

Northwestern University: Fees, Rankings, Courses, Reviews
- Private University
240 acre campus
- Estd. 1851
Northwestern University Ranking
Northwestern University is considered to be one of the top universities in USA. According to Shiksha Popularity Ranking, Northwestern University ranking stands at #15 in 2025, at national level and #27 at global level. Apart from this, the university is also ranked by QS 2026 at #42 for World University Ranking category. The university ranking for QS at World University Ranking level for 2025 was #50. This shows that the university's position has witnessed an increasing trend this year.
ARWU (Shanghai Ranking) also ranks the university among the top names. US News has ranked NU #24 and THE (Times Higher Education) has ranked the university #31 in 2025, whereas 2024 rankings were #28, indicating a declining trend.
Moreover, a few of the Northwestern University courses are also ranked by Shiksha Popularity Ranking. Below are the course rankings:
Course name | Shiksha Popularity Ranking |
---|---|
MIM | #22 |
B.E. / B.Tech | #17 |
MS | #22 |
MBA/PGDM | #10 |
Others PG | #17 |
#28
#14
Commonly asked questions On Rankings
Northwestern University is known for its highly-ranked and top-rated MBA program. The Kellogg School of Management of Northwestern is one of the best business schools in the United States. It is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The QS World University Rankings 2025 ranked Northwestern #11 in the world for Global MBA. Whereas, THE World University Rankings 2025 ranked Northwestern #16 in the world for Business and Economics.
Northwestern University offers highly ranked and top-rated Engineering programs through McCormick School of Engineering. It offers a number of Engineering programs at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The QS World University Rankings 2024 ranked Northwestern #62 for Engineering and Technology in the world. Whereas, the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2024 ranked Northwestern #31 for Engineering programs in the world
LLM courses are ranked #14 by Shiksha Ranking, #10 by US News, #23 by ARWU, #52 by THE (Times Higher Education) and #65 by QS Rankings. LLM courses are being ranked by other reputed ranking bodies as well which are mentioned in the table below.
Ranking Bodies | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
---|---|---|---|
THE (Times Higher Education) - Law | #101 | #62 | #52 |
QS - Law and Legal Studies | #51 | #68 | #65 |
US News & World Report - Best Graduate Law Schools | #13 | #10 | - |
ARWU (Shanghai Ranking) - Law | #21 | #23 | - |
Northwestern University Courses
Northwestern University, one of the top 20 national universities which is also ranked under top 20 graduate schools. NU courses consist of undergraduate, postgraduate, certification and diploma level courses in majors like Business & Management Studies, Engineering, IT & Software, Science, Design, Medicine & Health Science, Humanities, Mass Communication & Media, Arts, Data Science, Law, Education, Accounting and Nursing.
The university consists of 12 schools and colleges, out of which only 9 colleges and schools offer undergraduate programs. The University offers more than 200 courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels for its international and domestic students. Some of the specializations are mentioned below:
Flagship Courses |
---|
MBA (13 courses) |
MS (39 courses) |
MA (4 courses) |
MFA (3 courses) |
Executive MBA (1 course) |
Others PG (8 courses) |
MPH (2 courses) |

13.6K+ students got admitted through us.

Guided 4.4K students to USA universities.

Guided 4.4K students to USA universities.
Commonly asked questions On Popular Programs
Northwestern University offers a variety of Business and Management programs including an MBA program through Kellogg School of Management. The Kellogg School of Management is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The business school was reviewed in 2022 and its accreditation was extended for another 5 years till 2027. The MBA programs offered by Northwestern's Business school are highly ranked and top-rated in the country.
Northwestern University offers various programs to international students on an undergraduate and graduate level. Some of the most preferred majors that students pursue are as follows:
- Economics
- Journalism
- Marketing
- Psychology
Some of the most popular courses among Indian students are mentioned below:
Popular Courses | Shiksha Popularity Ranking |
---|---|
Master in Management | #22 |
MBA/M.S. in Design Innovation | #8 |
BS/MS in Computer Engineering | #26 |
MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering | #16 |
Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences | #24 |
LLM for International Students | #14 |
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology | #10 |
BS/MS in Engineering Sciences and Applied Maths | #17 |
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology | #13 |
Northwestern University Admission 2026
Northwestern University accepts applications for Fall, Spring and Winter intake. To apply, students must submit an online application along with the required documents and a non refundable application fees.
