Engineering at Northwestern University
In 2023, 347 of the 2,160 students who finished a bachelor's degree at Northwestern University did so in engineering: 16.1% of the class and the most common major on campus. Nationally, 5.94% of bachelor's degrees are in this field, so it is far more concentrated at Northwestern University (2.7x the national share). 40% of those graduates were women.
Is engineering competitive at Northwestern University?
Colleges report one admission rate for the whole school; here is the bar you are actually measured against, and how the model treats this major.
Northwestern University admitted 3,703 of 51,769 applicants for fall 2023 (8%), and the middle 50% of admitted students scored 1510 to 1570 on the SAT. Colleges report admissions at the school level, not by major, so there is no published acceptance rate for engineering at Northwestern University. CollegeCalcAI's published model treats "Engineering" as more competitive than Northwestern University's overall rate (multiplier 0.92 on the effective admit rate), so an applicant declaring this field is scored against a slightly higher bar.
How to apply to Northwestern University for engineering
What readers look for from applicants who declare this field, at any selectivity.
- Physics and calculus, ideally both at the highest level offered
- Evidence of making things: robotics, engineering clubs, a build you can describe
- A clear reason for engineering in the essay, not just strong STEM grades
- Run your odds with the major set: your estimate at Northwestern University for engineering →
Field guide: how admissions works for this major across schools.
Where else to study engineering
Other colleges in Illinois and at a similar selectivity that award bachelor's degrees in this field.
Every college ranked by engineering graduates: colleges that graduate the most engineering majors → · Engineering colleges in Illinois →
More majors at Northwestern University
The other fields Northwestern University graduates the most students in, 2023.
Questions about engineering at Northwestern University
How many students major in engineering at Northwestern University?
347 students earned a bachelor's degree in engineering at Northwestern University in 2023, 16.1% of that year's 2,160 graduates (IPEDS completions, first majors).
Is engineering competitive at Northwestern University?
Northwestern University admitted 3,703 of 51,769 applicants for fall 2023 (8%), and the middle 50% of admitted students scored 1510 to 1570 on the SAT. Colleges report admissions at the school level, not by major, so there is no published acceptance rate for engineering at Northwestern University. CollegeCalcAI's published model treats "Engineering" as more competitive than Northwestern University's overall rate (multiplier 0.92 on the effective admit rate), so an applicant declaring this field is scored against a slightly higher bar.
What is the acceptance rate for engineering at Northwestern University?
There is no official major-level acceptance rate; Northwestern University reports one school-wide figure, 8%. Some programs (direct-admit nursing, engineering and business schools) select separately and can be more selective than the school overall. CollegeCalcAI's calculator applies its published per-major adjustment and shows your estimate for this school with the major set.
Is Northwestern University known for engineering?
By output, engineering is the most common field at Northwestern University and far more concentrated there than at the average U.S. college (16.1% of graduates versus 5.94% nationally).
Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 Completions (bachelor's degrees, first majors, CIP 2-digit series). Admissions counts: IPEDS 2023. Built 2026-09-19. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are not predictions or guarantees.