Northwestern University

About

Northwestern University (NU) is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1851, it is the oldest chartered university in Illinois. Northwestern was initially affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church but later became non-sectarian. Northwestern became a founding member of the Big Ten Conference in 1896 and joined the Association of American Universities in 1917.

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Key facts

Global rank

#26

Location

Evanston, United States

Founded

1851

Students

20,360

Type

Private non-profit

Admission rate

7%

SAT middle range

1490 to 1570

ACT middle range

33 to 35

English test

Required

How to apply

Common App

Outcomes and costs

Official figures from US College Scorecard, US Department of Education. Salaries are for all graduates, not only international students.

Median salary 10 years after starting

$89,363 a year

Median salary 6 years after starting

$76,844 a year

Graduation rate (within 6 years)

95%

Students returning for a second year

98%

Tuition (out-of-state, per year)

$68,322

Average cost of attendance (per year)

$91,250

Undergraduate students

9,201

Students per faculty member

6 to 1

Median debt at graduation

$15,000

Programmes

Showing 1 of 1 programmes.

Scholarships you could use here

• Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowships · USIEF (United States-India Educational Foundation)

  Indian citizens with a bachelor's (minimum 55%) or master's degree and at least three years of relevant full-time work experience, without a US degree. Government of India employees are not eligible.

  The last published cycle (2026-2027) closed on 14 May 2025. A 2027-2028 master's cycle is not currently listed.

  Official page

• Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships · USIEF

  Indian scholars registered for a PhD at an Indian institution, for 6 to 9 months of research in the US.

  The 2027-2028 cycle closed on 1 July 2026.

  Official page