Northwestern University

Doctoral Universities

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2016 Undergraduate Tuition

$50,424

3.7% growth from 2015

2016 Average Net Price

$29,326

After Financial Aid

2015 Student Loan

1.06%

Default Rate

2016 Acceptance Rate

10.7%

35,100 Applicants

2016 Enrolled Students

21,823

80.1% Full-Time

2016 Graduation Rate

93.5%

1,988 Graduates

About

Costs

Admissions

Enrollment

Graduates

Operations

About

Northwestern University is a higher education institution located in Cook County, IL. In 2016, the most popular Bachelor's Degree concentrations at Northwestern University were General Economics (398 degrees awarded), General Psychology (169 degrees), and Other Communication, Journalism, & Related Programs (164 degrees).

In 2016, 9,127 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Northwestern University. 46% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 54% awarded men. The majority of degree recipients were white (4,224 degrees), 3.55 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1189 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Northwestern University is $50,424, which is $24,568 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($25,856).

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Doctoral Universities: Highest Research ActivityDoctoral Universities

Costs

The median undergraduate tuition at Northwestern University is $50,424, which is $24,568 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($25,856).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $29,326.

In 2016, 53% of undergraduate students received federal grants, while 27% of undergraduate students received federal loans.

Student Expenses

Tuition Costs

$50,424

2016 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2016, the cost of tuition at Northwestern University was $50,424. The cost of tuition at Northwestern University is $24,568 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($25,856).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Northwestern University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

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Average Net Price

$29,326

2016 Value

4.01%

1 Year Growth

In 2016 Northwestern University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $29,326. Between 2015 and 2016, the average net price of Northwestern University grew by 4.01%.

This chart compares the average net price of Northwestern University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

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Other Student Expenses

$14,936

Room and Board

$1,620

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Northwestern University was of $14,936 in 2016. During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,620. The cost of room and board increased by 3.8% between 2015 and 2016. The cost of books and supplies decreased by 15.4% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Northwestern University (in red) with that of similar universities.

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Financial Aid

Financial Aid by Income Level

53%

Of Undergraduates Receive Grants

27%

Of Undergraduates Receive Federal Loans

53% of undergraduate students at Northwestern University received grants or loans in 2016. This represents a growth of 0% with respect to 2015, when 53% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Northwestern University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

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Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

1.06%

2015 Default Rate

33

Number of Defaults

In 2015 the default rate for borrower's at Northwestern University was 1.06%, which represents 33 out of the 3119 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

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Admissions

Northwestern University received 35,100 undergraduate applications in 2016, which represents a 9.27% annual growth. Out of those 35,100 applicants, 3,743 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 10.7% acceptance rate.

There were 21,823 students enrolled at Northwestern University in 2016, and 38% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Northwestern University has an overall enrollment yield of 53%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

10.7%

Acceptance Rate in 2016

3,743

Accepted Out of 35,100

In 2016, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Northwestern University was 10.7% (3,743 admissions from 35,100 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2015, which was 13%. Between 2015 and 2016, the number of applicants grew by 9.27%, while admissions declined by -107%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Northwestern University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

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SAT Scores

38%

Submission Percentage

746

Scores Submitted

38% of enrolled first-time students at Northwestern University in 2016 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

This chart shows the SAT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile of applicants broken out into each section of the test that their are evaluated on.

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Enrollment

Northwestern University has a total enrollment of 21,823 students. The full-time enrollment at Northwestern University is 17,475 students and the part-time enrollment is 4,348. This means that 80.1% of students enrolled at Northwestern University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Northwestern University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 45.1% White, 13.5% Asian, 8.27% Hispanic or Latino, 4.99% Black or African American, 3.27% Two or More Races, 0.119% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0458% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Northwestern University in full-time Undergraduate programs are majority White Male (24.9%), followed by White Female (23%) and Asian Female (8.69%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are majority White Male (19.8%), followed by White Female (18.4%) and Asian Female (5.03%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

80.1%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Northwestern University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 21,823 students. The full-time enrollment at Northwestern University is 17,475 and the part-time enrollment is 4,348. This means that 80.1% of students enrolled at Northwestern University are enrolled full-time compared with 78.1% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Northwestern University (in red) compares to similar universities.

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Retention Rate over Time

98%

2016 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Northwestern University was 98%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (83%), Northwestern University had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Northwestern University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

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Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity

  1. White

    9,838

  2. Asian

    2,939

  3. Hispanic or Latino

    1,805

The enrolled student population at Northwestern University is 45.1% White, 13.5% Asian, 8.27% Hispanic or Latino, 4.99% Black or African American, 3.27% Two or More Races, 0.119% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0458% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 51.9% White, 12.8% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.36% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 1,590 students (7.29%) did not report their race.

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Graduates

In 2016, 735 fewer women than men received degrees from Northwestern University. The majority of degree recipients at Northwestern University are white (4,224 degrees awarded). There were 3.55 times more white graduates than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1189 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Northwestern University is General Economics (398 degrees awarded), followed by General Psychology (169 degrees) and Other Communication, Journalism, & Related Programs (164 degrees).

The most specialized majors across all degree types at Northwestern University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Legal (612 degrees awarded), Science Technologies (55 degrees), and Communications (932 degrees).

Workforce

Common Jobs by Major

Miscellaneous managers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Northwestern University are Miscellaneous managers (659,453 people), Software developers, applications & systems software (376,892 people), Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (354,682 people), Miscellaneous engineers, including nuclear engineers (305,538 people), and Civil engineers (235,454 people).

The most specialized majors at Northwestern University are Legal (612 degrees awarded), Science Technologies (55 degrees), Communications (932 degrees), Social Sciences (767 degrees), and Engineering (696 degrees).

