Northwestern University

{"text":"Founded in 1851, Northwestern University (NU) is a prestigious private research university in Evanston, Illinois. The university boasts of being the oldest chartered university in the state. The university has a main campus situated across the shores of Lake Michigan within the Chicago metropolitan area. \nNU has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools, boasting renowned programs like the Kellogg School of Management and the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

The university has additional campuses located in prominent locations like downtown Chicago, Coral Gables, San Francisco, Doha, and Washington, D.C.\nNorthwestern University Key Highlights \nNorthwestern University, known as one of the leading universities, is offering admission to candidates based on their academic excellence and merit. The university has a remarkable 91% placement rate and awards 20 scholarships. The university has a male-female ratio of 46:54 and is known for its impressive student-faculty ratio of 6:1. \n\n\n\n\n\nNorthwestern University Overview\n\n\n\n\nParticulars\n\n\nDetails\n\n\n\n\nApplication Fee\n\n\n$85 (7,042 INR)\n\n\n\n\nEstablishment Year\n\n\n1851\n\n\n\n\nWorld Ranking\n\n\n26\n\n\n\n\nQS Rank\n\n\n47\n\n\n\n\nScholarship\n\n\nRebate on tuition fee\n\n\n\n\nNo.

Of International Students\n\n\n21,000\n\n\n\n\nWebsite\n\n \n\n\n\nPlacement%\n\n\n99%\n\n\n\n\nEnglish Language Tests are accepted.\n\n\nIELTS\/TOEFL\n\n\n\n\nNorthwestern University Acceptance Rate\n\n\n7%\n\n\n\n\n\nNorthwestern University Ranking\nNorthwestern University has been recognised for its academic excellence which has made it a pioneer on the global stage. Globally, the university has been ranked at #47 in the QS World University Rankings. The following table can be checked to know about the ranking wise for Northwestern University.\n\n\n\n\n\nRanked By\n\n\n2018\n\n\n2019\n\n\n2020\n\n\n2021\n\n\n2022\n\n\n2023\n\n\n2024\n\n\n\n\nARWU (Shanghai Ranking) - Universities Rankings\n\n\n25\n\n\n29\n\n\n30\n\n\n34\n\n\n30\n\n\nNA\n\n\nNA\n\n\n\n\nQS - World University Ranking\n\n\nNA\n\n\nNA\n\n\n31\n\n\n29\n\n\n30\n\n\n32\n\n\n47\n\n\n\n\nTHE (Times Higher Education) - University Ranking \n\n\nNA\n\n\n25\n\n\n22\n\n\n24\n\n\n24\n\n\n26\n\n\nNA\n\n\n\n\nUS News & World Report - Global Universities\n\n\nNA\n\n\n24\n\n\n24\n\n\n24\n\n\n24\n\n\n24\n\n\nNA\n\n\n\n\nUS News & World Report - National University Ranking\n\n\nNA\n\n\n10\n\n\n9\n\n\n9\n\n\n9\n\n\n10\n\n\nNA\n\n\n\n\n\nNorthwestern University Scholarships \nNorthwestern University offers a variety of scholarships to ease the financial burden.

These scholarships are offered based on merit thus recognising academic excellence. International students can check out the table below to know about the scholarship offered along with their eligibility.\n\n\n\n\n\nScholarship Name\n\n\nEligibility\n\n\n\n\nNorthwestern Endowed Scholarships\n\n\nAwards are based on demonstrated institutional financial need and availability of funding at the time the student applies.\n\n\n\n\nQuestBridge National College Match Scholarship\n\n\nHigh-achieving students from low-income backgrounds who are matched with QuestBridge partner institutions\n\n\n\n\nChicago Star Scholarship\n\n\nStudents admitted who have completed a portion of their studies at City Colleges of Chicago and transfer to Northwestern to complete their first bachelor's degree.\n\n\n\n\nNative American and Indigenous Studies Scholarship\n\n\nStudents who identify as Native American or Alaska Native and demonstrate academic achievement and interest in Indigenous studies\n\n\n\n\n\nNorthwestern University Top Courses\nNorthwestern University offers admission to different disciplines across multiple domains. Some of the popular departments that offer admission to international students are Engineering, Journalism, and Communications.

