Quad

Northwestern University

Evanston, ILQuad's selectivityUltra selective
Known forUltra-selectiveTop test scoresBig endowment per studentVery diverseHigh earnersHigh graduation rateTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

1 in 13 applicants admitted

Northwestern admits about 1 in 13 applicants (7.7%). That puts it in the "Ultra selective" tier, more selective than 99% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

7.7%

7.7%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityUltra selective

Applied

49,474

Admitted

3,806

Yield

55%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1510–1570

10001600
ACT middle 50%

33–35

1836
Applications +47% since fall 2014 · admit rate 13% → 7.7%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 9,201 undergrads, where 19% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

9.2K

undergrads · larger than 88% of colleges

Diversity index

0.81

Pell Grant

19%

below the median

First generation

15%

below the median

Small cityNCAA D-I FBS · Big Ten ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.67 → 0.81 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Econometrics and Quantitative Economics (11% of graduates). 6 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 95% of colleges. 83% of faculty are full-time. Spends $48,932 a year on instruction per student.

6 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 95% of colleges

Most popular major

Econometrics and Quantitative Economics

11% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Information Science/Studies

$163.7K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

83%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$48.9K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $57,229 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $32.9K more than the national median. The 53% who received grants paid $26,830 on average; the other 47% paid the full sticker price of $91,290.

37%

$57.2K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $32.9K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$91,290 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 37% of full price

Federal loans

17%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost steady · −3% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $89,363 ten years after enrolling, more than at 95% of colleges; 97% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.6 years of that salary.

97%

97%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$89.4K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$15K

≈ $159/month for 10 years

Retention

98%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 93% → 95% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 10% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 3%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 47% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 13% to 7.7%.

  • Cost

    Steady

    −3% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +47%

  • Selectivity

    More selective

    admit rate 13% → 8%

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.67 → 0.81

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Stanford University

3.6% admit · SAT 1550 · 7.6K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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University of Pennsylvania

5.4% admit · SAT 1540 · 10.7K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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Emory University

10% admit · SAT 1505 · 7.3K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
Compare side-by-side

Harvard University

4.2% admit · SAT 1505 · 7.6K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
Compare side-by-side
Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Northwestern University (2026–27)

    Northwestern University · 2026–27 · retrieved 2026-10-10

  12. 12
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    Northwestern University (2026)

    Northwestern University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 147767 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything