University in United States
Evanston, IL, United States
University profile
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois, on the shore of Lake Michigan about 12 miles north of Chicago. It was established in 1851 by an Act of Incorporation passed by the Illinois legislature and is organised into 12 schools and colleges, with three campuses in Evanston, Chicago and Doha, Qatar. Its stated mission is excellent teaching, innovative research and the personal and intellectual growth of its students in a diverse academic community.
The Evanston campus covers 240 acres on the lakefront, with beaches, trails, a Jens Jensen-designed Shakespeare Garden and a mix of architectural styles. The downtown Chicago campus, 13 miles away, is home to the Feinberg School of Medicine, the Pritzker School of Law and part of the Kellogg School of Management; an intercampus shuttle and public transit connect the two. Northwestern University in Qatar, founded in 2008, is the Doha campus.
Academic units, in order of founding, are the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences (1851), Feinberg School of Medicine (1859), Pritzker School of Law (1859), School of Communication (1878), Bienen School of Music (1895), Kellogg School of Management (1908), McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science (1909), The Graduate School (1910), Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications (1921), School of Education and Social Policy (1926), School of Professional Studies (1933) and Northwestern University in Qatar (2008). Nine schools offer undergraduate programmes and ten offer graduate and professional programmes; The Graduate School offers master's and doctoral degrees in more than 70 disciplines. Seventy-five percent of undergraduates combine two or more areas of study, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 6:1.
Enrolment is more than 9,000 undergraduates and more than 14,000 graduate students, with over 3,300 full-time faculty. Student life includes more than 500 student organisations, 19 varsity teams in the Big Ten Conference (Northwestern is a founding member), club and intramural sport, and traditions such as Dance Marathon, Dillo Day, the Waa-Mu Show and painting The Rock. Libraries hold more than 8 million volumes, including the University Library, Deering Library, Seeley G. Mudd Library, the Galter Health Sciences Library and the Pritzker Legal Research Center.
About half of Northwestern students choose to study abroad, the University has more than 70 academic partnerships at institutions in over 30 countries, and 25% of full-time students are international. International first-year applicants apply through the same Common Application or Coalition with Scoir process as domestic applicants.
For the 2026-27 undergraduate year full-time tuition is $71,802 and fees are $1,260, charged at the same rate for in-state and out-of-state students; estimated on-campus housing and meals are $22,941, and the total cost-of-attendance estimate for living on campus is $99,375.
Northwestern meets 100% of demonstrated financial need of admitted undergraduates with scholarships, grants and work-study, without loans. Most students whose families earn less than $70K per year attend at no cost, and most under $150K attend tuition-free. The University awarded over $250 million to undergraduates in 2025-26. Aid is strictly need-based, determined from the FAFSA and CSS Profile; awards are limited to four years for first-years and three for transfers.
International students are not eligible for federal aid but can receive need-based institutional aid. Admission is need-aware for international applicants. Awards meet 100% of demonstrated need, consist only of grants and scholarships, are loan- and work-free and cover undergraduate study; need-based aid is not available to international transfer students. Students must apply in their first year to be eligible later and reapply annually. Apply by indicating on the admission application, then submit the CSS Profile (code 1565) or the ISAFA and parents' tax or earnings documents.
2026-27 financial aid due dates: Early Decision December 1, 2026; Regular Decision February 1, 2027.
More: Resources for International Students, Northwestern Scholarships.
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View scholarships for Northwestern University →First-year applicants apply through Early Decision or Regular Decision using the Common Application or the Apply Coalition with Scoir application, plus the Northwestern supplement and writing supplements. Required items are the official secondary school transcript(s) and school report, a counselor recommendation, at least one teacher recommendation (an academic teacher from a core subject, junior or senior year), the Early Decision Agreement for ED applicants, and the non-refundable $75 application fee or a fee waiver. QuestBridge applicants apply through the QuestBridge National College Match.
Applications are for a fall (September) start only. 2026-27 deadlines: QuestBridge October 1, 2026; Early Decision November 1, 2026 (decision December 2026); Regular Decision January 4, 2027 (decision March 2027).
Northwestern is test-optional: SAT or ACT scores are not required from first-year or transfer applicants, and applications without scores are not disadvantaged. Applicants may also submit AP or IB scores. Enrolling students who reported scores must send official scores before matriculation.
Weinberg College, Medill, the School of Education and Social Policy, the Bienen School of Music and the School of Communication require a minimum of 16 courses: 4 years of English, at least 2 of one foreign language, 2 of history and social science, 2 of laboratory science and 3 of mathematics, plus 1-3 additional courses. McCormick recommends 4 years of English, at least 3 of laboratory science (chemistry and physics preferred), 3.5-4 of mathematics (calculus preferred) and 5-6 additional courses.
Anyone who has completed courses for credit after secondary school applies as a transfer. Required are the Common or Coalition application with the Northwestern supplement, official transcripts from all universities attended showing at least one year of full-time undergraduate study, secondary school transcripts, a college report, an academic evaluation and the $75 fee or waiver. 2026-27 deadlines: Early Decision March 1, 2027; Regular Decision April 1, 2027 (priority deadline for Bienen transfer applicants January 4, 2027). Credit evaluation is by the Registrar's Office.
International applicants follow the same procedure as domestic applicants. An English proficiency score is required if the applicant's first or primary language is not English or secondary schooling was not in English. Accepted exams are the Duolingo English Test, IELTS (including IELTS Indicator) and TOEFL iBT (including Special Home Edition, but not TOEFL ITP Plus for China). No minimum score is set; scores must be sent officially, are not superscored and TOEFL MyBest Scores are not reviewed. TOEFL code 1565. Foreign transcripts need certified English translations. Interviews through InitialView are optional. Contact: [email protected].
The Graduate School requires a U.S. bachelor's degree or a non-U.S. equivalent from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants submit an online application and fee, essays, transcripts, two letters of recommendation and test scores; international applicants must submit English language test scores, and programs may require the GRE or GMAT. Each program sets additional requirements and deadlines. Applications for 2026-27 opened September 15, 2026.
An intercampus shuttle links Evanston and Chicago. Campus services include health and wellness, campus safety, residential services and dining.
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