Northwestern University
#1 Best Colleges for Communications- Graduation Rate
- 96% A+
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $89,363 A+
- Top 2% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $29,167 F
- 70% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 8% A+
- Rejects about 92 of every 100 applicants
Bottom line: A B overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 18.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $18.3 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Colleges for Communications.
Every $1 spent returns $18.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,023,973.
What The Data Says
-
A B overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Graduates earn 119% more than the national college median.
-
A 96% graduation rate — 67% above the national average.
-
A top feeder school for 3 major employers.
-
Admits just 8% of applicants — one of the most selective institutions in the country.
Economic Footprint
- World Rank
- #25
- Times Higher Education
- Employer Pipelines
- 3
- Top feeder programs
- Research Score
- 69/100
- Times Higher Education
Why Northwestern University Matters
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, IL ranked #25 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by exceptional admissions selectivity, a top-tier research enterprise, and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 2% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 9,201
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Social Sciences, Communications, Engineering, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Northwestern University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Highly selective — admits about 8% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1510–1570. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $29,167 a year after grants and scholarships — 70% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $89,363 ten years after enrolling — 119% above the typical college, against $15,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.7% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 40% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.83 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Northwestern University has an impressive graduation rate of 96%, indicating strong student support and academic success. This high rate reflects the university’s commitment to helping students complete their degrees on time. With an acceptance rate of just 8%, gaining admission is highly competitive, attracting top talent from across the country.
The earnings potential for graduates is significant, with a 10-year median income of $89,363. This figure suggests that students who attend Northwestern can expect a strong return on their investment. However, 19% of students receive Pell Grants, which highlights that some students come from lower-income backgrounds, yet still have the opportunity to thrive here.
The net price for attending Northwestern is $29,167, and the median debt is relatively low at $15,000, making it more manageable for graduates. Students who excel here often pursue majors in engineering, social sciences, and communications. Those who thrive at Northwestern are typically motivated and high-achieving individuals, ready to engage in a challenging academic environment.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Northwestern University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Northwestern University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Evanston, Illinois, Northwestern University turns away the vast majority of its applicants. The acceptance rate is 8%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,533. The graduation rate is roughly 96%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 8%
- Retention Rate
- 98%
- SAT Average
- 1533
- ACT Midpoint
- 35
- SAT Range
- 1510–1570
- ACT Range
- 33–35
- Full-Time Faculty
- 83%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $20,322
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 6:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.81
- First-Gen Students
- 15%
- Applicants
- 51,261
- Admitted
- 3,695
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Northwestern University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Northwestern University is $68,322, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $29,167. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,764 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $15,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $68,322
- Out-of-State
- $68,322
- Avg Net Price
- $29,167
- Median Debt
- $15,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 19%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 17%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $1,764
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $6,099
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $7,898
- Family Income $110K+
- $48,777
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Northwestern University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Northwestern University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Northwestern University earn a median of $89,363, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $76,844
- 8 Years
- $83,487
- 10 Years
- $89,363
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.17x
- Earning > $25K
- 85%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (1,737)
- 85%
- 100% (1,737)
- 85%
- 100% (1,737)
- 85%
- 100% (1,737)
- 85%
Where Grads Go
Northwestern University is a top feeder for:
Rank among programs feeding each employer.
Top employers of Northwestern University’s MBA graduates, by hires reported in the school’s employment report.
How Northwestern Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Northwestern University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Northwestern University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $29,167/year ($116,668 total). Graduates earn $89,363 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,140,641 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,023,973 (18.3× your investment). The median debt is $15,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 96% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $116,668
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,140,641
- Net Return
- $2,023,973
- ROI Multiple
- 18.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $29,167
- Median Debt
- $15,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 96%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Northwestern University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Northwestern University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.69%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower: only about 3.1% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 55.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $168,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.69%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 55.2%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 3.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $228,932
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Research & Teaching
Data: Times Higher Education World University Rankings
How Research-Intensive Is Northwestern University? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places Northwestern University at #25 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 69/100, teaching at 65/100, and citation impact of 95/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
- World Rank
- #25
- Teaching
- 64.5
- Research
- 68.8
- Citations
- 95.3
- International
- 60.5
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
- Research Score
- 69/100
- Times Higher Ed
- Academic Influence
- 95/100
- Citation impact (THE)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-328,500,000
Top Programs
The fields Northwestern University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Social Sciences 16% $86,780 early-career
- Communications 14% $57,082 early-career
- Engineering 14% $102,087 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 10% $116,922 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 10% $25,407 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 8% $38,476 early-career
- Psychology 6% $46,778 early-career
- Business & Marketing 3% $91,485 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Northwestern University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Northwestern University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Evanston, Illinois, Northwestern University turns away the vast majority of its applicants. The acceptance rate is 8%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,533. The graduation rate is roughly 96%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Northwestern University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Northwestern University is $68,322, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $29,167. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,764 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $15,000 in federal student loans.
Is Northwestern University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Northwestern University earn a median of $89,363, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does Northwestern University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Northwestern University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.69%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower: only about 3.1% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 55.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $168,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Northwestern University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Northwestern University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.83, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
How Research-Intensive Is Northwestern University? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places Northwestern University at #25 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 69/100, teaching at 65/100, and citation impact of 95/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
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Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Northwestern University.
- Brown UniversityProvidence, RI · Close peer96% grad $93,487 earn 5% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Notre DameNotre Dame, IN · Close peer96% grad $99,980 earn 11% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Duke UniversityDurham, NC · Close peer96% grad $97,800 earn 6% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of ChicagoChicago, IL · Close peer95% grad $91,885 earn 4% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Washington University in St LouisSt. Louis, MO · Close peer94% grad $86,182 earn 12% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA · Close peer97% grad $111,371 earn 5% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Northwestern University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Northwestern University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.83, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note