What makes Northwestern different
- Communication and the arts. The Medill School of Journalism, the School of Communication and the Bienen School of Music are central to campus life.
- The quarter system. Three 10-week terms a year mean more, shorter classes.
- A lakefront campus next to Chicago, with the city's internships and culture a train ride away.
What Northwestern students study
The most common bachelor's degrees (class of 2024): economics (238), digital communication and media (165), biology (137), computer science (120), information science (110) and neuroscience (110). Source: IPEDS Completions, first majors only.
You may thrive at Northwestern if…
- You're drawn to journalism, communication, theater or music, or want to combine them with another field.
- You like a fast-paced academic calendar.
- You want a smaller, private university inside a Big Ten conference.
Worth asking about
- How does the quarter system feel for courses you find hardest?
- How easy is it to combine schools, such as engineering with music?
How Northwestern compares with the other Big Ten schools
Northwestern is one of the Big Ten's two private universities and by far its smallest. See how the 18 Big Ten schools differ.
FAQ
What is Northwestern's acceptance rate? 7.7% for fall 2024.
Is Northwestern an Ivy League school? No. Northwestern is a private university in the Big Ten conference.
How much does Northwestern cost? Published tuition and fees are $68,322 a year and the total cost of attendance is $91,250, before any aid.
How much is Northwestern tuition per semester? About $34,161 a semester, half the published $68,322 a year, before aid.
Is Northwestern an R1 university? Yes. In the 2025 Carnegie Classifications, Northwestern University is an R1 university, the group with the highest research spending and doctoral degrees. What R1 means →
How many students go to Northwestern? About 9,200 undergraduates (fall 2024).
Thinking about fit, not just selectivity?
Lens's assessments show which kinds of colleges fit who you are. Start with Lens →