Northwestern University

www.northwestern.edu

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2024 Undergraduate Tuition

$67,158

3.5% growth from 2023

2024 Average Net Price

$26,830

After Financial Aid

2024 Acceptance Rate

7.69%

49,474 Applicants

2024 Enrolled Students

23,856

84.6% Full-Time

2024 Graduation Rate

95.1%

1,835 Graduates

About

Northwestern University is a higher education institution located in Cook County, IL. In 2024, the most popular Masters Degree concentrations at Northwestern University were Management Science (1,729 degrees awarded), Digital Communication & Multimedia (430 degrees), and Counseling Psychology (330 degrees).

In 2024, 9,772 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Northwestern University. 54.1% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 45.9% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (3,558 degrees), 2.24 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1,586 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Northwestern University is $67,158, which is $35,238 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

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Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at Northwestern University is $67,158, which is $35,238 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $26,830.

In 2024, 52% of undergraduate students attending Northwestern University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 17% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$67,158

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Northwestern University was $67,158. The cost of tuition at Northwestern University is $35,238 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

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

Average Net Price

$26,830

2024 Value

14.9%

1 Year Growth

In 2024 Northwestern University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $26,830. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of Northwestern University grew by 14.9%.

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.

Other Student Expenses

$20,334

Room and Board

$1,686

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Northwestern University was of $20,334 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 4.6% between 2023 and 2024.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,686. The cost of books and supplies increased by 6.04% during the same period.

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

Financial Aid by Income Level

52%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

17%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

52% of undergraduate students at Northwestern University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a decline of 3.7% with respect to 2023, when 54% 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.

Admissions

Northwestern University received 49,474 undergraduate applications in 2024, which represents a 4.43% annual growth. Out of those 49,474 applicants, 3,806 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 7.69% acceptance rate.

There were 23,856 students enrolled at Northwestern University in 2024. 46% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Northwestern University has an overall enrollment yield of 55.3%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

7.69%

Acceptance Rate in 2024

3,806

Accepted Out of 49,474

In 2024, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Northwestern University was 7.69% (3,806 admissions from 49,474 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2023, which was 7.15%. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of applicants declined by 4.43%, while admissions grew by 2.78%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Northwestern University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

46%

Submission Percentage (2024)

963

Scores Submitted (2024)

46% of enrolled first-time students at Northwestern University in 2024 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Northwestern University had a total enrollment of 23,856 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at Northwestern University is 20,190 students and the part-time enrollment is 3,666. This means that 84.6% of students enrolled at Northwestern University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Northwestern University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 32.9% White, 16% Asian, 10.6% Hispanic or Latino, 6.47% Black or African American, 4.93% Two or More Races, 0.122% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0419% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Northwestern University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (16.7%), followed by White Male (15%) and Asian Female (11.5%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (17.7%), followed by White Male (13.9%) and Asian Female (6.63%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

84.6%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Northwestern University in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 23,856 students. The full-time enrollment at Northwestern University is 20,190 and the part-time enrollment is 3,666. This means that 84.6% of students enrolled at Northwestern University are enrolled full-time compared with 77.3% at similar Doctoral Universities.

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

Retention Rate over Time

98%

2024 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 (82%), 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.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
7,840 enrolled students
Asian
3,808 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
2,521 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Northwestern University is 32.9% White, 16% Asian, 10.6% Hispanic or Latino, 6.47% Black or African American, 4.93% Two or More Races, 0.122% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0419% 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 46.2% White, 16.3% Hispanic or Latino, and 10.4% 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, 1,691 students (7.09%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2024, 798 more women than men received degrees from Northwestern University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Northwestern University is white (3,558 degrees awarded). There were 2.24 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1,586 degrees).

The most common Masters Degree concentration at Northwestern University is Management Science (1,729 degrees awarded), followed by Digital Communication & Multimedia (430 degrees) and Counseling Psychology (330 degrees).

In 2024, 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 (678 degrees awarded), Communications (772 degrees), and Engineering (860 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Other 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 Other managers (673,520 people), Software developers (605,882 people), Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (414,624 people), Miscellaneous engineers, including nuclear engineers (383,192 people), and Civil engineers (319,169 people).

The most specialized majors at Northwestern University in 2024 are Legal (678 degrees awarded), Communications (772 degrees), Engineering (860 degrees), Math & Statistics (205 degrees), and Social Sciences (642 degrees) (as of 2024).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

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 Surgeons, Podiatrists, Magnetic resonance imaging technologists, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, and Physicians

The most specialized majors at Northwestern University are Legal (678 degrees awarded), Communications (772 degrees), Engineering (860 degrees), Math & Statistics (205 degrees), and Social Sciences (642 degrees) (as of 2024).

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 (808,392 people), Elementary & secondary schools (597,488 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (568,815 people), Architectural, engineering & related services (517,552 people), and Construction (433,196 people).

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 (2024)

Business & Managerial Economics
52 degrees awarded
General Finance
50 degrees awarded
Pre-Medical Studies
14 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common 1 to 2 year postsecondary certificate concentration at Northwestern University was Business & Managerial Economics with 52 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from 1 to 2 year postsecondary certificate programs at Northwestern University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

4,487

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2024

5,285

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2024

In 2024, 4,487 degrees were awarded to men at Northwestern University, which is 0.849 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (5,285).

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

Most Common Male Majors

In 2024, 1,068 degrees were awarded to men at Northwestern University in Management Science, which is 1.58 times more than the 677 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2024, 677 degrees were awarded to men at Northwestern University in Management Science, which is 0.634 times less than the 1,068 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

87%

100% Completion Time

97%

150% Completion Time

In 2024, 87% of students graduating from Northwestern University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 97% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 97% 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.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

White Female

Highest Graduation Rate (98.1%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2024 at Northwestern University is Female and White (98.1% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (75.5%).

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, 2.62% of graduates (48 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
3,558 degrees awarded
Asian
1,586 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
762 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Northwestern University is white (3,558 degrees awarded). There were 2.24 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1,586 degrees).

6.16% of degree recipients (602 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)

White Male
2,547 degrees awarded
White Male
2,459 degrees awarded
White Male
2,336 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Northwestern University is white male (2,547 degrees awarded). There were 1.04 times more white male recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (2,459 degrees).

Operations

Northwestern University has an endowment valued at nearly $11B, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 1.26B (11.5%) compared to the 9.4% average return (23.7M on 252M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2024, Northwestern University had a total salary expenditure of 3.27B. Northwestern University employs 766 Professors, 388 Associate professors and 331 Assistant professors. Most academics at Northwestern University are Male Professor (500), Female Professor (266), and Female Associate professor (196).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Northwestern University are: Business and Financial Operations, with 1,518 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 1,088 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 1,048 employees.

Endowment

$11B

2024 Endowment

4.05%

growth from 2023

Northwestern University has an endowment valued at about $11B, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of Northwestern University grew 4.05% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $10.7B 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.

Salary Expenditure

$1.45B

2024 Salaries

8.75%

growth from 2023

In 2024, Northwestern University paid a median of $1.45B in salaries, which represents 44.3% of their overall expenditure ($3.27B) and a 8.75% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 5.85% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 4.06% growth between 2021 and 2022.

Instructional Salaries

$288M

Instructional Salaries

1,576

Number of Employees

In 2024, Northwestern University paid a total of $288M to 1,576 employees working as instructors, which represents 19.9% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $4.1M (2.29%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Northwestern University were Business and Financial Operations with 1,518 employees, Office and Administrative Support with 1,088 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 1,048 employees.

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