Northwestern University
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Northwestern University: Fees, Rankings, Courses, Reviews

Shiksha popularity ranking
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#29 in World

#14 in USA

  • Private University
  • Institute Icon240 acre campus
  • Estd. 1851
Dark Clock Icon Last updated on 21 Nov '25

Northwestern University
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The application deadlines for international students at Northwestern University are mentioned below:

  • The Regular Decision deadline for ug students is Jan 2, 2026.
  • The MBA Round 2 deadline is Jan 7, 2026 and Apr 1, 2026 for Round 3.
  • The deadlines for MS can vary according on the program chosen.
Latest news and articles
Nov 27, 2025
Top 10 Northwestern University Notable Alumni...Read More
Top 10 Northwestern University Notable Alumni

About Northwestern University

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Year of establishment
1851
University website
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Student website
Go to Website Link Arrow Icon
Total foreign students
5500
Campus size
240 acres
No. of campus
1
Scholarships available
3
Endowment value
USD 10 billion
Scholarships granted
4780
Scholarship amount granted
USD 255 million
Application fees
USD 75
English proficiency test
Required
Accepted exams
SAT/ACT accepted
Optional
Total faculty
3575
Faculty/Student ratio
6
UG/PG course ratio
0.66
Total criminal offences
306
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
On Highlights
Q:   Does Northwestern University offer any academic support?
A: 

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 including newspapers, scientific documents, medieval manuscripts, pamphlets etc., published in US between 1639 and 1829. The Melville J. Herskovits Library of African Studies is one of the special collections that consists of rare recordings along with some source material on Africana from pre-colonial times. Students can find various resources to support their academics such as printed books, e-books, journals, audio files, graphic images, maps, microforms etc.

  • Students at every degree levels are offered advisors who guide them academically. The office of Academic Support and Learning Advancement helps students find suitable study groups, tutoring services, career services that include career fairs, counselling etc. 

  • NU offers IT services to the students by providing Macs, PCs and UNIX workstations along with network resources.

Q:   Is Northwestern a top 10 school?
A: 

Northwestern University has a lot of academic schools in areas such as Medicine, Journalism, Communication, Music among others. It is included in the 4 top 10 national universities and is also included in the top 20 in the 4 graduate school rankings. The school rankings at the university are mentioned below:

School Name/Course NameRank 
Business School#2
Education School#10
Engineering School#16
Materials Engineering 
Q:   Is Northwestern difficult to get into?
A: 

Northwestern University has an acceptance rate of around 8%. This means that it is very selective for admissions of international students. The applicants have to submit the GPA, academic records and documents that are mentioned on the official website. If their documents do not fulfill the requirements then the chances to be selected for admission are very less. The students are also suggested to apply before the deadlines so that they are given preference. 

Northwestern University Rankings 2026

#29

World level
Shiksha Popularity Rank
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#14

Country level
Shiksha Popularity Rank
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Commonly asked questions
On Rankings
Q:   How are LLM courses ranked at Northwestern University?
A: 

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

-

Q:   What Medicine and Health specialised courses ranked at Northwestern University?
A: 

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

-

Q:   What are the rankings of Northwestern University?
A: 

Northwestern University is one of the top ranked universities. It has a ranking of #28 in the world and #14 in the USA based on the Shiksha Popularity Rankings 2025. It also has been ranked well for its academic schools on the main Illinois campus. The rankings of the university by ranking bodies are mentioned in the table below:

Ranking Body Name 202420252026
QS475042
US News 2424NA
Times Higher Education2831NA

Northwestern University Admissions

  • Application fees :USD 50 - 250
  • Type of deadline :Depends on course
Document IconDocuments
Type of documentsApplicable for
SOPNeeded for few courses
LORNeeded for few courses
EssaysNeeded for few courses
CVNeeded for few courses
Additional documentsRequired
How to Write Northwestern MBA Essays in 2024?
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Commonly asked questions
On Admissions
Q:   What are the accepted payment methods for Northwestern University application fee?
A: 

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.

