Quad

Students

Who's on campus

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

+5% since fall 2014Over time

Race & ethnicity

Diversity index0.81

Diversity index vs. every college0.81
0.81
← 0.00higher than 99% of 1,8930.80 →

Economic access

Pell Grant recipients19%
National median: 34%Below typical
First-generation students15%
National median: 33%Below typical
Pell Grant share vs. every college19%
19%
← 0%higher than 15% of 1,88287% →

Campus size

9,201undergrads
Compared to every college9.2K
9.2K
← 19larger than 88% of 1,89337.8K →

Where first-years come from

2,105 first-time students

66% came from other states and 15% from abroad; 19% are from Illinois. More from other states than at 89% of colleges.

  • In-state (Illinois)19%
  • Other states66%
  • Abroad15%

Top home states

  1. Illinois(home state)19% 394
  2. California11% 238
  3. New York8.6% 182
  4. Florida3.6% 76
  5. Texas3.4% 71

From 51 states (counting DC) and 1 from U.S. territories.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Share of first-yearsNoneUnder 1%1–3%3–10%10–25%25%+Home state

Students starting college for the first time, by where they lived when admitted. Colleges report it every other fall.

Transfers in and out

Transferring in, fall 2024

277

new transfer students, 12% of new undergraduates. A larger transfer share than at 18% of colleges.

276 full-time, 1 part-time.

Going on to another college

2.0%

of students who entered in fall 2016 had left without a degree and were enrolled at another college 8 years later (about 42 students).

Federal data doesn't count students leaving in a given year; this follows one entering class.

Who they are

Almost everyone studies full-time.

Men46%
National median: 44%About typical

54% women

Another gender: Fewer than 10 undergraduates

Part-time students2.8%
National median: 7.5%Below typical
Students 25 and older3.0%
National median: 11%Below typical

Degree-seeking undergraduates. Men and women add up to 100% because federal data has colleges count each student of another or unknown gender as a man or a woman.

Campus life

Housing, sports, faith, Greek life, and LGBTQ+ life

Housing for 4,488 students.

Housing

Beds

4,488

About 49 for every 100 undergrads (median college: 59). Can include graduate housing.

First-years

Not required to live on campus

Many colleges still expect it, with exceptions such as for local students.

Meal plans

Offered

Athletics & programs

Athletics

NCAA Division I FBS · Big Ten Conference

Of the four sports the federal survey asks about, it plays football, basketball, baseball, cross country/track.

How the Big Ten Conference compares

ROTC

Navy

Study abroad

Offered

Undergraduate research

A formal program

Calendar

Quarters

Student services

  • Academic and career counseling
  • Help finding a job while enrolled
  • Job placement after graduating
  • 15% of undergrads registered with disability services· Disability services office

Religious life

Faith communities · 3

  • Christian 2
  • Nonreligious and secular 1

Nonreligious and secular

Secular Student Alliance

Northwestern University Secular Student Alliance

Greek life

3chapters

On the national organizations' own chapter lists.

Councils and chapters

  • 1listedPanhellenic sororities (NPC)

    From each organization's own chapter list.

  • 2listedInterfraternity (NIC and IFC)

    From each organization's own chapter list.

    Lambda Chi Alpha

    Alpha-Iota (Northwestern)

    Sigma Nu

    Gamma Beta

LGBTQ+ life

Support on campus

Policies

  • Nondiscrimination policy covers gender identity or expression
  • Gender-inclusive housing
  • Chosen name and pronouns on campus records
  • Gender-inclusive restrooms listed online
  • Student health plan covers transition-related care

Listed by Trans Policy Clearinghouse, read October 2026; not confirmed by the college.

Undergraduates of another gender, fall 2024

Fewer than 10 undergraduates

Gender unknown: 125

First-year applicants of another gender, fall 2024

Not reported: the college records other genders but leaves these counts blank when any is under 5, for privacy.

Colleges record gender so differently that these counts can't be compared between colleges.

Sources:College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;College Scorecard, Fall 2023;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students), Fall 2024;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level), Fall 2024;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education), Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD), 2025–26;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)