Top 10 Northwestern University Notable Alumni
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From Hollywood legends to groundbreaking journalists and exceptional storytellers, Northwestern University alumni are making their mark globally. Explore some of the Northwestern University notable alumni and how they have impacted globally with Northwestern education. In this article, we summarise the top 10 Northwestern University notable alumni and highlight the influence and brilliance reflected in their works.
Northwestern University, a renowned private research university, ranks among the top 100 universities globally. Northwestern University ranks #50 as per QS - World University Rankings 2025. Admissions at Northwestern University are stern, and getting a study spot can be challenging. The reason is the low acceptance rate at Northwestern University for the class of 2024 was 7%. However, thousands of applications are submitted at Northwestern University annually for admission.
With an alumni base of 260,000 and above at Northwestern University, the numbers only increase yearly. This article will delve deeper into Northwestern University notable alumni who made it to the university, studied there and graduated with skills that have helped them become what they are today. Check out some famous Northwestern University alumni here.
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10 Most Popular Northwestern University Notable Alumni
Check out the list of top 10 most popular Northwestern University notable alumni in this section:
- Sherry Lansing
- Meghan Markle
- Harrison Ford
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus
- David Schwimmer
- Anne O'Hare McCormick
- Jeremy Piven
- Gilda Radner
- George RR Martin
- Seth Meyers
These are some of the most popular and renowned Northwestern University alumni. Let us check out their key achievements to understand why they became so popular after graduating from Northwestern University.
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Let us delve deeper and get more insights into famous alumni of Northwestern University in the section below:
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Sherry Lansing
Lansing graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in English, and her career shows how hard work and vision can help succeed in a man's domain. A first only for Paramount, Hollywood-Lansing has emerged as the first woman to head up a major film studio. During her Paramount tenure, Lansing was chief in production on such blockbusters as Forrest Gump, Braveheart, and Titanic. She is also a brilliant philanthropist who supports various cancer research causes, along with one of the famous alumni of Northwestern University.
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Meghan Markle
The most famous Northwestern University alumni is Meghan Markle. Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, caught the world's attention in 2018 after marrying Prince Harry. Before she entered royal life, Meghan was a famous actress, best known as Rachel Zane on the hit lawyer show Suits. With her degree from Northwestern University in Communications, Meghan used her voice to spearhead activism, gender equality, and humanitarian work.
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Harrison Ford
Another Northwestern University notable alumni is Harrison Ford. He attended Northwestern briefly before he fled to Hollywood, where he epitomised onscreen adventure and heroism. The big star, world-renowned Harrison Ford, is best known for some of the most talked about series, such as Star Wars and Indiana Jones. Thanks to these iconic roles, he is considered to be one of the highest-grossing actors in Hollywood history. His works have garnered accolades over the last few decades- both for his performances and his contributions to the industry his position firmly as a Hollywood legend.
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Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Louis-Dreyfus' theatre arts studies at Northwestern is a famous Northwestern University alumni. The university gave her a springboard to the kind of career that would bear a dozen nominations for Emmy. Julia Louis-Dreyfus is a star of modern television comedy; other titles of hers include Seinfeld, Veep, and The New Adventures of Christine. With these credits, wit, and impeccable timing, Louis-Dreyfus is now a household name. Her Emmy statues further testify to Louis-Dreyfus being one of the great comic talents in television history.
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David Schwimmer
Another Northwestern alumni is David Schwimmer or Ross Geller on the hugely successful Friends series. Schwimmer has found work in acting and directing, spanning television and film. Schwimmer is known as a great talent due to his versatility in the dramatic and comedic genres, and he has received numerous accolades. Known as a famous Northwestern University alumni, Schwimmer pursued a career as an actor, to which he has since added work as a director and producer after graduating.
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Anne O'Hare McCormick
Anne O'Hare McCormick was one of the pioneering American journalists who achieved the position of the first woman to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting. McCormick came into popularity centuries ago as one groundbreaking foreign correspondent who carried deep economic awards of insight and guidance on the workings of the globe. A Northwestern University notable alumni herself, her contributions still inspire the many who engage in journalism today. Also, it is interesting that McCormick's studies at Northwestern University laid the groundwork for her becoming one of the first women in journalism.
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Jeremy Piven
Jeremy Piven is a talented American actor and producer, an eminent alumnus of Northwestern University, whom a worldwide audience came to know as Ari Gold in the series Entourage. After graduating from Northwestern, Piven's strong stage presence and acting ability afforded him a prestigious career in television and film, providing him a name and face for Hollywood. He won numerous awards, including three Golden Globe Awards, for portraying the fast-talking and often "ruthless" Hollywood agent. Piven's career has traversed the realms of theatre, television, and film.
