Northwestern University
Northwestern University, 633 Clark Street, Evanston, IL 60208, United States
9500 International Students

QS Rank
47
Languages
English
Acceptance rate
7
Dorm on Campus
Available
Mode of Degree
offline
About the University
Founded in 1851, Northwestern University (NU) is a prestigious private research university in Evanston, Illinois. The university boasts of being the oldest chartered university in the state. The university has a main campus situated across the shores of Lake Michigan within the Chicago metropolitan area.
NU has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools, boasting renowned programs like the Kellogg School of Management and the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The university has additional campuses located in prominent locations like downtown Chicago, Coral Gables, San Francisco, Doha, and Washington, D.C.
Northwestern University Key Highlights
Northwestern University, known as one of the leading universities, is offering admission to candidates based on their academic excellence and merit. The university has a remarkable 91% placement rate and awards 20 scholarships. The university has a male-female ratio of 46:54 and is known for its impressive student-faculty ratio of 6:1.
Northwestern University Overview |
|
Particulars |
Details |
Application Fee |
$85 (7,042 INR) |
Establishment Year |
1851 |
World Ranking |
26 |
QS Rank |
47 |
Scholarship |
Rebate on tuition fee |
No. Of International Students |
21,000 |
Website |
|
Placement% |
99% |
English Language Tests are accepted. |
IELTS/TOEFL |
Northwestern University Acceptance Rate |
7% |
Northwestern University Ranking
Northwestern University has been recognised for its academic excellence which has made it a pioneer on the global stage. Globally, the university has been ranked at #47 in the QS World University Rankings. The following table can be checked to know about the ranking wise for Northwestern University.
Ranked By |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
ARWU (Shanghai Ranking) - Universities Rankings |
25 |
29 |
30 |
34 |
30 |
NA |
NA |
QS - World University Ranking |
NA |
NA |
31 |
29 |
30 |
32 |
47 |
THE (Times Higher Education) - University Ranking |
NA |
25 |
22 |
24 |
24 |
26 |
NA |
US News & World Report - Global Universities |
NA |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
NA |
US News & World Report - National University Ranking |
NA |
10 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
10 |
NA |
Northwestern University Scholarships
Northwestern University offers a variety of scholarships to ease the financial burden. These scholarships are offered based on merit thus recognising academic excellence. International students can check out the table below to know about the scholarship offered along with their eligibility.
Scholarship Name |
Eligibility |
Northwestern Endowed Scholarships |
Awards are based on demonstrated institutional financial need and availability of funding at the time the student applies. |
QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship |
High-achieving students from low-income backgrounds who are matched with QuestBridge partner institutions |
Chicago Star Scholarship |
Students admitted who have completed a portion of their studies at City Colleges of Chicago and transfer to Northwestern to complete their first bachelor's degree. |
Native American and Indigenous Studies Scholarship |
Students who identify as Native American or Alaska Native and demonstrate academic achievement and interest in Indigenous studies |
Northwestern University Top Courses
Northwestern University offers admission to different disciplines across multiple domains. Some of the popular departments that offer admission to international students are Engineering, Journalism, and Communications. The admission is offered based on the candidate’s academic excellence.
Note:-The fee structure mentioned below is subject to change in accordance with the university's policies. The university reserves the right to modify the fees at any time without prior notice
Program |
Annual Tuition (USD) |
Annual Tuition (INR) |
Engineering |
$89,241 |
₹12,04,294 |
Journalism |
$81,189 |
₹11,17,123 |
Communication |
$80,523 |
₹11,07,711 |
Economics |
$77,331 |
₹10,59,637 |
Computer Science |
$69,241 |
₹9,44,294 |
Northwestern University Campus
Northwestern University's main campus resides in the suburban haven of Evanston, Illinois, just north of Chicago's bustling atmosphere. Spread across an area of 240 acres, the campus boasts a unique architectural blend, seamlessly integrating modern structures with historic Gothic architecture. This Evanston campus is home to undergraduate schools, the Graduate School, and the prestigious Kellogg School of Management. Situated at Sheridan Road, it stretches north-south from Lincoln Avenue to Clark Street, all west of Lake Michigan for easy access to scenic waterfront views.
