Northwestern Rankings and Evaluation

National Universities

#12 in National Universities

World Universities

#26 in World Universities

Illinois Colleges

#2 in Illinois Colleges

Northwestern University is ranked 12^nd in National Universities, 26^th in World Universities, and 2^nd in Illinois Colleges.

The following statements evaluate Northwestern University by comparing key academic facts to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Illinois.

Its tuition & fees of $65,997 is very expensive compared to similar schools.
The acceptance rate (7%) is much lower (extremely difficult to get in).
The SAT & ACT scores (1,530 SAT, 34 ACT) is extremely competitive scores.
It has very large number of students of 23,161.
It offers very diverse area of study (435 programs).

Undergraduate Tuition & Fees

The 2024 undergraduate tuition & fees of Northwestern are $65,997 and it is very expensive compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Illinois.

Northwestern University $65,997

All U.S. Colleges $17,692

Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges $26,737

4-Years Colleges $22,926

Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Illinois $28,780

Graduate Tuition & Fees

The 2024 graduate tuition & fees of Northwestern are $53,871 and it is very expensive compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Illinois.

Northwestern University $53,871

All U.S. Colleges $18,842

Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges $18,688

4-Years Colleges $18,848

Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Illinois $19,533

Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate of Northwestern is 7% and it is much lower (extremely difficult to get in) compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Illinois.

Northwestern University 7%

All U.S. Colleges 69%

Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges 66%

4-Years Colleges 68%

Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Illinois 65%

Yield (Enrollment Rate)

The yield, also known as enrollment rate, of Northwestern is 55% and the yield is much higher (highly eager to enroll) compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Illinois.

Northwestern University 55%

All U.S. Colleges 37%

Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges 35%

4-Years Colleges 35%

Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Illinois 30%

SAT Scores

The average SAT score submitted by enrolled students at Northwestern is 1,530 and it is extremely competitive scores compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Illinois.

Northwestern University 1,530

All U.S. Colleges 1,123

Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges 1,132

4-Years Colleges 1,124

Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Illinois 1,124

ACT Scores

The average ACT score submitted by enrolled students at Northwestern is 34 and it is lower compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Illinois.

Northwestern University 34

All U.S. Colleges 68

Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges 69

4-Years Colleges 68

Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Illinois 70

Graduation Rate

The average graduation rate at Northwestern is 96% and it is extremely higher (most students completed in-time) compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Illinois.

Northwestern University 96%

All U.S. Colleges 56%

Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges 56%

4-Years Colleges 51%

Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Illinois 57%

Retention Rate

The average retention rate at Northwestern is 98% and it is extremely higher (most students continue to attend) compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Illinois.

Northwestern University 98%

All U.S. Colleges 69%

Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges 74%

4-Years Colleges 73%

Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Illinois 75%

Student Population

The total student population at Northwestern is 23,161 and its population very large compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Illinois.

Northwestern University 23,161

All U.S. Colleges 2,931

Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges 2,477

4-Years Colleges 4,686

Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Illinois 2,545

Financial Aid Amount

The average amount of financial aid received at Northwestern is $53,533 which is 81.11% of tuition & fees. The rate of the financial aid over its tuition is much higher compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Illinois.

Northwestern University $53,533

All U.S. Colleges $7,676

Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges $16,488

4-Years Colleges $12,161

Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Illinois $16,975

Student to Faculty Ratio

The students to faculty ratio at Northwestern is 6 to 1 and the ratio is very lower (smaller size classes) compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Illinois.

Northwestern University 6 to 1

All U.S. Colleges 15 to 1

Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges 12 to 1

4-Years Colleges 14 to 1

Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Illinois 11 to 1

Number of Programs

Northwestern offers 435 programs and it means very diverse area of study compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Illinois.

Northwestern University 435

All U.S. Colleges 37

Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges 45

4-Years Colleges 58

Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Illinois 50

Number of Online Programs

Northwestern offers 12 online programs and it means online classes for many programs compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Illinois.