About Northwestern University
The Northwestern Difference
Northwestern is a comprehensive research university 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. View our fact sheet as a downloadable PDF.
Northwestern and International Recognition
Northwestern is one of only four top 10 US universities also ranked in the top 20 in each of the five graduate education categories.
- #9 National University –> Read More
- #24 Global University –> Read More
- #4 Business School –> Read More
- #8 Educational School –> Read More
- #12 Law School –> Read More
- #15 Medical School –> Read More
- #2 Material Engineering –> Read More
- #6 Chemistry –> Read More
- #8 Economics –> Read More
Art & Humanities
- 35 Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences programs across the humanities, fine arts, social sciences, natural sciences and mathematics
- Northwestern was placed among Playbill’s top 10 most represented universities on Broadway
- Bienen School of Music alumni and faculty have won 10 Grammy Awards since 2015, and 21 music students and alumni have earned top honors in 16 international competitions
- Block Museum of Art named a top US campus museum by The New York Times
World renowned for Journalism and Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC):
- Undergraduates complete journalism residencies at over120+ media outlets and companies in the US and abroad
- Journalism graduate students choose to specialize in one of seven different topic areas or reporting formats
- The IMC program at Northwestern is a pioneer in blending creativity and data to build brands for the digital age
Schools and Colleges
Our schools are listed below, with year of founding.
- Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences (1851)
- Feinberg School of Medicine (1859)
- Pritzker School of Law (1859)
- School of Communication (1878)
- Bienen School of Music (1895)
- Kellogg School of Management (1908)
- McCormick School of Engineering & Applied Science (1909)
- Graduate School (1910)
- Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications (1921)
- School of Education & Social Policy (1926)
- School of Professional Studies (1933)
- Northwestern University in Qatar (2008)