Q:   Is SAT/ACT mandatory for undergraduate programs at Northwestern?
A: 

No, students are not required to submit SAT/ACT scores for undergraduate programs. Student's application will not be affected with or without SAT/ACT scores. It will be evaluated based on their grades, academic awards, essays and the rest portfolio.

Q:   What are the minimum English proficiency scores required for Indian applicants applying to the PG or Phd programs?
A: 

Minimum English proficiency scores required for Indian applicants applying to the PG or Phd programs are mentioned below:

TOEFL

  • Phd Applicants - 90

  • PG Applicants - 80

IELTS

  • Minimum score - 7

Northwestern University
Northwestern University Scholarships for International Students

3No. of scholarships available
32.7 LTotal scholarship amount
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Commonly asked questions
On Scholarships
Q:   Does Northwestern University give full scholarships to international students?
A: 

At the undergraduate level, Northwestern University has a need-aware admission review for international students. Meaning, a request for financial aid and the amount of financial aid a student requires may impact the admission decision. Note that only first-year applicants are eligible for financial aid. Some of the features of financial aid awards for international students of Northwestern University are:

  • Meet 100% of demonstrated financial need of students
  • Consider the full cost of attendance
  • Packages are loan and work free
  • Consists only of grants and scholarships that do not need to be repaid

Read: Scholarships to Study in USA for International Students 

Q:   What are the top scholarships for Indian students at Northwestern University and how to avail them?
A: 

Northwestern University offers many scholarships for international students who are eligible based on their academic record and overall profile. They can get these scholarships by applying for admission to the university and choosing an option that they are eligible for. After checking the requirements for the scholarship they can also submit the form to get financial aid incase they do not get selected for the scholarship they chose. The top scholarships offered to international students at Northwestern are mentioned as follows: 

  • Doe Thornburg Scholarship 
  • Illinois Global Scholarships 
  • Northwestern McGowan Fellows Program for Second Year students 
  • Donald P Jacobs International Scholarships 

