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Northwestern University: Rankings, Popular Courses, Fees
- Private University
240 acre campus- Estd. 1851
Last updated on 24 Jun '26Northwestern UniversityWhat's new?
- Admisisons are still open for some Master's courses at the Northwestern University
About Northwestern University
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:
| Particular | Validation |
|---|---|
| Primary Campus Address | 633 Clark Street, Evanston, Illinois, United States |
| Endowment | USD 15.3 billion |
| Total Students | 23,431 |
| UG Students | 9,000+ |
| Graduate Students | 14,000+ |
| Scholarships Awarded to UG Students Annually Worth | USD 250 million |
| Departments and Programs | 50+ |
|
Popular Majors |
Business and Management Studies, Engineering, Design, Law, IT and Software, Mass Communication and Media |
| Pulitzer Prize Winners | 30+ |
| Jobs Supported in the US | 14,500 |
| Sporting Affiliation |
Big Ten Conference and NCAA Division I |
| Northwestern University Latest Fact Sheet | |
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:
Commonly asked questions On Highlights
Northwestern Uni is widely considered just as good as Ivy League colleges/universities. While it is not a member of the Ivy League, it ranks among the top 10 universities in the US. It is often referred as an "Ivy Plus" institution, alongside the likes of MIT, Stanford, and Duke.
Similar to Ivy League institutions, Northwestern Uni is known for offering:
- World-class academic programs
- R1 research university status
- Low acceptance rate (7.4%)
- Strong graduate employability (96%)
- Vibrant and diverse international student community (140+ countries represented)
Yes, Northwestern University is an excellenct choice for Indian students seeking a globally recognised US degree from a top US university. Some key reasons that make NWU a good choice for Indian students is mentioned below:
- World-class STEM and Business programs
- Easy access to Chicago's top finance and tech companies like JPMorgan Chase, Accenture, Google, Salesforce, and Cisco
- Active Indian student community including the Indian Student Association, Indian Graduate Students and Scholars Association, and Project RISHI
- 100% of UG students who need financial aid, recieve the same
Northwestern Uni with an acceptance rate of 7.4%, is marginally more difficult to get into than UCLA (9%). However, students encounter a different admission process for each.
Northwestern looks at all aspects of a candidate, including academics, extracurricular, LORs, essays, and test scores like SAT or ACT. UCLA on the other hand, is test-blind (does not consider SAT or ACT). High-school and Class 12th grades carry higher importance.
Northwestern University Ranking 2026
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:
| Northwestern University Course Name | Shiksha Popularity Ranking 2026 (World) | Shiksha Popularity Ranking 2026 (USA) |
|---|---|---|
| LLM | #32 | #13 |
| MSN | #270 | #103 |
| MA | #38 | #19 |
| MFA | #23 | #6 |
| Others PG | #36 | #17 |
| MBA or PGDM | #13 | #7 |
| MS | #61 | #24 |
| BE or BTech | - | #17 |
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.
Northwestern University Courses
Northwestern University offers degrees, certificates, and diploma programs 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. These are mentioned below:
| Northwestern University Schools and Colleges | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences | School of Communication | School of Education and Social Policy | McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science |
| The Graduate School | Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications | Northwestern Pritzker School of Law | Kellogg School of Management |
| Feinberg School of Medicine | Bienen School of Music | School of Professional Studies | Northwestern in Qatar |
Northwestern University Popular Programs
The University offers more than 200 courses at the UG and PG levels to its Indian and domestic students. Some popular Northwestern University Programs among Indian students are mentioned below:
- MS in Machine Learning and Data Science
- MS in Computer Science
- MS in Information Systems
- Northwestern University MBA
- BA in Psychology
Northwestern University Online Courses
Northwestern University School of Professional Studies offers several online PG, UG, and certification courses. These can be pursued in areas like Data Science, Global Health, Information Systems, Health Sciences, Social Sciences, Artificial Intelligence, and Leadership.
We can fast-track your application in a week.
We can fast-track your application in a week.
Northwestern University Admissions 2026
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:
| Course Type | Tentative Application Deadline |
|---|---|
| UG |
|
| PG (MBA) |
|
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:
| Particular | Required |
|---|---|
| Documents |
|
| English Test Scores (Master's courses at the Graduate School) |
|
| Competitive Test Scores | |
| Northwestern University Application Fee for Indian Students |
|
1 USD = INR 94.56
- Application fees :USD 50 - 250
- Type of deadline :Depends on course
Documents| 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 |
Northwestern UniversityNorthwestern University Scholarships for Indian Students 2026
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:
|
Name of Scholarship |
Financial Award |
Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
|
Northwestern University Scholarship |
|
|
|
Federal Pell Grant |
|
|
|
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) |
|
|
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 Popular Courses
10 monthsNorthwestern University Job Outcomes
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 Profile | Percentage of Graduates Employed |
|---|---|
| Employed Full-time | 71% |
| Pursuing Higher Studies or Research | 25% |
| Searching for Jobs | 2% |
| Applying for Higher Studies or Research | 1% |
| Military, Volunteering, or Other Services | 1% |
| Northwestern University Latest Placement Report | |
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:
| Industry | Mean Salary in USD | Mean Salary in INR |
|---|---|---|
| Investment Banking | USD 115,667 | INR 1.07 Cr |
| Financial Services | USD 109,974 | INR 1.02 Cr |
| Engineering | USD 96,712 | INR 89.8 Lakhs |
| Consulting | USD 94,665 | INR 87.9 Lakhs |
| Business Services | USD 92,365 | INR 85.7 Lakhs |
1 USD = INR 92.84
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
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Northwestern University
Northwestern University Hall
Library
Mudd Hall
Northwestern UniversityLocation
| University City | Evanston, Illinois, USA |
| Size of city | Small |
| Population of City | 74,756 |
Northwestern UniversityContact Information
633 Clark Street, Evanston, Illinois-60208, USA
Evanston ( Illinois)
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