Northwestern University

www.northwestern.edu

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2022 Undergraduate Tuition

$62,391

3.51% growth from 2021

2022 Average Net Price

$22,095

After Financial Aid

2020 Default Rate

0.0382%

on Student Loans

2022 Acceptance Rate

7.21%

51,261 Applicants

2022 Enrolled Students

23,161

83.2% Full-Time

2022 Graduation Rate

96.5%

1,913 Graduates

About

Northwestern University is a higher education institution located in Cook County, IL. In 2022, the most popular Masters Degree concentrations at Northwestern University were Management Science (1,624 degrees awarded), General Business Administration & Management (347 degrees), and General Finance (320 degrees).

In 2022, 9,725 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Northwestern University. 51.7% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 48.3% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (4,236 degrees), 3.01 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1,406 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Northwestern University is $62,391, which is $32,241 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($30,150).

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at Northwestern University was 0.0382%, corresponding to 1 out of the 2615 total borrowers.

Photo by Amanda

Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2022, the median undergraduate tuition at Northwestern University is $62,391, which is $32,241 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($30,150).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $22,095.

In 2022, 54% of undergraduate students attending Northwestern University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 19% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$62,391

2022 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2022, the cost of tuition at Northwestern University was $62,391. The cost of tuition at Northwestern University is $32,241 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($30,150).

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

Average Net Price

$22,095

2022 Value

26.3%

1 Year Growth

In 2022 Northwestern University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $22,095. Between 2021 and 2022, the average net price of Northwestern University grew by 26.3%.

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

$18,264

Room and Board

$1,566

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Northwestern University was of $18,264 in 2022. The cost of room and board increased by 3.68% between 2021 and 2022.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,566. The cost of books and supplies decreased by 5.78% 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

54%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

19%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

54% of undergraduate students at Northwestern University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2022. This represents a decline of 5.26% with respect to 2021, when 57% 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.

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.

0.0382%

2020 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at Northwestern University was 0.0382%, which represents 1 out of the 2615 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.

Admissions

Northwestern University received 51,261 undergraduate applications in 2022, which represents a 7.61% annual growth. Out of those 51,261 applicants, 3,695 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 7.21% acceptance rate.

There were 23,161 students enrolled at Northwestern University in 2022. 47% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Northwestern University has an overall enrollment yield of 55.2%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

7.21%

Acceptance Rate in 2022

3,695

Accepted Out of 51,261

In 2022, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Northwestern University was 7.21% (3,695 admissions from 51,261 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2021, which was 6.97%. Between 2021 and 2022, the number of applicants grew by 7.61%, while admissions grew by 11.3%.

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

47%

Submission Percentage (2022)

965

Scores Submitted (2022)

47% of enrolled first-time students at Northwestern University in 2022 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 23,161 students in 2022. The full-time enrollment at Northwestern University is 19,264 students and the part-time enrollment is 3,897. This means that 83.2% of students enrolled at Northwestern University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Northwestern University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 37% White, 16% Asian, 10.1% Hispanic or Latino, 5.6% Black or African American, 4.57% Two or More Races, 0.095% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0734% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Northwestern University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (19.3%), followed by White Male (17.4%) and Asian Female (10.9%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (17.9%), followed by White Male (15.2%) and Asian Female (6.49%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

83.2%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Northwestern University in 2022, both undergraduate and graduate, is 23,161 students. The full-time enrollment at Northwestern University is 19,264 and the part-time enrollment is 3,897. This means that 83.2% of students enrolled at Northwestern University are enrolled full-time compared with 77.4% 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%

2022 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 (84%), 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 (2022)

White
8,560 enrolled students
Asian
3,697 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
2,330 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Northwestern University is 37% White, 16% Asian, 10.1% Hispanic or Latino, 5.6% Black or African American, 4.57% Two or More Races, 0.095% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0734% 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 47.5% White, 15.5% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.58% 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, 1,386 students (5.98%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2022, 335 more women than men received degrees from Northwestern University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Northwestern University is white (4,236 degrees awarded). There were 3.01 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1406 degrees).

The most common Masters Degree concentration at Northwestern University is Management Science (1,624 degrees awarded), followed by General Business Administration & Management (347 degrees) and General Finance (320 degrees).