The admission is offered based on the candidate’s academic excellence. \nNote:-The fee structure mentioned below is subject to change in accordance with the university's policies. The university reserves the right to modify the fees at any time without prior notice\n\n\n\n\n\nProgram\n\n\nAnnual Tuition (USD)\n\n\nAnnual Tuition (INR)\n\n\n\n\nEngineering\n\n\n$89,241\n\n\n\u20b912,04,294\n\n\n\n\nJournalism\n\n\n$81,189\n\n\n\u20b911,17,123\n\n\n\n\nCommunication\n\n\n$80,523\n\n\n\u20b911,07,711\n\n\n\n\nEconomics\n\n\n$77,331\n\n\n\u20b910,59,637\n\n\n\n\nComputer Science\n\n\n$69,241\n\n\n\u20b99,44,294\n\n\n\n\n\nNorthwestern University Campus\nNorthwestern University's main campus resides in the suburban haven of Evanston, Illinois, just north of Chicago's bustling atmosphere. Spread across an area of 240 acres, the campus boasts a unique architectural blend, seamlessly integrating modern structures with historic Gothic architecture.

This Evanston campus is home to undergraduate schools, the Graduate School, and the prestigious Kellogg School of Management. Situated at Sheridan Road, it stretches north-south from Lincoln Avenue to Clark Street, all west of Lake Michigan for easy access to scenic waterfront views. \nFor convenient transportation, the Chicago Transit Authority's elevated Purple Line, named after Northwestern's signature colour, runs through Evanston. Students can access the southern end of campus via the Foster or Davis stations, while the Noyes station caters to the northern end.

This ensures easy exploration of the city and surrounding areas.\nNorthwestern University Major Intakes\nNorthwestern University offers admission to candidates in two intakes namely, Fall and Winter. The former is popular and the majority of the admissions are done during this period. While, the latter intake is opened for only some basic programmes.

Go through the table below to get an idea of its deadline.\n\n\n\n\n\nIntake Term\n\n\nDeadline\n\n\n\n\nFall Quarter \n\n\nLate September\n\n\n\n\nWinter Quarter\n\n\nJanuary\n\n\n\n\n\nNorthwestern University Study Work Programmes\nNorthwestern University has prescribed the working hours for both temporary and students under the Federal Work-Study Programme. The competent authorities have prescribed the maximum number of hours in annual, and weekly along with the exceptions available during academic breaks. The following table can be checked to know about the details related to the same. \n\n\n\n\n\nEmployment Category\n\n\nERISA Compliance\n\n\nMaximum Hours (Rolling 12 Months)\n\n\nRecommended Weekly Hours (Academic Year)\n\n\nAcademic Break Exceptions\n\n\n\n\nTemporary Employees\n\n\nYes\n\n\n1,000 hours\n\n\nN\/A\n\n\nUp to 37.5 hours per week\n\n\n\n\nFWS (Federal Work-Study) Students\n\n\nNo\n\n\nN\/A\n\n\n20 hours\n\n\nUp to 37.5 hours per week\n\n\n\n\n\nNorthwestern University Cost of Attendance\nThe cost of attendance at Northwestern University depends on certain factors like tuition fees, accommodation, and basic expenses.