Northwestern University Application Deadline
Application for 2025 intake are closed and will open late September for 2026 intake.
Admission Requirements for International Students
Northwestern University admission requirements for international students are as follows:
UG Admission Requirements
- Application form
- SAT/ACT
- Letters of recommendation
- Personal statement and supplemental essay
- Interviews
- Academic transcripts of secondary school examinations
- Proficiency in the English language
PG Admission Requirements
- An application form
- A certified copy of the diploma and/or degree certificate for any conferred degree
- English language requirement
- Essay
- GRE/GMAT
- Two letters of recommendation
English Language Requirements
Exam |
Minimum Score (UG) |
Minimum Score (PG) |
---|---|---|
IELTS |
7.0 |
7.0 |
TOEFL |
80 |
80 |
In case of any missing document, the application will be considered late. Departments may consider late applications but it varies.
Acceptance Rate
According to some unofficial resources, the acceptance rate for Northwestern University is 7.5%. Students must work extremely hard on their portfolios to increase the chances of getting into the university.
Application Fees
Northwestern University application fees for international students are mentioned below:
Type of Course |
Application Fee |
---|---|
For Undergraduate programs |
USD 75 |
For Graduate programs |
USD 95 |
- Application fees :USD 50 - 250
- Type of deadline :Depends on course
Type of documents | Applicable for |
---|---|
SOP | Needed for few courses |
LOR | Needed for few courses |
Essays | Needed for few courses |
CV | Needed for few courses |
Additional documents | Required |
Commonly asked questions On Admissions
Northwestern University admission requirements for MBA course are:
- A bachelor’s or equivalent degree from an accredited university or college
- Previous study in Business or Economics is also required
- Two years of work experience
- GMAT / GRE score
- Written essays and video essays
- Letter of recommendation
- Complete application with an application fee of USD 250
- Clear the admissions interview
Also Read: MBA in USA
Students must submit Northwestern University application fees via Debit or a Credit card only. Networks including Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express must be prefered to make the payments. Application fees for undergraduate fees is USD 75 and USD 95 for postgraduate programs.
Northwestern University takes admissions on a rolling basis. This means, international students can apply throughout the year at the university. The university takes admissions through four types of applications; QuestBridge, Early Decision, Regular Decision, and Transfer.
Type of Application | Particulars |
---|---|
QuestBridge | It is for high school seniors who have shown outstanding academic ability despite financial challenges through a process called College Match |
Early Decision | It is for those who have done good college research and are thrilled to land at Northwestern next Fall |
Regular Decision | This allows students to potentially consider multiple offers of admission and financial aid |
Transfer | This is for students who have enrolled in college courses after secondary school graduation for transfer admission |
Northwestern UniversityNorthwestern University Scholarships
Northwestern University offers a variety of financial aid such as; scholarships & grants, federal work-study, loans, and emergency aid requests. There are two types of scholarships available for students; Northwestern University Scholarships and Federal/State Grants. Check below the various types of scholarships at the university:
Name of Scholarship |
Fee Before Scholarship |
Fee After Scholarship |
Eligibility |
---|---|---|---|
Northwestern University Scholarship |
|
Max amt of Scholarship: USD 30,000 - 65,000 (INR 25L - 54.25L) |
|
Federal Pell Grant |
UG - INR 54.27 - 56.17 L |
Max amt of Scholarship: USD 692 - 6,895 (INR 58k - 5.75L) |
|
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) |
UG - INR 54.27 - 56.17 L |
Max amt of Scholarship: USD 100 - 4,000 (INR 8k - 3.30L) |
|
*USD/INR = 83.47
Learn more about Northwestern University's Scholarship in the videos below:
Commonly asked questions On Scholarships
When submitting the application, students must select yes for the financial aid. After the application submission, students must submit CSS profile, which is an online application used by colleges to award financial aids or by submitting the International Student Application for Financial Assistance (ISAFA). The last step is to submit tax forms. The selected students will be notified after receiving their acceptance letters.
Northwestern University offers need-aware scholarships to international students for undergraduate programs. Whereas, the scholarships for graduate programs for international students are available at school and college levels. International students should check the scholarships and deadlines before applying to Northwestern University. Also, there are various external funding agencies that offer lucrative scholarships to Indian students.
