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Anyone who stops by Northwestern University is sure to be impressed by its stellar academics and beautiful location on the shore of Lake Michigan. The long campus in Evanston, Illinois, is divided between the creative arts and journalism students on its south end and the engineering and pre-professional schools to the north. While Northwestern has the resources and size of a Big Ten school, it also fosters a feeling of community among its diverse student body of about 8,000 undergrads and 13,000 graduate and professional students. Northwestern students apply their high-school overachiever work ethic to busy extracurricular and academic schedules, and the school's quarter system keeps them jumping from exam to exam. Majors include cognitive science, earth and planetary sciences, and German. Much of the social life at Northwestern centers on the active Greek scene, as well as the attractions of downtown Chicago, which is a quick ride away on the L. But the winter weather can be a downside -- you don't know wind chill until you've experienced a 15-below walk to class. Northwestern boasts a 95% graduation rate, and its students tend to do well on the job market after leaving school. Early career earnings for Northwestern grads average out to $60,200, according to PayScale.
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
FALL 2020 PLAN: Northwestern University made a six-step "Return to Campus" plan that includes phased reopenings of facilities, and a mix of virtual and in-person learning depending on department, major, and student circumstances.
costs
Est. Full Price 2020-2021
$76,300
% of students who get any grants
56%
Est. price for students who receive aid
$28,800
Average price for low-income students
$14,000
admissions
Acceptance rate
8%
Median SAT/ACT Score
1490/34
SAT/ACT Required for Fall 2021?
no
Enrollment
8,450
Financial Aid
% of students with need who get grants
N/A
% of need met
N/A
% of students who get merit* grants
N/A
Average merit grant
N/A
student success
Graduation rate
95%
Average time to a degree
4.1 years
Average student debt
$15,000
Average salary within 5 years
$60,200
% earning more than $28,000
87%
key deadlines
Early decision application
Nov 1
Regular application
Jan 1
coronavirus update
FALL 2020 PLAN: Northwestern University made a six-step "Return to Campus" plan that includes phased reopenings of facilities, and a mix of virtual and in-person learning depending on department, major, and student circumstances.
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