The students can check out the cost of attendance beforehand to plan for their studies in a better way. The candidates can check out the table below to know about the expense breakup for the cost of attendance. \n\n\n\n\n\nCost of Attendance\n\n\nUS Dollars (USD)\n\n\nIndian Rupees (INR)\n\n\n\n\nTuition & Fees\n\n\n$62,391\n\n\n\u20b99,38,865\n\n\n\n\nRoom & Board (On-Campus)\n\n\n$19,440\n\n\n\u20b92,91,616\n\n\n\n\nBooks & Supplies\n\n\n$1,590\n\n\n\u20b923,850\n\n\n\n\nTransportation\n\n\n$900\n\n\n\u20b913,500\n\n\n\n\nPersonal Expenses\n\n\n$2,000\n\n\n\u20b930,000\n\n\n\n\nTotal Estimated Cost\n\n\n$86,321\n\n\n\u20b912,97,831\n\n\n\n\n\nNorthwestern University Notable Alumni \nStephen Colbert \nA renowned comedian, television host, and writer, Stephen Colbert is a Northwestern alumnus.  After graduating with a degree in Theatre, he honed his improv and sketch comedy skills, eventually becoming a household name through his satirical talk show.\nAnn Curry \nA respected journalist with a long and distinguished career, Ann Curry graduated from Northwestern's School of Communication.  She is known for her in-depth reporting and anchoring roles at NBC News, including co-anchoring \"Today\" for over a decade.\nAlan Shapiro \nA leading astrophysicist and the James G. MacDonald Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.  His research focuses on planetary systems, supernovae, and dark matter, pushing the boundaries of our understanding of the universe.\nRichard Thaler \nA Nobel Prize-winning economist, Richard Thaler graduated from Northwestern with a degree in economics.  He is renowned for his work in behavioural economics, which bridges the gap between psychology and economics. \nCost of living in the United States of America\nThe cost of living in the USA depends on the tuition fee, other expenses, like groceries, transportation, utilities, and healthcare all contribute to the overall cost.  The USA is fairly expensive and thus utilising budgeting strategies helps to manage living costs.

Go through the table below to understand the cost breakup of the cost of living in the USA.\n\n\n\n\n\nCost of Living in USA\n\n\n\n\nExpense\n\n\nin USD ($)\n\n\nin INR\n\n\n\n\nBooks and Material (yearly)\n\n\n$100 - $200\n\n\n8,235-16,470\n\n\n\n\nHealth Insurance\n\n\n$200 - $600\n\n\n16,470 - 49,410\n\n\n\n\nFood\n\n\n$150 - $300\n\n\n12,352.5 - 24,705\n\n\n\n\nTransportation (public transit, gas, insurance)\n\n\n$100 - $300\n\n\n8,235 - 24,705\n\n\n\n\nEntertainment\n\n\n$100 - $300\n\n\n8,235 - 24,705\n\n\n\n\nInternet and phone\n\n\n$80 - $150\n\n\n6,588 - 12,352.5\n\n\n\n\n\n ","requirements":"","courses":[],"gallery":["https:\/\/d2bps9p1kiy4ka.cloudfront.net\/5b09189f7285894d9130ccd0\/f042d0c2-0049-4fa5-b2b5-fc5cc552fcee.jpg","https:\/\/d2bps9p1kiy4ka.cloudfront.net\/5b09189f7285894d9130ccd0\/2213a93b-0e7e-4d0d-92aa-0ff97617b433.png"]}

Northwestern University is a private research university based in Evanston, Chicago, and Doha. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), it is one of the best universities in the United States (#7 in US News Rankings 2026) for Indian students. The university offers world-class programs in areas like AI, Engineering, Business, Journalism, and Performing Arts. 37 Nobel Prize Laureates, 17 Grammy Award Winners, and 2 Field Medalists are affiliated with Northwest Uni either as alumni, faculty, or research professionals.

NWU is divided into 12 schools and colleges that offer personalised education comparable to Ivy League Universities in the United States, with a student-to-faculty ratio of just 6:1. It also offers scholarships to 100% of its admitted UG students who demonstrate the need for financial aid. Indian students will need to stand out in their school and UG degree to get a seat here, as the Northwestern University Acceptance Rate stands at 7.4%.

Northwestern University Facts

Mentioned below are some key facts related to studies at NWU Illinois:

Northwestern University History & Background

The university began thanks to the efforts of 9 prominent Chicago businessmen who started it to serve the former Northwest Territory. It received a charter from the Illinois General Assembly in 1851, making it the first recognised university in Illinois. It's first building (Old College) opened in late 1855.