Northwestern University offers need-aware scholarships to international students enrolling into its undergraduate programs. Only first-year international applicants are eligible for this scholarship. Check below the minimum eligibility for need-aware scholarships:
Financial Aid Awards for International Students
- Meet 100% of a student's demonstrated financial need
- Consider the full cost of attendance (tuition, room & board, fees, health insurance, books & supplies, personal expenses and travel allowance)
- Consists only grants and scholarships, which do not need to be repaid
- Packages are loan and work-free
- Applicable only to undergraduate study
Northwestern UniversityStudents Ratings & Reviews
- 20% students never faced discrimination in this university
Northwestern University Placements
Northwestern University is recognized for having the highest placement rate in the United States of America. Northwestern University placement rate is 97%, and the graduates are employed within 6 months of graduation. The University placement rate attracts students from all over the world. Additionally, University graduates are always in high demand worldwide. The placement highlights at the university are given below:
- Northwestern University graduates work for companies like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, LinkedIn, etc.
- The University graduates are working in top sectors such as Business Development, Engineering, Information Technology, Marketing, and more.
- The graduates are highly skilled in Project Management, Leadership, Social Media, Strategic Planning, and others.
- Top programs that are chosen by university alumni include Economics, Journalism, Psychology, Marketing, Computer Science, etc.
Alumni Statistics: Sectors Placed
ROI After Education from Northwestern University
The average salary of Northwestern University graduates is USD 117,500 (INR 98.65 L) per year. Also, the average signing bonus is USD 30,000 (INR 25.18 L).
Top Employers
Some of the top employers at the Northwestern University are listed below:
- Amazon
- Microsoft
- Deloitte
- Meta
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Salesforce
- McKinsey & Company
Course | Median Salary |
---|---|
MBA/PGDM | ₹133.09 LPA |
Top Recruiters
Commonly asked questions On Placements
School | Top Recruiters |
---|---|
School of Communication | Chicago Public Schools, Forte Group, Starbucks, The Boeing Company, Towers Watson, Accenture, Amazon Corporate LLC, Apple, Inc., Avenue, etc. |
School of Education & Social Policy | EY, Illinois Institute of Technology, Miami University, PwC, ApplySquare, Aspira Inc., Chicago Booth, Columbia College, Duke University, etc. |
Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications | Abbott, Adobe, AFP, Google, Deloitte, ESPN, IBM, Nielson Holdings, SFCG, The New York Times, United Airlines, American Airlines, etc. |
McCormick School of Engineering & Applied Science | Baker McKenzie, Boeing, BPRG, CDW, Chicago Transit Authority, eBay, General Electric, Google, GoDaddy, Honeywell, Intel, KPMG, LinkedIn, Union Pacific, etc. |
School of Professional Studies | Google, McMaster-Carr, Cigna, City of Chicago, Microsoft Corporation, Wells Fargo, Epic, Northrop Grumman, Voya Financial, etc. |
The Graduate School | Adjutant Solutions Group, Adult & Child Health, AeroTek, Affinity Counseling, Aker Solutions, DMC, EA, Ericsson Labs, Grant Thornton, etc. |
Yes, international students are allowed to do part-time work while studying. Part-time work is a great way to help themselves in paying off their tuition fees. It is not cheap to live in the United States. The cost of living in the United States depends on the tier of the city students live in. International students are allowed to work for 20 hours per week on part-time jobs to cover their expenses. There are a lot of part-time jobs available in the United States, students can work as a waiter or cashier in a restaurant.
Yes, you can check the below given table for the placements highlights of 2022.
