Northwestern University

Northwestern University Ranking

Northwestern University is a private institution located just outside of Chicago in Evanston, Illinois. It is one of the top universities in the entire Midwest and among the top 10 universities in the country according to some US college rankings. 

Interested in applying to Northwestern? Then you probably want to know as much information about the school as possible, including the Northwestern University rankings as well as the following:

• Different places to find US college rankings, including the Wall Street Journal college rankings, Forbes college rankings and US News college rankings
• The importance of college rankings in general
• Specific Northwestern University ranking e.g. the Northwestern University ranking in US news

Where does Northwestern rank?

Remember, there is no single, definitive Northwestern University ranking. Instead, there are several Northwestern University rankings that vary based on the source and criteria used for the Northwestern ranking. 

Different college rankings websites will assign a different Northwestern University ranking because they evaluate schools differently. There are many sources of US college rankings. In this “Northwestern University ranking” guide, we’ll look at the Northwestern ranking in Forbes, the Northwestern University ranking in US News, and the Northwestern University ranking in Wall Street Journal. When looking at the Northwestern University ranking, it is important to consider all three sources of information.

Why are college rankings important?

College rankings are one important measure of a school’s quality and national reputation. A high college ranking often means that a school provides both a top education as well as an engaging campus environment. College rankings take into account a variety of factors, including academics, financial value, and student life. Therefore a college ranking provides a holistic look at a school’s overall quality and prestige, but it can also vary year to year and website to website. 

A college ranking is also important because potential employers can find a degree from a school that’s high in the college rankings more desirable. Schools with a high college ranking have name recognition that can make it easier for graduates of those schools to get hired. 

So a school’s place on US college rankings lists is important. However, you should not overlook a school simply because of a low place on college rankings lists. Furthermore, don’t choose a school simply because of its high college ranking. Some schools specialize in a particular program or major. They may rank highly in your area of interest even if their overall ranking is lower. Also, a school with a high college ranking may not fit your needs and desires.

Trustworthy college rankings

When looking for information about the Northwestern University rankings, or college rankings in general, consult trusted sources. There are a lot of US college ranking lists out there, but some, like the US News College rankings, the Wall Street Journal college rankings, and Forbes college rankings are more reliable than others. These college rankings lists have been around for many years and have developed a reputation for reliability.  

Exploring Northwestern rankings

The first of the Northwestern University rankings comes from the US News college rankings site. The Northwestern University ranking in US News is #9. 

In addition, the Northwestern ranking for engineering programs is #15, according to US News. Some factors that contributed to the high Northwestern ranking are the small class sizes and the high graduation rate among students. Register for an account with US News to access more detailed Northwestern rankings and statistics including average SAT scores, class sizes, and more.

The second Northwestern ranking comes from the Forbes college rankings site. The Northwestern ranking in Forbes is #10. In addition,  the Forbes college rankings rates it as the #1 university in the Midwest. Other Forbes’ Northwestern University rankings include #8 among private colleges and #10 among research universities. 

This high Northwestern ranking in Forbes is in part down to the school’s competitive acceptance rate, high retention rate, and renowned colleges of engineering and journalism. Forbes college rankings also factor in financial aid packages and the amount of debt students will graduate with. Evidently, they consider Northwestern to be a good value for money.

Students must be members to view the full Wall Street Journal college rankings and the Northwestern University ranking in Wall Street Journal. However, a few Northwestern rankings are available. 

For example, the Northwestern University ranking among midsize schools in the Midwest is #1. The Northwestern University ranking in Wall Street Journal is also #1 in the Midwest for academic resources. These Northwestern rankings show that Northwestern is a top school, especially within its own locale.

Northwestern ratings

Some college websites like Niche.com use a letter grade rating system instead of a number ranking to make college rankings. The Northwestern rating of “A+” shows that Northwestern is an elite university across all the factors that these Northwestern ratings cover. 

Niche also awards Northwestern ratings of A+ in categories of Academics, Diversity, and Value in addition to the overall high Northwestern rating. These Northwestern ratings use less rigorous methods than the Northwestern rankings on other websites. However, these Northwestern ratings still provide valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the school. 

This Northwestern ratings website also includes reviews from students and families connected to Northwestern. These add perspective to the college rankings from people who actually attend the school.

Northwestern University Ranking: Final Thoughts

No matter which website you look at, whether it is the US News college rankings, the Forbes college rankings, or the Wall Street Journal college rankings, the Northwestern rankings are high. 

These reliable US college rankings websites agree that Northwestern is a top school, both compared to other schools in both the Midwest region and the country as a whole. The Northwestern ranking in Forbes and the Northwestern University ranking in US News both fall inside the top 10. These college rankings put the Northwestern ranking in the company of other elite schools’ rankings, like Harvard, MIT, and Stanford.

While the Northwestern rankings on these websites are important, make sure Northwestern is a good fit for your needs before you decide to apply. Although the Northwestern rankings show that Northwestern is a top school, that does not mean that it is the best fit for you.  

Learn more about the school by looking at their website. Also, access information on how to apply to Northwestern as well as tips for how to get accepted on the CollegeAdvisor.com website.