In 2022, 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 (776 degrees awarded), Math & Statistics (205 degrees), and Engineering (731 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 (1,166,037 people), Accountants & auditors (1,116,161 people), Software developers (638,734 people), Financial managers (599,904 people), and Chief executives & legislators (577,533 people).

The most specialized majors at Northwestern University in 2022 are Legal (776 degrees awarded), Math & Statistics (205 degrees), Engineering (731 degrees), Business (2,812 degrees), and Social Sciences (651 degrees) (as of 2022).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Podiatrists

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 Podiatrists, Surgeons, Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, and Physicians

The most specialized majors at Northwestern University are Legal (776 degrees awarded), Math & Statistics (205 degrees), Engineering (731 degrees), Business (2,812 degrees), and Social Sciences (651 degrees) (as of 2022).

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 (1,112,706 people), Elementary & secondary schools (842,614 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (736,068 people), Construction (716,329 people), and Banking & related activities (639,339 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 (2022)

Management Science
1,624 degrees awarded
General Business Administration & Management
347 degrees awarded
General Finance
320 degrees awarded

In 2022, the most common masters degree concentration at Northwestern University was Management Science with 1,624 degrees awarded.

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

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

4,695

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2022

5,030

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2022

In 2022, 4,695 degrees were awarded to men at Northwestern University, which is 0.933 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (5,030).

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

Most Common Male Majors

In 2022, 1045 degrees were awarded to men at Northwestern University in Management Science, which is 1.77 times more than the 589 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2022, 589 degrees were awarded to men at Northwestern University in Management Science, which is 0.564 times less than the 1045 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

85%

100% Completion Time

95%

150% Completion Time

In 2022, 85% of students graduating from Northwestern University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 95% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 95% 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.

American Indian or Alaska Native Male

Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2022 at Northwestern University is Male and American Indian or Alaska Native (100% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (73.2%).

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 (26 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2022)

White
4,236 degrees awarded
Asian
1,406 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
710 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Northwestern University is white (4,236 degrees awarded). There were 3.01 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1406 degrees).

6.59% of degree recipients (641 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2022)

White Female
2,121 degrees awarded
White Male
2,115 degrees awarded
Asian Female
725 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Northwestern University is white female (2,121 degrees awarded). There were 1 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (2115 degrees).

Operations

Northwestern University has an endowment valued at nearly $10.9B, as of the end of the 2022 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of −329M (−3.02%) compared to the 1.13% average return (4.2M on 373M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2022, Northwestern University had a total salary expenditure of 2.75B. Northwestern University employs 708 Professors, 375 Associate professors and 330 Assistant professors. Most academics at Northwestern University are Male Professor (486), Female Professor (222), and Male Associate professor (194).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Northwestern University are: Business and Financial Operations, with 1,367 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 1,036 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 926 employees.

Endowment

$10.9B

2022 Endowment

4.24%

decline from 2021

Northwestern University has an endowment valued at about $10.9B, as of the end of the 2022 fiscal year. The endowment of Northwestern University declined 4.24% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $10.5B 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

$1.26B

2022 Salaries

4.06%

growth from 2021

In 2022, Northwestern University paid a median of $1.26B in salaries, which represents 45.9% of their overall expenditure ($2.75B) and a 4.06% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 2.45% growth between 2020 and 2021, and a 2.01% growth between 2019 and 2020.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 246M (41.5% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$254M

Instructional Salaries

1,508

Number of Employees

In 2022, Northwestern University paid a total of $254M to 1,508 employees working as instructors, which represents 20.1% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $73.7M (30%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

708 Employees

Business and Financial Operations

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

1,367 Employees

In 2022, the most common positions for instructional staff at Northwestern University were Professor with 708 employees, Associate professor with 375 employees, and Assistant professor with 330 employees.

In 2022, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Northwestern University were Business and Financial Operations with 1,367 employees, Office and Administrative Support with 1,036 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 926 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2022)

Male Professor
Female Professor
Male Associate professor

In 2022, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Northwestern University was Male Professor with 486 employees, Female Professor with 222 employees, and Male Associate professor with 194 employees.

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

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