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Gilda Radner
Labelled one of the sketch comedy genre pioneers, Radner was a founding cast member of Saturday Night Live (SNL) and an embodiment of comedic characters like the incessantly jabbering Roseanne Roseannadanna, who would become an essential part of American culture. She is a famous Northwestern University alumni who majored in drama and improvisation. Directly because of her initiation was her comedy career. She was also one of the favourite paragons of the comedy fray, pinched-in sides from her whacky humour and infectiously lovable persona.
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George R.R. Martin
George R.R. Martin, the most famous Northwestern University alumni, is known for his extensive work. The popular book author A Song of Ice and Fire, which was later adapted into Game of Thrones (HBO), has been acclaimed worldwide for fantasy fiction. His unique storytelling ability and astounding ability to develop a parallel universe gave him a colossal global following. His contributions towards progress in Game of Thrones created a significant shift in modern fantasy and television.
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Seth Meyers
Seth Meyers, another alumni of Northwestern University, is the host of Late Night with Seth Meyers. His impactful nature, humour and social insight made Meyer one of the most successful late-night hosts in the United States. He is a former cast member and writer of SWL and ultimately was the head writer on it. Meyers's most famous and storied possession is his performance at Northwestern University's superb School of Communication, where his improv and humour began to shine, leading on late-night television.
These notable people of Northwestern University have left their mark through Academy Award-winning filmmakers, scientific groundbreakers, influential politicians, storytellers, and renowned authors.
The greatness of Northwestern lies in its distinguished alumni. Now, do something about it. See what possibilities await you with a Northwestern education, set your transformation process in motion, and join such grand leaders. Don't dream of success; create it. Apply to Northwestern right now and allow yourself to build a bright future. Sign up for free Shiksha Abroad Counselling and get your application going in the right direction at the right time!
The University of South Dakota expects a GPA score of 2.5 from undergraduates and 3 from postgraduates on the 4-pointer scale. Along with the GPA scores, undergraduates must meet the basic eligibility and submit an ACT score of 21 or higher and an SAT score of 1070 or higher. In addition, they must submit the required documents, such as academic history, transcripts, letters of recommendation, English language scores, and more.
The average GMAT cutoff for MBA in USA ranges anywhere between 545 to 755. The applicants can aim for B-schools in USA accordingly.
Concordia Wisconsin is known for its amazing surroundings, & close proximity to natural beauty.
Located near the Lake Michigan, CUW students are just a short distance away from scenic-lakes, farms, water parks & sports grounds that offer a welcome respite from the hectic student life.
Some top places for students to explore in Mequon include: Harley Davidson Museum, Milwaukee Art Museum, Lakefront Brewery, American Family Field & Basilica of St. Josaphat among others.
The USD provides over 200 undergraduates and 80 master's programs in specializations such as Business Analytics, Business Administration, Accountancy, Computer Science, Mathematics, and more. The University of South Dakota tuition fees for international students range between INR 6L and INR 21L for graduates and around INR 10L for undergraduates. Students can check the table below for the tuition cost of the popular courses at the university:
Courses | 1st Year Tuition Fees |
|---|---|
MBA/PGDM (4 courses) | INR 10 L - 12 L |
MS (10 courses) | INR 9 L - 18 L |
BSN (1 course) | INR 11 L |
MIM (3 courses) | INR 10 L - 12 L |
BSc (30 courses) | INR 11 L |
BBA (14 courses) | INR 11 L |
BA (18 courses) | INR 11 L |
BE / BTech (4 courses) | INR 11 L |
MA (19 courses) | INR 10 L - 21 L |
PG Certificate (10 courses) | INR 7 L |
The acceptance rate of USU is around 94%. This means that it is slightly easier to take admission to this university. So, to take admission to this university, applicants who have a good academic background and meet the entry requirements have a higher chance of getting admission. For admission to UG courses, a GPA of 2.7 is required in high school / secondary school education. For admission to PG courses, a GPA of 3.0 is required. Additionally, meet the English language requirements.
University of South Dakota expects a IELTS score of 6 from its graduate and undergraduate students. Along with the IELTS score, students from non-native country must prove their English language proficiency by submitting scores of TOEFL and PTE. Students can check the table below for the English language requirements for the University of South Dakota:
MBA aspirants must submit one LOR, preferably from a professional contact such as a manager or supervisor. A candidate's recommender must be able to answer the following questions:
- How long and in what capacity have you known the applicant?
- How does the applicant stand out from others in a similar capacity?
- Give an example of the applicant's impact on a person, group, or organization.
- Give a representative example of how the applicant interacts with other people.
- Anything else the recommender thinks the AdCom should know about this applicant.
- Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant's response.
Note: Applicants may two additional professional references to put forward their strengths.
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MIT is not costly for Indian students. Applicants can study BTech program at affordable tuition fees as compared to other BTech colleges in the USA. The MIT BTech fees is around INR 50 L to INR 52 L.