For convenient transportation, the Chicago Transit Authority's elevated Purple Line, named after Northwestern's signature colour, runs through Evanston. Students can access the southern end of campus via the Foster or Davis stations, while the Noyes station caters to the northern end. This ensures easy exploration of the city and surrounding areas.
Northwestern University Major Intakes
Northwestern University offers admission to candidates in two intakes namely, Fall and Winter. The former is popular and the majority of the admissions are done during this period. While, the latter intake is opened for only some basic programmes. Go through the table below to get an idea of its deadline.
Intake Term |
Deadline |
Fall Quarter |
Late September |
Winter Quarter |
January |
Northwestern University Study Work Programmes
Northwestern University has prescribed the working hours for both temporary and students under the Federal Work-Study Programme. The competent authorities have prescribed the maximum number of hours in annual, and weekly along with the exceptions available during academic breaks. The following table can be checked to know about the details related to the same.
Employment Category |
ERISA Compliance |
Maximum Hours (Rolling 12 Months) |
Recommended Weekly Hours (Academic Year) |
Academic Break Exceptions |
Temporary Employees |
Yes |
1,000 hours |
N/A |
Up to 37.5 hours per week |
FWS (Federal Work-Study) Students |
No |
N/A |
20 hours |
Up to 37.5 hours per week |
Northwestern University Cost of Attendance
The cost of attendance at Northwestern University depends on certain factors like tuition fees, accommodation, and basic expenses. The students can check out the cost of attendance beforehand to plan for their studies in a better way. The candidates can check out the table below to know about the expense breakup for the cost of attendance.
Cost of Attendance |
US Dollars (USD) |
Indian Rupees (INR) |
Tuition & Fees |
$62,391 |
₹9,38,865 |
Room & Board (On-Campus) |
$19,440 |
₹2,91,616 |
Books & Supplies |
$1,590 |
₹23,850 |
Transportation |
$900 |
₹13,500 |
Personal Expenses |
$2,000 |
₹30,000 |
Total Estimated Cost |
$86,321 |
₹12,97,831 |
Northwestern University Notable Alumni
Stephen Colbert
A renowned comedian, television host, and writer, Stephen Colbert is a Northwestern alumnus. After graduating with a degree in Theatre, he honed his improv and sketch comedy skills, eventually becoming a household name through his satirical talk show.
Ann Curry
A respected journalist with a long and distinguished career, Ann Curry graduated from Northwestern's School of Communication. She is known for her in-depth reporting and anchoring roles at NBC News, including co-anchoring "Today" for over a decade.
Alan Shapiro
A leading astrophysicist and the James G. MacDonald Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His research focuses on planetary systems, supernovae, and dark matter, pushing the boundaries of our understanding of the universe.
Richard Thaler
A Nobel Prize-winning economist, Richard Thaler graduated from Northwestern with a degree in economics. He is renowned for his work in behavioural economics, which bridges the gap between psychology and economics.
Cost of living in the United States of America
The cost of living in the USA depends on the tuition fee, other expenses, like groceries, transportation, utilities, and healthcare all contribute to the overall cost. The USA is fairly expensive and thus utilising budgeting strategies helps to manage living costs. Go through the table below to understand the cost breakup of the cost of living in the USA.
Cost of Living in USA |
||
Expense |
in USD ($) |
in INR |
Books and Material (yearly) |
$100 - $200 |
8,235-16,470 |
Health Insurance |
$200 - $600 |
16,470 - 49,410 |
Food |
$150 - $300 |
12,352.5 - 24,705 |
Transportation (public transit, gas, insurance) |
$100 - $300 |
8,235 - 24,705 |
Entertainment |
$100 - $300 |
8,235 - 24,705 |
Internet and phone |
$80 - $150 |
6,588 - 12,352.5 |
Requirements for Study
Undergraduate Programs:
- Completion of secondary education or equivalent.
- Median SAT score: around 1500 (out of 1600).
- Median ACT score: around 34.
- Acceptance rate: approximately 8%.
Postgraduate Programs:
- Completion of a relevant undergraduate degree or equivalent.
- Average GRE scores vary by program but are generally competitive.
- Acceptance rates vary by program but are generally low.