$51,876

Demographics

Men 45%Women 55%
White
34.1%
Black
7.4%
Hispanic
15.1%
Asian
21.7%
Two or More
7.6%
International
10.3%

Application Info

Deadlines

EA2025-11-01
REA2026-01-15
App Fee (Domestic)$75
App Fee (International)$75
6 required essays
Required

We want to be sure we’re considering your application in the context of your personal experiences: What aspects of your background (your identity, your school setting, your community, your household, etc.) have most shaped how you see yourself engaging in Northwestern’s community, be it academically, extracurricularly, culturally, politically, socially, or otherwise?

Required

Painting “The Rock” is a tradition at Northwestern that invites all forms of expression—students promote campus events or extracurricular groups, support social or activist causes, show their Wildcat spirit (what we call “Purple Pride”), celebrate their culture, and more. What would you paint on The Rock, and why?

Required

Northwestern fosters a distinctively interdisciplinary culture. We believe discovery and innovation thrive at the intersection of diverse ideas, perspectives, and academic interests. Within this setting, if you could dream up an undergraduate class, research project, or creative effort (a start-up, a design prototype, a performance, etc.), what would it be? Who might be some ideal classmates or collaborators?

Required

Community and belonging matter at Northwestern. Tell us about one or more communities, networks, or student groups you see yourself connecting with on campus.

Required

Northwestern’s location is special: on the shore of Lake Michigan, steps from downtown Evanston, just a few miles from Chicago. What aspects of our location are most compelling to you, and why?

Required

Northwestern is a place where people with diverse backgrounds from all over the world can study, live, and talk with one another. This range of experiences and viewpoints immeasurably enriches learning. How might your individual background contribute to this diversity of perspectives in Northwestern’s classrooms and around our campus?

Similar Colleges

Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Last updated January 2026.