Northwestern University

www.northwestern.edu

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2023 Undergraduate Tuition

$64,887

4% growth from 2022

2023 Average Net Price

$23,341

After Financial Aid

2020 Default Rate

0.0382%

on Student Loans

2023 Acceptance Rate

7.15%

51,769 Applicants

2023 Enrolled Students

23,203

83.8% Full-Time

2023 Graduation Rate

95.9%

1,822 Graduates

About

Northwestern University is a higher education institution located in Cook County, IL. In 2023, the most popular Masters Degree concentrations at Northwestern University were Management Science (2,013 degrees awarded), Digital Communication & Multimedia (414 degrees), and Counseling Psychology (316 degrees).

In 2023, 10,406 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Northwestern University. 52.2% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 47.8% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (4,079 degrees), 2.59 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1,574 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Northwestern University is $64,887, which is $33,884 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004).

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at Northwestern University was 0.0382%, corresponding to 1 out of the 2,615 total borrowers.

Photo by Amanda

Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at Northwestern University is $64,887, which is $33,884 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $23,341.

In 2023, 54% of undergraduate students attending Northwestern University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 19% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$64,887

2023 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2023, the cost of tuition at Northwestern University was $64,887. The cost of tuition at Northwestern University is $33,884 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Northwestern University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$23,341

2023 Value

5.64%

1 Year Growth

In 2023 Northwestern University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $23,341. Between 2022 and 2023, the average net price of Northwestern University grew by 5.64%.

This chart compares the average net price of Northwestern University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$19,440

Room and Board

$1,590

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Northwestern University was of $19,440 in 2023. The cost of room and board increased by 6.44% between 2022 and 2023.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,590. The cost of books and supplies increased by 1.53% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Northwestern University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

54%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

19%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

54% of undergraduate students at Northwestern University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2023. This represents a growth of 0% with respect to 2022, when 54% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Northwestern University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

0.0382%

2020 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at Northwestern University was 0.0382%, which represents 1 out of the 2615 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Northwestern University received 51,769 undergraduate applications in 2023, which represents a 0.991% annual growth. Out of those 51,769 applicants, 3,703 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 7.15% acceptance rate.

There were 23,203 students enrolled at Northwestern University in 2023. 50% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Northwestern University has an overall enrollment yield of 57%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

7.15%

Acceptance Rate in 2023

3,703

Accepted Out of 51,769

In 2023, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Northwestern University was 7.15% (3,703 admissions from 51,769 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2022, which was 7.21%. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of applicants grew by 0.991%, while admissions grew by 0.217%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Northwestern University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

50%

Submission Percentage (2023)

1,063

Scores Submitted (2023)

50% of enrolled first-time students at Northwestern University in 2023 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Northwestern University had a total enrollment of 23,203 students in 2023. The full-time enrollment at Northwestern University is 19,451 students and the part-time enrollment is 3,752. This means that 83.8% of students enrolled at Northwestern University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Northwestern University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 34.7% White, 16.4% Asian, 10.4% Hispanic or Latino, 5.97% Black or African American, 4.83% Two or More Races, 0.0862% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.069% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Northwestern University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (18.5%), followed by White Male (16.6%) and Asian Female (11.2%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (17.9%), followed by White Male (14.6%) and Asian Female (6.5%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

83.8%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Northwestern University in 2023, both undergraduate and graduate, is 23,203 students. The full-time enrollment at Northwestern University is 19,451 and the part-time enrollment is 3,752. This means that 83.8% of students enrolled at Northwestern University are enrolled full-time compared with 77.9% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Northwestern University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

97%

2023 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Northwestern University was 97%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (84%), Northwestern University had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Northwestern University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2023)

White
8,040 enrolled students
Asian
3,799 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
2,420 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Northwestern University is 34.7% White, 16.4% Asian, 10.4% Hispanic or Latino, 5.97% Black or African American, 4.83% Two or More Races, 0.0862% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.069% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 46.5% White, 15.9% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.78% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 1,454 students (6.27%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2023, 460 more women than men received degrees from Northwestern University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Northwestern University is white (4,079 degrees awarded). There were 2.59 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1,574 degrees).

The most common Masters Degree concentration at Northwestern University is Management Science (2,013 degrees awarded), followed by Digital Communication & Multimedia (414 degrees) and Counseling Psychology (316 degrees).