Check out the videos below to know more about studies at NW University Illinois:

Northwestern University offers several scholarships & grants, federal work-study, loans, and emergency aid requests. However, Indian students only have 2 options to fund their studies; the Northwestern University Scholarships and Federal or State Grants. Mentioned below are some standout financial aid options available to Indian students at NWU:

1 USD = INR 92.70

How to get a scholarship at Northwestern University?

Indian students need to follow the steps mentioned below to get scholarships at Northwestern University USA:

• Check "yes" in the financial aid interest box of the NWU admission application
• Complete and submit the CSS profile via the College Board website (CSS Profile code: 1565)
• Complete and submit the most recent national tax forms (in English) to the Office of Financial Aid

A financial award notification will be sent soon to eligible students.

Learn more about Northwestern University's Scholarships from the video below:

Northwestern University has a strong global alumni network. The University has more than 260,000 alumni members who are working in top companies all over the world. The University alumni network includes various famous personalities, leaders, innovators, dreamers, mentors, and game changers. Some of them include Kathryn Hahn, Zach Braff, Dermot Mulroney, Stephen Colbert, and many more. A few more notable alumni are mentioned below.

Northwestern Uni graduates are currently employed in full-time roles at Google, Accenture, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan, among others. The university graduates are in very high demand by industries like Business & Financial Services, Consulting, Engineering, Technology, and Healthcare. Given below are all the key statistics of the latest round of Northwestern University Placements.

Northwestern University Placement Rate

96% of the Northwestern Uni grads were either employed full-time or pursuing higher studies. Mentioned are is a detailed breakdown of the employment stats at the university:

Northwestern University Average Graduate Salary

NWU University Illinois graduates earn mean salaries between USD 48,920 and USD 115,667 (INR 45.4 Lakhs and INR 1.07 Cr). Mentioned below are the best-paying industries for Indian graduates of the Northwestern Uni:

1 USD = INR 92.84

Tuition costs at NWU vary for different programs. The average Northwestern University tuition fees for Indian students planning to enrol in the 2025-26 academic session are USD 69,375 (INR 64.3 Lakhs). A full-time MBA for 1-year costs USD 119,996 (INR 1.11 Cr), while a 2-year MBA costs USD 86,370 (INR 80 Lakhs) per year.

Northwestern University Cost of Attendance for Indian Students 2026

Given below is a breakdown of the living costs for Indian students at Northwestern Uni:

1 USD = INR 92.70

• Admisisons are still open for some Master's courses at the Northwestern University

Indian students interested in higher studies at Northwestern University need to maintain strong academic scores (above 90% ideally), prove their proficiency in English, submit standardized tests (SAT or ACT), along with their online application via the Common or Coalition App, as part of the Northwestern University Application Process.

Northwestern University Application Deadlines 2026

NWU Illinois has 2 main intakes for UG students (Early Decision and Regular Decision). The application deadlines for both intakes have now passed. As for PG courses, the deadlines vary by program. Mentioned below are the tentative deadlines for Indian students:

Northwestern University Eligibility Criteria for Indian Students

The university has set some basic entry requirements that both domestic and Indian students need to satisfy to be eligible for studies at Northwestern University. This includes submitting the documents and test scores mentioned below:

1 USD = INR 94.56

Northwestern University ranks #14 among universities in the US, in the latest Shiksha Popularity Rankings. Globally, it ranks among the top 30 universities in the world, as it takes the #29 spot in Shiksha's global university rankings. Mentioned below is the Northwestern University ranking by subject at the country-level:

By Other Ranking Bodies

Apart from the Shiksha Popularity ranking, QS has also ranked the university globally. It ranks Northwestern University at #45 in 2027. Northwestern University ranking stood at #7 as per US News in 2026 and #30 by THE in 2026, globally.