Northwestern ranked in top 10 by two major ranking organizations

Northwestern University continues to be ranked among the top 10 national universities by two major rankings organizations — U.S. News and World Report, and The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education.

Northwestern maintained its number 9 spot in the U.S. News & World Report 2021 Best Colleges rankings for a second straight year, cementing its position among the country’s top research universities. Northwestern, which has been ranked among the top 10 universities for three consecutive years, has moved steadily up the ranks in the Best National Universities category. 

Northwestern is one of only four top 10 U.S. universities also ranked in the top 20 in each of the five graduate schools:

• Business (3)
• Education (7)
• Law (9)
• Medicine (18)
• Engineering (19)

In addition, Northwestern is ranked number 10 in the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings 2021 - up one position from last year. Northwestern is one of only three schools in the top 10 located outside of the northeastern United States.

Universities play a pivotal role in society, especially in times of crisis such as we are experiencing now. We are proud of the role each member of our community plays in addressing today’s biggest challenges.”

“Universities play a pivotal role in society, especially in times of crisis such as we are experiencing now,” Northwestern Provost Kathleen Hagerty said. “We are proud of the role each member of our community plays in addressing today’s biggest challenges, from confronting issues of racial and social injustice to conducting groundbreaking research that aids in the fight against COVID-19.”

Northwestern's position in the rankings is due, in part, to its dedication to promoting student excellence and its continued success in attracting top researchers and research funding. Last week, the University announced it earned a record-breaking $886 million in sponsored research funding for the fiscal year that ended Aug. 31 — an 11% increase from the previous fiscal year.

The National Science Foundation has awarded Northwestern researchers 12 Rapid Response Research (RAPID) grants — more than any other top 10 university — for a broad range of studies related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Funded studies include development of a wearable sensor that detects early signs of COVID-19; creation of a self-sanitizing face mask; and an interdisciplinary exploration of how the public thinks, feels and behaves during the pandemic.

“We are grateful for the external endorsements of the achievements of our faculty, staff and students,” Hagerty said. “While the University experience looks a bit different this year, we are confident that our community will be able to continue the excellent work and learning that makes Northwestern one of the leading research universities in the world.”