Northwestern University: A Comprehensive Look at its Locations and Campuses

Northwestern University (NU), a distinguished private research university, boasts a rich history and a diverse array of academic programs. Chartered in 1851 by the Illinois General Assembly, Northwestern has evolved from its initial affiliation with the Methodist Episcopal Church to become a non-sectarian institution renowned for its commitment to interdisciplinary learning and academic excellence. With campuses in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, Northwestern offers a wide range of opportunities for students and faculty alike.

Historical Overview

The genesis of Northwestern University can be traced back to May 31, 1850, when nine prominent Chicago businessmen, Methodist leaders, and attorneys convened to discuss establishing a university to serve the Northwest Territory. This vision led John Evans, for whom Evanston is named, to purchase 379 acres of land along Lake Michigan in 1853. Philo Judson subsequently developed plans for the city of Evanston.

Northwestern's early growth involved affiliations with existing professional schools in Chicago, including those of law, medicine, and dentistry. As enrollment increased, these schools were integrated with the undergraduate college in Evanston. By the turn of the century, Northwestern had become the third-largest university in the United States.

The university experienced both prosperity and challenges in the 20th century. Under the leadership of President Walter Dill Scott (1920-1939), an integrated campus in Chicago was constructed to house the professional schools. The Great Depression of the 1930s significantly impacted the university's finances, leading to salary cuts and budget reductions. However, the university persevered, and a timely gift from the Deering family helped to stabilize its finances.

World War II transformed Northwestern as it trained over 50,000 military personnel. Following the war, the G.I. Bill fueled a dramatic expansion of both campuses. Later, during Melville J. Herskovits Library of African Studies's tenure as president (1949-1970), the Evanston campus expanded, including the creation of the Lakefill on Lake Michigan.

Evanston Campus: The Heart of Northwestern

Northwestern's main campus is situated on the shore of Lake Michigan in Evanston, Illinois, part of the Chicago metropolitan area. This campus houses the undergraduate schools, the Graduate School, and the Kellogg School of Management. The Evanston campus stretches north-south from Lincoln Avenue to Clark Street, bordered by Sheridan Road on the west and Lake Michigan on the east.

The Evanston campus is traditionally divided into North and South Campus. North Campus is home to the fraternity quads, athletics facilities (including 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.

South Campus is characterized by humanities buildings, music facilities such as the Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, the Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art, and the sorority quads.

The Lakefill

In the 1960s, Northwestern expanded its Evanston campus by creating an additional 84 acres through filling in a portion of Lake Michigan. This area, known as the Lakefill, is home to several important buildings, including University Library and the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Center for the Musical Arts.

Transportation

The Chicago Transit Authority's (CTA) Purple Line provides convenient access to the Evanston campus. The Foster and Davis stations are within walking distance of the southern end of campus, while the Noyes station is near the northern end. The Central station is close to Ryan Field, Northwestern's football stadium.

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Chicago Campus: A Hub for Professional Studies

Northwestern's Chicago campus is located in the Streeterville neighborhood, near Lake Michigan. This campus is home to the Northwestern Memorial Hospital, the medical school, the law school, the part-time MBA program, and the School of Professional Studies. Originally scattered throughout Chicago, the professional schools were consolidated in the Streeterville location as part of a 1917 master plan.

In 1920, 8.5 acres of land were purchased at the corner of Chicago Avenue and Lake Shore Drive for $1.5 million. Architect James Gamble Rogers was commissioned to design the campus in a collegiate gothic style. The Montgomery Ward Memorial Building, financed by a donation from Mrs. Montgomery Ward, was completed in 1927 and became the first university skyscraper in the United States.

Other notable buildings on the Chicago campus include Wieboldt Hall and Levy Mayer Hall. The campus continued to expand with the addition of Thorne Hall in 1931 and Abbott Hall in 1939.

Academic Environment

Northwestern University provides instruction in over 200 formal academic concentrations, 124 undergraduate programs, and 145 graduate and professional programs, including dual degree options. While there is no university-wide core curriculum, all majors require a foundation in the liberal arts and sciences. The university emphasizes interdisciplinary learning, with a significant percentage of undergraduates combining two or more areas of study.

Northwestern operates on an approximately 10-week academic quarter system, with the academic year beginning in late September and ending in early June. Undergraduates typically take four courses each quarter and twelve courses in an academic year.

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The most popular majors at Northwestern include communication, journalism, engineering, computer science, mathematics, statistics, biological sciences, physics, and chemistry. The university maintains a student-to-faculty ratio of 6:1.

Libraries and Collections

Northwestern University boasts an extensive library system, including:

Melville J. Herskovits Library of African Studies: The largest separate Africana collection in existence.
The Music Library: Contains holdings of printed music and archival materials documenting music composed since 1945.
Charles Deering McCormick Library of Special Collections: Features collections on social history, political history, literature, arts, journalism, twentieth-century music, theatre, performance, and women's history.

The Special Collections department at Charles Deering McCormick Library holds approximately 8,000 items related to the Siege and Commune of Paris during 1870-1871. This collection includes original photographs, posters, caricatures, lithographs, manuscripts, books, newspapers, and other artifacts.

Additionally, the Seeley G. Mudd Library houses the University Archives, while the Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art contains more than 4,000 works in its permanent collection.

Student Life

Northwestern offers a vibrant student life with a wide range of activities and organizations. Approximately 86% of Northwestern's traditional undergraduate students live on campus. Residence halls are staffed by professional resident directors and student resident assistants and mix first-year students with upperclassmen/women. Each residence hall maintains a number of hall-specific traditions.

Northwestern's athletic facilities include the Bultman Center, Juffer Athletic Fieldhouse, DeWitt Fitness Center, and De Valois Stadium. The Raiders compete in 22 intercollegiate varsity sports.

Accreditation and Recognition

Northwestern is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and its business, education, nursing, and social work programs are accredited by their respective accreditation organizations.

In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, Northwestern University is ranked No. 7 in National Universities. The university received a record number of applications for its incoming class in the 2022-2023 academic year.

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