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Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Economists

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Northwestern University are Economists, Physicians & surgeons, Sales engineers, Sales representatives, wholesale & manufacturing, and Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents

The most specialized majors at Northwestern University are Legal (612 degrees awarded), Science Technologies (55 degrees), Communications (932 degrees), Social Sciences (767 degrees), and Engineering (696 degrees).

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Common Industries by Major

Computer Systems Design

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Northwestern University are Computer Systems Design (528,577 people), Architectural, engineering & related services (437,622 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (431,850 people), Elementary & secondary schools (424,575 people), and Construction (312,486 people).

The most specialized majors at Northwestern University are Legal (612 degrees awarded), Science Technologies (55 degrees), Communications (932 degrees), Social Sciences (767 degrees), and Engineering (696 degrees).

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Degrees

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Northwestern University.

Most Common

  1. General Economics

    398 degrees awarded

  2. General Psychology

    169 degrees awarded

  3. Other Communication, Journalism, & Related Programs

    164 degrees awarded

In 2016, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Northwestern University was General Economics with 398 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree recipients from bachelors degree programs at Northwestern University according to their major.

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Gender Breakdown for Common Majors

Degrees Awarded to Men

  1. 4,931

  2. 4,196

In 2016, 4,931 degrees were awarded to men at Northwestern University, which is 1.18 times more than the number of degrees awarded to females (4,196).

This chart displays the gender disparity between the top 5 majors at Northwestern University by degrees awarded.

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Most Common Male Majors

In 2016, 465 degrees were awarded to men at Northwestern University in Management Science, which is 2.6 times more than the 179 female recipients with that same degree.

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Most Common Female Majors

In 2016, 247 degrees were awarded to women at Northwestern University in Other Communication, Journalism, & Related Programs, which is 2.27 times more than the 109 male recipients with that same degree.

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Time to Complete

85%

100% Completion Time

93%

150% Completion Time

In 2016, 85% of students graduating from Northwestern University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 93% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 94% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

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Diversity

Graduation Rate by Race and Gender

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

American Indian or Alaska Native Female

Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate at Northwestern University is Female and American Indian or Alaska Native (100% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (67.2%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 1.36% of graduates (27 students) did not report their race.

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Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

  1. White

    4,224 degrees awarded

  2. Asian

    1,189 degrees awarded

  3. Unknown

    767 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Northwestern University is white (4,224 degrees awarded). There were 3.55 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1189 degrees).

8.4% of degree recipients (767 students) did not report their race.

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Race & Ethnicity by Gender

Most Common Gender Demographic

  1. White Male

    2,292 degrees awarded

  2. White Female

    1,932 degrees awarded

  3. Asian Male

    629 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and gender grouping at Northwestern University is white male (2,292 degrees awarded). There were 1.19 times more white male recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (1,932 degrees).

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Operations

Northwestern University has an endowment valued at nearly $7.59B, as of the end of the 2015 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of $200M (2.63%), compared to the 1.54% average return ($4.18M on $271M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2015, Northwestern University had a total expenditure of $2.03B. Of that $2.03B, they spent $927M on salaries and $2.03B on benefits.

Northwestern University employs 603 Professors, 304 Associate professors, and 283 Lecturers. Most academics at Northwestern University are Male Professors (448), Male Associate professors(193), and Female Lecturers (162).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Northwestern University are: Business and Financial Operations, with 1253 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 963 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 828 employees.

Finances

Endowment

$7.59B

2015 Endowment

1.16%

growth from 2014

Northwestern University has an endowment valued at about $7.59B, as of the end of the 2015 fiscal year. The endowment of Northwestern University grew 1.16% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $7.32B higher than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Northwestern University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

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Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

  1. $409M - Federal

  2. $13.4M - State

  3. $0 - Local

As of 2015, Northwestern University received $409M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $13.4M from state grants and contracts, and $0 from local grants and contracts.

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Expenses

Primary Expenses

Expenditure values can vary depending on whether the institution is public or private, and are not available for private-for-profit schools.

$927M

Salary Expenditure

$2.03B

Benefits Expenditure

In 2015, Northwestern University had a total expenditure of $2.03B. Of that $2.03B, they spent $927M on salaries and $2.03B on benefits.

The bar chart shows the share of the primary expenses at Northwestern University over time, and the line chart shows the expenditure for solely salaries and benefits over time compared to the median for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification grouping.

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Expenditure by Category

This tree map shows all of the primary expenses of Research at Northwestern University as a share of total expenditure.

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Salary Expenditure

$927M

2015 Salaries

4.47%

growth from 2014

In 2015, Northwestern University paid a median of $927M in salaries, which represents 45.6% of their overall expenditure ($2.03B) and a 4.47% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 4.56% growth from 2013 and a 5.68% growth from 2012.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 206M (43.4% of overall expenditures).

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Instructional Salaries

$201M

Instructional Salaries

1,441

Number of Employees

In 2015, Northwestern University paid a total of $201M to 1,441 employees working as instructors, which represents 21.7% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $62.1M (30.2%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

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Faculty and Staff

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

603 Employees

Business and Financial Operations

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

1253 Employees

In 2016, the most common positions for instructional staff at Northwestern University were Professor with 603 employees; Associate professor with 304 employees; and Associate professor with 283 employees.

In 2016, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Northwestern University were Business and Financial Operations with 1,253 employees; Office and Administrative Support with 963 employees; and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 828 employees.

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Instructors by Academic Rank and Gender

Most Common Demographic

  1. Male Professor

  2. Male Associate professor

  3. Female Lecturer

In 2016, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Northwestern University was Male Professor with 448 employees, Male Associate professor with 193 employees, and Female Lecturer with 162 employees.

This chart shows the gender split between each academic rank present at Northwestern University.

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