Head | Details |
---|---|
Total Enrollment (Undergraduates and Graduates) | 22,000+ |
Average Salary (All Courses) | USD 61,100 |
the highest Salary (MBA) | USD 400,000 |
Average Salary (MBA) | USD 152,000 |
the highest Average (Consulting) | USD 174,441 |
Top Recruiters | Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Bloomberg, BNP Paribas, BMW, AT&T, ASUS, Chicago Booth, CNN, Citibank, Bain & Company, PwC, Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., DDB, Duke University, ESPN Charlotte, EY, ExxonMobil, Fjord, FOX Sports, Gap, Inc., Goldman Sachs, Grant Thornton, Harley-Davidson, IBM, Jack Morton Worldwide, JP Morgan Chase, Kaplan, Kohler Co., Mackenzie Health, just to name a few |
Top Industries | Education, Healthcare & Pharmaceutical, Communications, Marketing & Media, Government, Law & Non-Profit, Engineering, Technology, Consulting, Business & Financial Services, etc. |
Northwestern UniversityStudent profile
Others
58%
Asian
20%
Hispanic
14%
Black
6%
Out of state
67%
In state
21%
Foreign
10%
UG Number of Applicant
Overall Graduation Rate
Study in the USA
Key Facts About USA
Insights on education, demographics & weather.Commonly asked questions On Study in Country
The United States of America offers various kinds of visas depending on your purpose of travel. You are required to visit the Department of State website for visa information and apply for a visa by scheduling visa appointments. The United States Offer three types of students visa; F, J, and M. The F student visa is to study at an accredited U.S. university or college. The J student visa is for students going to the United States on a student exchange program. Meanwhile, the M student visa is for non-academic or vocational training programs in the United States. The visa application fee for processing the F, J and M visas is USD160/INR 13,324. This fee is collected by the U.S. Department of State and it is a non-petition-based nonimmigrant visa fee.
*USD/INR = 83.28
Northwestern University FAQs
Northwestern University is one of the top private universities in the United States. Experience at NU will vary from individual to individual. However, as per a former student at Northwestern University, there’s a very strong sense of community, everyone is extremely motivated to learn rather than compete for grades, and the whole class meet regularly and work on assignments together. Furthermore, the student described the social scene at the university as parties are there if you look for them, but there is never any pressure to attend and there are also tons of clubs and events on campus, so it’s pretty hard to get bored.
Northwestern University is ranked #50 globally for its high quality courses in various majors such as economics, business, marketing, journalism, history, mathematics, communication and many more. Apart from this, the university has the highest placement rate in US, which is 97%. The faculty here is highly experienced including various prize winners including Nobel and Pulitzer prize.
Northwestern University requires the following documents during the application process:
For UG Applicants
- SAT/ACT
- Letters of recommendation
- Personal statement and supplemental essay
- Interviews
- Academic transcripts of secondary school examinations
- Proficiency in the English language
For PG Applicants
- A certified copy of the Diploma and/or degree certificate for any conferred degree
- English language requirement
- Essay
- GRE/GMAT
- Two letters of recommendation
According to unofficial sources, Northwestern graduates are currently working in following top industries:
- Business development
- Education
- Media and Communication
- Operations
- Engineering
- Research
- Information technology
- Marketing
- Community and Social service
- Finance
Northwestern University
Student Forum
Answered a month ago
Northwestern University is ranked among top 20 universities in USA. NU is ranked #15 at national level and #27 at global level as per Shiksha Popularity Ranking. THE (Times Higher Education) has ranked the university #31 in 2025, whereas 2024 rankings were #28, indicating a declining trend. ARWU al
P
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Medicine and Health specialised courses are ranked #23 by Shiksha Ranking, #13 by US News, #42 by QS Ranking, and #46 by THE (Times Higher Education). Medicine and Health specialised courses' ranking is as follows:
Ranking Bodies | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
---|---|---|---|
QS - Medicine | #51 | #42 | |
THE (Times Higher Education) - Clinical and Health | #30 | #40 | #46 |
US News & World Report - Best Graduate Medical Schools | #43 | #13 | - |
P
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
Northwestern University is considered a test optional university, which means the university does not require standardized test scores as a part of mandatory admission requirements. The university accepts applicants on the basis of their academic eligibility, English proficiency scores, and submiss
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Yes, Northwestern University offers academic support to the students such as a university library, advising support, IT services etc.
The university library consists of 4.6 million volumes and is ranked #11 among the top private universities in the US. The library holds various historical collections
P
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
Northwestern University offers an MS in Computer Science (MSCS) program, which delivers a flexible curriculum on foundational computational courses and core subjects AI/ML, Robotics, Cybersecurity, HCI, and many more for students who are willing to take their tech skill set to an advanced level. Gra
S
Contributor-Level 10
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Northwestern UniversityContact Information
633 Clark Street, Evanston, Illinois-60208, USA
Evanston ( Illinois)
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