Evanston
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- 100+ innovation-based courses taught each year
- $2.2 billion in revenue from patents and intellectual property licensing revenue
- 10 million+ patients impacted by Northwestern therapeutics
The Northwestern Difference
Northwestern is a comprehensive research university that is deeply interdisciplinary across multiple schools and units. Our rigorous yet empathetic academic environment provides a robust mixture of theory and practice, with an emphasis on top-tier research, new knowledge, creative expression and practical application. If you are at Northwestern, you are part of an innovative, collaborative, and multidimensional community delivering an impact that is rare in higher education. View our fact sheet as a downloadable PDF.
Northwestern and International Recognition
Northwestern University is one of only four US universities that ranks in the top twenty across all categories of graduate education and in the top 10 overall.
#9
National University
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#22
Global University
View full list from The World University Rankings 2020
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#3
Business School
Kellogg School of Management
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#7
Education School
School of Education & Social Policy
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#9
Law School
Pritzker School of Law
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#18
Medical School
Feinberg School of Medicine
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#2
Materials Engineering
McCormick School of Engineering
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#6
Chemistry
Weinberg College of Arts and Science
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#7
Economics
Weinberg College of Arts and Science
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Rankings from US News and World Report 2020, Global University ranking from THE World University Rankings 2020
Schools and Colleges
Our schools are listed below, with year of founding.
- Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences (1851)
- Feinberg School of Medicine (1859)
- Pritzker School of Law (1859)
- School of Communication (1878)
- Bienen School of Music (1895)
- Kellogg School of Management (1908)
- McCormick School of Engineering & Applied Science (1909)
- Graduate School (1910)
- Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications (1921)
- School of Education & Social Policy (1926)
- School of Professional Studies (1933)
- Northwestern University in Qatar (2008)
Research
Northwestern is a leading research university that is home to more than 90 school-based centers and more than 50 University research centers. With an interdisciplinary culture, our research spans a spectrum of areas including neuroscience, nanotechnology, biotechnology and drug discovery.
$798.3M in annual sponsored research awards FY19
13.6% increase over 2018
$351M in NIH funding FY19
91.5% increase over the past 10 years
#15 in total NIH awards for top AAU universities
Academics
8.5%acceptance rate
Academic Overview
- 72% of undergrads combine two or more areas of study
- About 50% of students supplement their academic program with study abroad
- 95% of 2018 undergrads were employed, studying on a fellowship, or attending graduate or professional school within six months of graduation
In 2019, Northwestern students came from 75+ countries
8,000+undergraduate students
13,000+graduate students
6:1student to faculty ratio
Campuses
Chicago
Doha, Qatar
Pell Grants and Financial Aid Percentages
20%of class of 2023 receives Pell Grants
61%of undergraduates receive financial aid (FY18)
Scholarships
Undergraduates
The University awarded $190 million in scholarships to undergraduate students in 2019-20.
Fulbright Scholars
Northwestern is one of a handful of universities to appear on every "top producing" Fulbright U.S. Student Program list published by the Chronicle of Higher Education since 2005.
Award-Winning Community
Among faculty and alumni are recipients of the Pulitzer Prize, Nobel Prize, MacArthur Genius Grant, Tony Award, Grammy Award, Emmy Award, Academy Award, Guggenheim Fellowship, and membership in the National Academy and numerous other honorary and professional societies.
$11 billionin total endowment
Northwestern Medicine Hospital Affiliates
#10
Hospital (Northwestern Memorial Hospital)
#1
Rehabilitation Hospital (Shirley Ryan Ability Lab)
#2
In Cardiology and Heart Surgery (Lurie Children's Hospital)
Rankings from US News 2020
Athletics
- Founding member of the Big Ten conference
- 2018 Big Ten West football champions and winners of three consecutive bowl games and five consecutive Land of Lincoln trophies
- Seven NCAA women's lacrosse titles since 2005
- Recent conference championships in basketball, soccer, field hockey, golf, tennis, wrestling, swimming, and diving
- 98% NCAA Graduation Success Rate ranks No. 1 among Football Bowl Subdivision schools
- One of five private AAU members/top research universities to compete in NCAA Power Five conferences
Notable Alumni Include:
- Stephen Colbert
- Gillian Flynn
- Claudia Lopez
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus
- Meghan Markle
- George R.R. Martin
- Seth Meyers
- J.B. Pritzker
- Patrick G. Ryan
- Roxana Saberi
- Gwynne Shotwell
- John Paul Stephens
- Michael Wilbon
- Andrew Youn