Side-by-Side Comparison of Northwestern University

In this comparison table, you can explore how Northwestern University measures up against others in terms of key factors such as academics, admission requirements, cost, graduation rate, and more. This table is generated using the comparison group provided by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

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Graduate Theological Union logo

Graduate Theological Union

University of Southern California logo

University of Southern California

University of Delaware logo

University of Delaware

Georgetown University logo

Georgetown University

Nova Southeastern University logo

Nova Southeastern University

Northwestern University logo

Northwestern University

Overview

Location Berkeley, California Los Angeles, California Newark, Delaware Washington, District of Columbia Fort Lauderdale, Florida Evanston, Illinois
Campus setting City: Midsize City: Large Suburb: Large City: Large Suburb: Large City: Small
College type 4 year 4 year 4 year 4 year 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit) Public Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester 4-1-4 Semester Trimester Quarter
Degrees offered Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 96.0% 91.0% 98.0% 78.0% 99.0%
Common app member No Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Religious affiliation Catholic

Admission

Acceptance rate N/A 12.5% 72.3% 12.0% 92.5% 7.0%
Application fees $40
Undergraduate: $85

Graduate: $90
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $75
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $90
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $95
SAT range N/A 1410 - 1540 1155 - 1340 1410 - 1550 1040 - 1310 1470 - 1570
ACT range N/A 32 - 35 26 - 31 32 - 35 20 - 30 34 - 35
Students submitting SAT score 31.0% 31.0% 64.0% 42.0% 43.0%
Students submitting ACT score 19.0% 6.0% 38.0% 17.0% 39.0%
Total number of applicants 71,031 34,111 27,629 11,749 47,636
Total number of admissions given out 8,884 24,679 3,311 10,868 3,321
Admitted students who chose to enroll 3,668 4,617 1,585 1,672 2,086
Yield rate 41.3% 18.7% 47.9% 15.4% 62.8%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
High school GPA N/A Required Required Required Required Not required
Recommendation letters N/A Required Required Required Required Required
High school transcript N/A Not required Not required Not required Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) N/A Required Required Not required Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $81,659
In state: $31,562

Out of state: $53,422
$81,515 $57,175 $83,838
Average net price $26,021 $19,122 $23,049 $26,530 $29,999
Tuition $60,446
In state: $12,980

Out of state: $34,840
$59,784 $33,510 $60,276
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $10,098

Meal plan: $6,634
Room/dormitory: $8,316

Meal plan: $5,426
Room/dormitory: $11,802

Meal plan: $7,120
Room/dormitory: $10,944

Meal plan: $3,190
Room/dormitory: $11,271

Meal plan: $6,993
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

72.0%
Average amount $40,690
86.0%
Average amount $12,410
42.0%
Average amount $36,711
100.0%
Average amount $23,747
57.0%
Average amount $51,087
Students receiving federal student loan 22.0%
Average amount $4,215
48.0%
Average amount $5,217
20.0%
Average amount $3,246
45.0%
Average amount $5,272
23.0%
Average amount $4,625
Students taking out private loans 2.0%
Average amount $29,056
8.0%
Average amount $19,017
3.0%
Average amount $34,459
7.0%
Average amount $14,731
2.0%
Average amount $38,595