In 2023, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Northwestern University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Legal (679 degrees awarded), Communications (779 degrees), and Math & Statistics (226 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Other managers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Northwestern University are Other managers (650,220 people), Software developers (573,802 people), Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (409,592 people), Miscellaneous engineers, including nuclear engineers (372,384 people), and Civil engineers (304,722 people).

The most specialized majors at Northwestern University in 2023 are Legal (679 degrees awarded), Communications (779 degrees), Math & Statistics (226 degrees), Engineering (835 degrees), and Social Sciences (745 degrees) (as of 2023).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Podiatrists

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Northwestern University are Podiatrists, Surgeons, Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, and Physicians

The most specialized majors at Northwestern University are Legal (679 degrees awarded), Communications (779 degrees), Math & Statistics (226 degrees), Engineering (835 degrees), and Social Sciences (745 degrees) (as of 2023).

Common Industries by Major

Computer Systems Design

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Northwestern University are Computer Systems Design (1,112,706 people), Elementary & secondary schools (842,614 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (736,068 people), Construction (716,329 people), and Banking & related activities (639,339 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Northwestern University.

Most Common (2023)

Management Science
2,013 degrees awarded
Digital Communication & Multimedia
414 degrees awarded
Counseling Psychology
316 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common masters degree concentration at Northwestern University was Management Science with 2,013 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from masters degree programs at Northwestern University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

4,973

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2023

5,433

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2023

In 2023, 4,973 degrees were awarded to men at Northwestern University, which is 0.915 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (5,433).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Northwestern University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2023, 1,234 degrees were awarded to men at Northwestern University in Management Science, which is 1.55 times more than the 797 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2023, 797 degrees were awarded to men at Northwestern University in Management Science, which is 0.646 times less than the 1,234 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

86%

100% Completion Time

95%

150% Completion Time

In 2023, 86% of students graduating from Northwestern University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 95% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 96% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

American Indian or Alaska Native Female

Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2023 at Northwestern University is Female and American Indian or Alaska Native (100% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Non-resident Alien Male students have the highest graduation rate (65.7%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 4.56% of graduates (83 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2023)

White
4,079 degrees awarded
Asian
1,574 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
896 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Northwestern University is white (4,079 degrees awarded). There were 2.59 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1,574 degrees).

5.53% of degree recipients (575 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2023)

White Female
2,143 degrees awarded
White Male
1,936 degrees awarded
Asian Female
805 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Northwestern University is white female (2,143 degrees awarded). There were 1.11 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (1,936 degrees).

Operations

Northwestern University has an endowment valued at nearly $10.6B, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 106M (1.01%) compared to the 4.37% average return (19M on 434M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2023, Northwestern University had a total salary expenditure of 3.04B. Northwestern University employs 737 Professors, 385 Associate professors and 334 Assistant professors. Most academics at Northwestern University are Male Professor (490), Female Professor (247), and Male Associate professor (195).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Northwestern University are: Business and Financial Operations, with 1,452 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 1,075 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 1,023 employees.

Endowment

$10.6B

2023 Endowment

decline from 2022

Northwestern University has an endowment valued at about $10.6B, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The endowment of Northwestern University declined 3% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $10.1B higher than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Northwestern University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Salary Expenditure

$1.33B

2023 Salaries

5.85%

growth from 2022

In 2023, Northwestern University paid a median of $1.33B in salaries, which represents 43.9% of their overall expenditure ($3.04B) and a 5.85% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 4.06% growth between 2021 and 2022, and a 2.45% growth between 2020 and 2021.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 246M (41.5% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$275M

Instructional Salaries

1,549

Number of Employees

In 2023, Northwestern University paid a total of $275M to 1,549 employees working as instructors, which represents 20.6% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $6.13M (2.35%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

737 Employees

Business and Financial Operations

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

1,452 Employees

In 2023, the most common positions for instructional staff at Northwestern University were Professor with 737 employees, Associate professor with 385 employees, and Assistant professor with 334 employees.

In 2023, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Northwestern University were Business and Financial Operations with 1,452 employees, Office and Administrative Support with 1,075 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 1,023 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2023)

Male Professor
Female Professor
Male Associate professor

In 2023, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Northwestern University was Male Professor with 490 employees, Female Professor with 247 employees, and Male Associate professor with 195 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at Northwestern University.

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