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Northwestern University Media Kit

The Northwestern Difference

Northwestern University is a comprehensive research university, established in 1851, that is deeply interdisciplinary across multiple schools and units. Our rigorous yet empathetic academic environment provides a robust mixture of theory and practice, with an emphasis on top-tier research, new knowledge, creative expression, and practical application. If you are at Northwestern, you are part of an innovative, collaborative and multidimensional community, delivering an impact that is rare in higher education.

Multimedia Assets

Leadership

Michael Schill, Northwestern President
Michael Schill, President

Rankings

Northwestern is one of only three top-10 U.S. universities also ranked in the top 20 in each of the five graduate education categories.

#9
National University by U.S. News and World Report

Research

Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center

Centers and institutes

  • 45+ University research institutes and centers
  • 90+ school-based research centers

Funding

  • More than $1 billion in annual sponsored research awards
  • Received $449 million in NIH grants, a 86% increase over the last 10 years, ranking Northwestern 16th among top AAU universities
researcher in laboratory

General Information

$15.4 billion
in total endowment

Academic Overview

faculty member instructing students

Curriculum

  • 90 majors, plus 90 minors and certificates offered
  • 77% of undergrads combine two+ areas of study
  • About 50%  of students participate in a global learning experience
  • 97% of the Class of 2022 was employed, studying on a fellowship or attending graduate or professional school within six months of graduation.

Enrollment

  • 7% acceptance rate
  • 8,000+ undergraduate students
  • 14,000+ graduate and professional students
  • 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio
cyclist passing under Weber arch

Athletics

Ryan Fieldhouse

Overview

  • Founding member of the Big Ten Conference
  • 19 varsity programs (11 women's, 8 men's)
  • Northwestern’s 98% NCAA graduation success rate has ranked in the top 4 among Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools for 18 consecutive years
  • One of five private AAU members/top research universities to compete in NCAA Power Five Conferences

Athletic achievements

Award-winning Community

Among Northwestern faculty and alumni are recipients of the Pulitzer Prize, Nobel Prize, MacArthur Genius Grant, Tony Award, Grammy Award, Emmy Award, Academy Award, Guggenheim Fellowship, and membership in the National Academy and numerous other honorary and professional societies.

In addition, Northwestern is one of a handful of universities to appear on every "top producing" Fulbright U.S. Student Program list published by the Chronicle of Higher Education since 2005.