Northwestern University Popular Courses

MS
MBA/PGDM
UG certificate
B.A.
More

₹59.33 LGet Fee Details

₹48.74 LGet Fee Details

₹57.36 LGet Fee Details

₹58.77 LGet Fee Details

₹63.81 LGet Fee Details

View AllMS Courses

Northwestern University
Students Ratings & Reviews

3.9/5
Verified Icon5 Verified ReviewsInfo Icon
Student Views (Based on Reviews)
  • 20% students never faced discrimination in this university
Vibe of Campus
Multi-dimensional
Friendly
Academically oriented
Internships3
Part time work3
Post study jobs4
Quality of faculty4.8
Student Life4.4
Value for money3.2
Public transportation4.8
Safety4.2
Indian Food4.2
Permanent Immigration3
A
AnonymousVerified Icon
Master's in Information Systems - Batch of 2026
3.9
Close knit and tight community.
Tips: My classes are very fast-paced and relevant; they like to cover what is more marketable and important for students to know. You'll discover things about yourself that you never knew existed after spending some time here. I like how the courses are structured and the campus clubs have made me feel more welcome than I'd imagine.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 1975
Prepping time for classes35 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 99100
Reviewed on 31 Jul 2025Read more
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T
Tavs Verified Icon
BA/MA in Comparative Literary Studies - Batch of 2026
3.9
One of a kind university; supportive and encouraging faculty.
Tips: My programme is something I chose out of passion and genuine interest. I had several options to study from but Northwestern made the most sense. My professor have been supportive and helpful every step of the way and their teaching has made a difference. I also have a scholarship of 8000 based on my projects and that has made studying here easier.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 1975
Prepping time for classes34 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 94475
Reviewed on 31 Jul 2025Read more
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A
AnonymousVerified Icon
Master of Engineering Management (MEM) - Batch of 2023
3.9
Short course with very good education and hectic lifestyle
Tips: Be prepared to go through a tight schedule for the next 15 months. Make good connections with seniors well before coming to campus and learn how to network with people. I'm very satisfied with the course. All is good and I am happy.
Likes (Indian Food): There are quite a good number of restaurants of every cuisine around the campus. Korean, Thai, Mexican, Indian, Nepalese and a lot more. I prefer cooking as it gets expensive if you eat out every day. My fav was 10q and hokkaido near the campus.
Dislikes (Student Life): It's a 15-month course. You'll be in job and intern search for 3-6 months totally together, although social life is not good, due to limited time of 9-12 months free time, it depends on person to person. There are a lot of clubs in the university you should be proactive and explore various clubs on the campus. My fav is NU Adventure.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 800
Prepping time for classes26 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 91375
Reviewed on 18 Mar 2024Read more
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A
AnonymousVerified Icon
Master's in Public Policy and Administration - Batch of 2025
3.8
Friendly and welcoming place.
Tips: My department is big on research and academia. I learnt how to adjust to come out of the customs and societal expectations, which took a while to adjust to. Most of my classmates are international students, and my faculty advisor is very inclusive as well. Professionalism and punctuality are very important here.
Likes (Student Life): Kind, close knit people who are friendly and won't hesitate in helping if you need. I found the campus really lovely to stroll around and explore, with some of the green space being my favourite here. There are also campus pets, which make it all more pleasant.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 1850
Prepping time for classes33 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 89850
Reviewed on 31 Jul 2025Read more
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A
AnonymousVerified Icon
Master of Science (MS) in Communication - Batch of 2026
3.8
Great campus and faculty.
Tips: Something not a lot of people know is that Northwestern makes its education very interdisciplinary and encourages students to explore various aspects of their major, as well as areas outside of it. The student body is diverse and supportive. Public transportation is very convenient, accessible and affordable. Overall, I am quite satisfied with my experiences so far.
Dislikes (Part time work): Part-time work for international students is honestly a rarity, with few options available both on and off campus. Off-campus opportunities involve many legal hurdles, making them very tricky to obtain. You could try looking for jobs in academia or research.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 1850
Prepping time for classes36 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 86750
Reviewed on 31 Jul 2025Read more
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Northwestern University Job Outcomes

CourseMedian Salary
MBA/PGDM
133.09 LPA

Top Recruiters

Google
JP Morgan Chase
Accenture
Amazon
Boeing
BCG
Apple
American Express
Local Oye
Microsoft
SAP
IBM
DeloitteConsulting
Intel
Bain and Company
Oracle
Facebook
Cisco Systems
Barclays Capital
UBER
Yahoo
IBM
Deloitte
Merrill Lynch
Goldman Sachs
Linkedin
McKinseyCompany
Bank of America
Morgan Stanley
Nike
PepsiCo
Procter Gamble
Unilever
Visit official career services website External Link Icon
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Commonly asked questions
On Placements
Q:   Who were the top employers for the MBA graduates of Northwestern University?
A: 

MBA graduates at Northwestern University have been placed in some of the top organizations after completing their course. The top employers at the university are mentioned in the table below:

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.

Q:   Can you provide some information regarding the career services provided by the Northwestern University?
A: 

Northwestern Career Advancement (NCA) at the Northwestern University provides various career services to its students. These career services help the students in career planning and job search. In addition, NCA also provides various career enhancement programs that help the students in supplementing their academic experience with professional opportunities. Some of the career services are:

  • Handshake Access: It is a central platform for accessing career services. Students can find job and internship opportunities, schedule appointments with career counselors, gain knowledge about career events, etc.
  • Career Treks: A group of students visit various companies on these treks
  • Career Fairs: These employer events present opportunities for the students to network
  • NEXT (Northwestern Externship Program)
  • SIGP (Summer Internship Grant Program)