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 20,790
Men 48.5% Women 51.5%
19,410
Men 41.9% Women 58.1%
7,598
Men 42.8% Women 57.2%
6,637
Men 27.8% Women 72.2%
8,847
Men 46.1% Women 53.9%
Graduate students 194
Men 50.0% Women 50.0%
28,528
Men 44.3% Women 55.7%
4,586
Men 46.6% Women 53.4%
13,337
Men 45.7% Women 54.3%
14,261
Men 27.8% Women 72.2%
14,562
Men 47.3% Women 52.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity N/A
Moderate
Low
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A 49.9% 63.0% 97.4% N/A N/A
International students N/A 23.8% 10.3% 16.7% 3.8% 17.8%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize City: Large Suburb: Large City: Large Suburb: Large City: Small
Dormitory capacity N/A 8,700 6,911 5,571 2,049 4,409
First year students are required to live on campus? N/A No No Yes No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A California Texas New York Illinois Florida Delaware New Jersey New York Pennsylvania Maryland New York California Maryland New Jersey Virginia N/A N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Theology
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Engineering
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Liberal Arts
  • Business
  • Business
  • Social Sciences
  • Legal Profession
  • Health Professions
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Psychology
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Business
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Engineering
  • Health Professions
  • Legal Profession
Students to faculty ratio N/A 9:1 15:1 11:1 17:1 6:1
Institutional accreditation Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Middle States Commission on Higher Education Middle States Commission on Higher Education Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate N/A 92.0% 82.3% 95.2% 60.5% 95.2%
Dropout rate N/A 7.2% 15.7% 4.4% 5.4% 4.2%
Transferred out N/A N/A N/A N/A 33.3% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Theology and Religious Vocations, Other (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $29,694
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $104,166
  • Year 2: $187,234
  • Year 3: $221,418
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $167,228
  • Year 2: $163,225
  • Year 3: $161,094
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $106,344
  • Year 2: $126,683
  • Year 3: $148,434
Marketing (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $113,473
  • Year 2: $117,572
  • Year 3: $147,381
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,796
  • Year 2: $116,083
  • Year 3: $146,357
Legal Professions and Studies, Other (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $79,420
  • Year 2: $88,198
  • Year 3: $140,330
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $127,841
  • Year 2: $131,090
  • Year 3: $140,129
Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $135,775
  • Year 2: $135,393
  • Year 3: $136,848
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $121,676
  • Year 2: $101,072
  • Year 3: $134,632
Real Estate Development (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $119,991
  • Year 2: $122,038
  • Year 3: $125,784
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,538
  • Year 2: $70,176
  • Year 3: $88,641
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $93,960
  • Year 2: $86,424
  • Year 3: $84,710
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,283
  • Year 2: $73,446
  • Year 3: $77,585
International Business (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,769
  • Year 2: $53,358
  • Year 3: $77,043
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,848
  • Year 2: $62,491
  • Year 3: $76,288
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,752
  • Year 2: $68,698
  • Year 3: $75,052
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,605
  • Year 2: $62,632
  • Year 3: $74,317
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,693
  • Year 2: $66,401
  • Year 3: $73,424
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,395
  • Year 2: $67,101
  • Year 3: $73,270
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,257
  • Year 2: $60,552
  • Year 3: $73,189
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $131,589
  • Year 2: $127,040
  • Year 3: $139,178
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $165,914
  • Year 2: $119,805
  • Year 3: $129,874
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $109,015
  • Year 2: $118,650
  • Year 3: $124,664
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $104,741
  • Year 2: $96,183
  • Year 3: $117,331
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $105,843
  • Year 2: $97,367
  • Year 3: $114,961
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $77,441
  • Year 2: $77,715
  • Year 3: $112,359
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $84,438
  • Year 2: $85,538
  • Year 3: $107,054
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $93,493
  • Year 2: $88,639
  • Year 3: $106,148
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $104,783
  • Year 2: $100,876
  • Year 3: $103,046
Statistics (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $96,445
  • Year 2: $90,856
  • Year 3: $102,592
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $122,573
  • Year 2: $176,775
  • Year 3: $195,076
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $166,493
  • Year 2: $166,905
  • Year 3: $169,931
Information Science/Studies (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $117,731
  • Year 2: $122,038
  • Year 3: $129,964
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $89,302
  • Year 2: $112,701
  • Year 3: $117,811
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $92,664
  • Year 2: $114,892
  • Year 3: $116,799
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $101,520
  • Year 2: $100,224
  • Year 3: $110,420
Dentistry (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $98,409
  • Year 2: $104,935
  • Year 3: $109,861
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,905
  • Year 2: $92,040
  • Year 3: $100,946
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $89,562
  • Year 2: $87,235
  • Year 3: $96,127
Optometry (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,752
  • Year 2: $88,588
  • Year 3: $94,659
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $150,242
  • Year 2: $188,472
  • Year 3: $221,242
Business/Commerce, General (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $188,472
  • Year 3: $216,176
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $187,194
  • Year 2: $170,971
  • Year 3: $206,288
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $120,709
  • Year 2: $189,565
  • Year 3: $194,961
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $162,478
  • Year 2: $163,561
  • Year 3: $177,652
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $111,200
  • Year 2: $157,779
  • Year 3: $159,304
Engineering, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $140,321
  • Year 2: $141,586
  • Year 3: $154,556
Medical Illustration and Informatics (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $88,288
  • Year 2: $118,465
  • Year 3: $132,325
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $118,780
  • Year 2: $111,323
  • Year 3: $130,124
Community Organization and Advocacy (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $115,760
  • Year 2: $113,668
  • Year 3: $128,046