Northwestern University | Rankings, and courses

Northwestern University | A multidisciplinary institution

Northwestern University is a comprehensive research university with many schools and units that teach interdisciplinary courses in depth. The university’s rigorous yet compassionate academic environment offers a strong blend of theory and practice, with a focus on cutting-edge research, new knowledge, creative expression, and practical application. If you attend Northwestern, then you will be a part of an innovative, collaborative, and multifaceted community that has an impact that is uncommon in higher education.

Northwestern University | A brief overview

Northwestern is a leading private research and teaching university in the United States. It operates two Lake Michigan campuses- a 240-acre main campus in Evanston, about 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, and a 25-acre campus in Chicago.

Doha, Qatar, is home to a third campus. Northwestern has over 13,000 graduate and professional students and over 8,000 full-time undergraduate students. Its athletic team is the Wildcats, and it is a member of the Big Ten conference. Morton Schapiro has been Northwestern University’s president since 2009.

Northwestern University has three campuses and a global presence that goes beyond traditional academic boundaries. The university’s highly collaborative environment offers exceptional opportunities for personal and professional growth to our diverse students and faculty.

Northwestern University has the ninth rank among national universities by U.S. News and World Report, and its educational programs are recognized both nationally and internationally. International students pursuing undergraduate degrees can apply for need-based financial aid. Northwestern will meet the demonstrated financial need of all admitted first-year students for the entire four years.

Northwestern welcomes students with a track record of academic success from a variety of social, ethnic, and economic backgrounds. Over 90% of undergraduate applicants are in the top 10% of their high school classes. Its students represent all 50 states, as well as over 4,300 international students from over 120 countries.

The Bienen School of Music, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, School of Communication, School of Education and Social Policy, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, Graduate School, Medill School of Journalism, Media, and Integrated Marketing Communications, Pritzker School of Law, Kellogg School of Management, Feinberg School of Medicine, School of Professional Studies, and Northwestern University in Qatar are among the University’s 12 colleges and schools.

Campus

Northwestern has grown from humble beginnings to become a leading private research university with a strong interdisciplinary culture and a commitment to teaching excellence. It now has 12 separate schools and colleges and is popular for its research strength in fields such as neuroscience, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and drug development.

The main campus is still in Evanston, 10 miles north of Chicago, though there is a smaller campus in Chicago. Students can take advantage of all the stimulation and opportunities for personal and professional development that one of the world’s great cities has to offer. There is also a third satellite campus in Doha, Qatar, since 2008.

Evanston

Northwestern’s Evanston campus, which houses the undergraduate schools, Graduate School, and Kellogg School of Management, runs north-south along Sheridan Road from Lincoln Avenue to Clark Street, west of Lake Michigan.

The fraternity quads, athletic facilities such as the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion and Norris Aquatics Center, the Technological Institute, Dearborn Observatory, the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Hall for Nanofabrication and Molecular Self-Assembly, and the Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center are all located on North Campus.

Chicago

Northwestern’s Chicago campus is in the Streeterville neighborhood, close to Lake Michigan. Northwestern Memorial Hospital, the medical school, the law school, the part-time MBA program, and the School of Professional Studies are all located on the Chicago campus. The one-year graduate program at Medill rents a floor on Wacker Drive, across the river from Streeterville, and separate from the rest of campus.

Northwestern’s professional schools and a number of affiliated hospitals are located about four blocks east of the Chicago CTA Red Line station. CTA bus routes serve the Chicago campus as well.

Courses

The university offers UG and PG programs, and students can choose from nine popular courses. These Northwestern University courses are available in more than 10 different streams and nearly 40 specializations. Students can also look into the university’s online and distance learning courses.

Northwestern currently has over 21,000 students enrolled (fall 2020), including over 8,000 undergraduates and over 13,000 graduate students. The student-to-faculty ratio is also impressive, at 6:1.

When it comes to university admissions, Northwestern University has a 7% acceptance rate, making admissions more selective. Approximately half of the university’s available students participate in the study abroad program. Every year, a large number of students research the Northwestern University Admissions process and apply for admission to UG and PG programs.

Northwestern University provides a variety of undergraduate minors and majors, including-

Social sciences

• Geography
• Politics & International Studies (incl Development Studies)
• Sociology
• Communication & Media Studies

Physical sciences

• Physics & Astronomy
• Geology, Environmental, Earth & Marine Sciences
• Mathematics & Statistics
• Chemistry

Arts & humanities

• Languages, Literature & Linguistics
• History, Philosophy & Theology
• Architecture
• Art, Performing Arts & Design

Business & economics

• Business & Management
• Accounting & Finance
• Economics & Econometrics

Life sciences

• Biological Sciences

Engineering & technology

• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• General Engineering
• Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
• Electrical & Electronic Engineering
• Education

Clinical, pre-clinical & health

• Medicine & Dentistry

Other courses

• Computer science
• Law
• Psychology

Popular graduate courses

Arts and Humanities

• B.S. in Environmental Engineering
• Bachelor’s with a major in History

Engineering and Technology

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering
• B.S. in Industrial Engineering
• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering
• Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing and Design Engineering (MaDE)

Life Sciences and Medicine

• Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences
• Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering

Natural Sciences

• B.A. in Materials Science and Engineering
• B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering
• Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics

Social Sciences and Management

• B.A. in Sociology
• B.S. in Journalism

Rankings

• QS World University Rankings- 32
• QS WUR Ranking by Subject- 94
• Graduate Employability Ranking- 29
• US UNI (universities)- 16

Alumni

Famous alumni of Northwestern University include Nobel Prize-winning novelist Saul Bellow and economist George Stigler, as well as Friends star David Schwimmer, Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn, and George R. R. Martin, whose novels inspired the Game of Thrones television series. Four economists and one chemist who worked on the Northwestern faculty received Nobel Prizes. Ralph Bunce, a researcher there, went on to become the first African American to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Key takeaways

• Northwestern is a comprehensive research university with many schools and interdisciplinary courses. The university provides a rigorous yet compassionate academic environment with a strong blend of theory and practice.
• Northwestern’s main campus is still in Evanston, 10 miles north of Chicago. There is a smaller campus in Chicago. The university also has a third satellite campus in Doha, Qatar.
• The university offers many popular courses. These courses are available in more than 10 different streams and nearly 40 specializations. Students can also choose to study from the university’s online and distance learning courses.

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FAQs

Q1. Is Northwestern University an Ivy League institute?

Ans- Northwestern is not an ivy league institute, but it ranks 10th on the national level and also provides various amenities similar to ivy league institutes.

Q2. Is it difficult to get into Northwestern University?

Ans- Northwestern is a highly selective school and gets a higher number of applications, with a 2021 acceptance rate of 6.8%.

Q3. Is Northwestern University good for computer science courses?

Ans- The university currently ranks 86 in the world, according to the World University Rankings 2022 by subject- computer science. Hence, Northwestern University is ideal for computer science courses.