Northwestern University Cost

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Courses1st Year Tuition FeesDuration & Eligibility
MS(39 courses)
INR 22 L - 79 LGet Fee Details
Duration9 months-2 years
Exam AcceptedPTE, Duolingo, TOEFL: 80 - 100, IELTS: 7 - 8, GRE, GMAT
MBA/PGDM(13 courses)
INR 22 L - 1 CrGet Fee Details
Duration9 months-2 years
Exam AcceptedPTE, Duolingo, IELTS: 7 & Above, TOEFL: 80 - 100, GMAT, GRE
UG certificate(8 courses)
INR 58 L - 59 LGet Fee Details
Duration1 year-4 years
Exam AcceptedIELTS: 7.5 & Above, PTE, Duolingo, TOEFL: 105 & Above
B.A.(35 courses)
Duration4-5 years
Exam AcceptedIELTS, PTE, Duolingo
B.E. / B.Tech(26 courses)
INR 58 L - 62 LGet Fee Details
Duration4-5 years
Exam AcceptedIELTS, PTE, Duolingo, TOEFL, SAT
Others UG(7 courses)
Duration4-5 years
Exam AcceptedIELTS, PTE, Duolingo
Others PG(8 courses)
INR 41 L - 66 LGet Fee Details
Duration1 year-2 years
Exam AcceptedPTE, Duolingo, TOEFL: 100 & Above, IELTS: 6.5 - 7.5, GMAT, GRE
B.Sc.(14 courses)
Duration4 years
Exam AcceptedIELTS, PTE, Duolingo, SAT, TOEFL
B.J.M.C.(6 courses)
INR 59 L - 63 LGet Fee Details
Duration18 months-5 years
Exam AcceptedIELTS, PTE, Duolingo, TOEFL
M.A.(4 courses)
INR 43 L - 58 LGet Fee Details
Duration1 year-2 years
Exam AcceptedTOEFL: 80 - 100, PTE, Duolingo
Read more
View Course Wise Fees ->
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Commonly asked questions
On Fees and Eligibility
Q:   What is the average tuition fees for international students at Northwestern University?
A: 

The tuition fee for international students depends on the course and level of study. Northwestern University tuition fees for international students vary from course to course. Therefore, international students should check the tuition fees for their courses before applying. Check below the average tuition fees  for international students:

CourseFees
MSINR 26L - 66L 
BAINR 48L 
BE/BTechINR 47L - 48L 
Q:   What are the admission requirements at Northwestern University?
A: 

Northwestern University offers hundreds of courses across various colleges and schools. All courses and programs offered at the university have their own set of requirements for admissions. Check below the minimum admission requirements for international students:

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
Q:   What are the English Language requirements at Northwestern University?
A: 

All the courses at Northwestern University are taught in English. Therefore, international students applying to the university are required to show proof of proficiency in the English language. The minimum English language requirement for international students may vary from course to course. Therefore, international students should check the minimum admission requirements for their courses before applying. Check below the minimum English language requirements for international students:

Exam

Minimum Score (UG)

Minimum Score (PG)

IELTS

7.0

7.0

TOEFL

80

80







Northwestern University
Student profile

Quick university statsInsights on student demographics, enrolment, and academic success
UG Race

Others

58%

Asian

20%

Hispanic

14%

Black

6%

UG Student residence

Out of state

67%

In state

21%

Foreign

10%

UG Applicant Icon

UG Number of Applicant

51261
grad RateIcon

Overall Graduation Rate

97

Northwestern University Notable Alumni

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Northwestern University Vs Duke University Vs University of Michigan

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Compare Northwestern University with other similar colleges

MS
MBA/PGDM
UG certificate
B.A.
B.E. / B.Tech
Others UG
Others PG
B.Sc.
B.J.M.C.
M.A.
College1st Year Tuition FeesRanking
INR 21.54 L - 79.2 L#7 US News, 2026
INR 29.54 L - 71.46 L#20 US News, 2026
INR 19 L - 80.67 L#7 US News, 2026
INR 34.54 L - 81.19 L#7 US News, 2026
INR 25.71 L - 87.7 L#42 US News, 2026
INR 25.77 L - 71.7 L#6 US News, 2026
The values are of the latest years available with Shiksha. For more details, check detailed comparison
View comparisonsRight Arrow Icon

Northwestern University
Studying in USA

Key Facts About USA

Insights on education, demographics & weather.
Education in USA
school Key Fact Icon
963+
backpack Key Fact Icon
3.38L
cashRegister Key Fact Icon
20 hours per week
cashRegister Key Fact Icon
12 months
Country stats
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Washington D.C.
keyUsers Key Fact Icon
347.28M (2025)
chartMixed Key Fact Icon
2%
letterA Key Fact Icon
English
Weather
November
CF
Popular LocationsMinMax
Boston311
New York512
Chicago410
Los Angeles1223
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Northwestern University Campus

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Commonly asked questions
On Others
Q:   What service does Northwestern University offer to disabled students?
A: 

Northwestern University provides:

  • Academic Accommodations
  • Housing Accommodations

To avail these accommodation, students must submit an online application form along with the following documents.

  • Examined by a licensed professional, with no connections with the student
  • Proof of the Diagnosis
  • Explaining the limitations that students will face during their stay.
Q:   How many libraries does Northwestern University offer?
A: 

Northwestern University consists of: University Library, Mudd Library, Math Library and Professional Libraries.

  • University library is the main library consisting several resources of different departments.

NOTE: The university library is closed due to undergoing renovations. 

  • Mudd and Math libraries are accessible to the students of north campus for 24/7 with a valid card with no assistance.
  •  Professional Library consists of: Galter Health Sciences Library for medical resources; Pritzker Legal Research Center for law related resources and Styberg Library.
Q:   How is student life for international students at Northwestern?
A: 

The university offers various events such as performances, sports, clubs and organisations and many more. The university has seven libraries, out of which the university library is the main Evanston campus library serving since 1970. Every library serves different purpose. The university's athletic's department consists of 8 men's and 13 women's athletic teams. These include sports like basketball, soccer, tennis, volleyball and many more. Students are also offered various recreational facilities such as olympic-sized pool, modern workout space, fitness classes etc. Apart from this, there are various student organisations and clubs that students can join based on their interests.

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Comments

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Northwestern University

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered a week ago

Hi.

Yes, Northwestern University is highly difficult to get into.  It is one of the most selective universities in the United States, with a very low acceptance rate. 
 
Indicators of the Difficulty
  • Low Acceptance Rate: The overall acceptance rate for recent incoming classes is approximately 7% to 8%, m

...Read more

h

heena agrawal

Scholar-Level 17

Answered 2 weeks ago

Northeastern University has not specified any minimum GPA requirement for admissions. But from the past data, a GPA of 3.85 on a 4.0 scale is very competitive. Most of the applicants with the mentioned GPA were offered admission. 

On a related note, although the entrance tests like the SAT or ACT are

...Read more

P

Pallavi Garg

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 2 weeks ago

The Harvard University tuition fee is lower than that of Northwestern University, Harvard is way harder to get into, as its acceptance rate is just 6%. The Northwestern University acceptance rate is 13% which is more than double that of Harvard. So, if you are looking for better chance to get in, No

...Read more

V

Virajita Bisht

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 2 months ago

Northwestern University offers more than 200 UG, PG levels, certification and Diploma courses to Indian students. Students can choose from a wide range of majors including Business & Management Studies, Engineering, IT & Software, Science, Design, Medicine & Health Science, Humanities, Mass Communic

...Read more

P

PRIYANKA

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 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

...Read more

S

Shreya Basu

Contributor-Level 10

About the author

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Akansha katariya

Study Abroad Expert

Akansha katariya is a content creator at shiksha.com, creating content for study abroad. Having pursued B tech. in Electronics and communication from RGPV University, she has been creating content across diverse domains. When not guiding students, sh...Read Full Bio

Northwestern University

Northwestern University Others(1)Northwestern University Hall
Northwestern University Others(2)Library
Northwestern University Others(3)Mudd Hall
Northwestern University Others(1)
Northwestern University Others(2)

Northwestern University
Location

Accordion Icon V3
University CityEvanston, Illinois, USA
Size of citySmall
Population of City74,756

Northwestern University
Campuses

Departments Icon1   Campuses
Evanston campusUp Arrow Icon
Address

Northwestern University
Contact Information

Address

633 Clark Street, Evanston, Illinois-60208, USA
Evanston ( Illinois)

Go to College Website ->