Is Northwestern Ivy League? (Criteria & Academic Reputation)
Have you ever heard that Northwestern is “like the Ivy League of the Midwest”? And sure, it sounds nice – who wouldn’t want to attend an Ivy league-caliber school? But is Northwestern like an Ivy League university?
Northwestern is not a member of the Ivy League. However, it is one of the best universities in the US, with an outstanding academic reputation.
Today we’re going to dive into this question and get to the bottom.
However, it rivals the Ivies regarding its academic prestige, admissions selectivity, and research output. Alongside the University of Chicago, Northwestern is the most selective and esteemed university in the Midwest.
Why Isn’t Northwestern in the Ivy League?
There are several reasons for that:
The Ivy League started as an athletic conference centered in the Northeast. And Northwestern University is in different parts of the country. Therefore, it is not eligible to join the Ivy League.
Northwestern has a different academic structure than the Ivies. It is a private research university with professional schools and graduate programs, while the Ivy League universities are primarily undergraduate institutions.
Northwestern was founded in 1851, much later than most Ivy League universities. The oldest Ivy League school, Harvard University, was founded in 1636.
Why is Northwestern University Confused as an Ivy League?
Despite not belonging to the Ivy League, Northwestern University has earned a prestigious standing among its elite peers.
It is a member of the Big Ten Conference and is consistently ranked among the top universities in the United States.
Founded in 1851, Northwestern has been consistently ranked as one of the top universities in the world for academics and research. It also has a strong track record for producing successful graduates who go on to make an impact in their fields and beyond.
The university’s faculty and staff are some of the best and brightest minds in their respective disciplines, with many having won prestigious awards like Fulbright Scholarships and National Science Foundation grants.
So while it may not be an “official” member of the Ivy League, Northwestern certainly has all the qualities that make up an elite university—world-class faculty and staff, top-notch research facilities, highly accomplished alumni—you name it!
It wouldn’t be wrong to call Northwestern an “ivy league” school in everything but name.
What is Hidden Ivy?
Northwestern has been informally dubbed a “Hidden Ivy” as it offers all the academic prestige and selectivity of an Ivy without the official Ivy brand name.
Other schools in this informal Ivy category include Stanford, MIT, Duke, Caltech, and the University of Chicago.
About Ivy League School
Harvard University, a member of Ivy League School. Credit: canva
The Ivy League is an American collegiate athletic conference comprising eight private research universities in the Northeastern United States.
The term Ivy League is typically used to refer to those eight schools as a group of elite colleges beyond just their athletic conference affiliation.
The eight institutions are Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, and Yale University.
History
The term “Ivy League” was first coined in 1954, although the schools it refers to were founded long before then. The Ivy League schools have a long and storied history dating back to the colonial era.
Many of the schools were founded in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and have played important roles in American higher education development.
Are They Still Receiving New Members?
No, the Ivy League schools are not currently accepting new members. The eight schools that make up the Ivy League have been the same since the league was founded in 1954.
Criteria for Membership
There are no specific criteria for membership in the Ivy League. The eight schools that make up the league are private institutions and are not bound by any formal membership requirements.
However, the members are highly selective and competitive in their admissions processes and are generally considered among the top universities in the United States.
About Northwestern University
School of Law Entrance, Northwestern University. Credit: canva
Northwestern University is a private research university located in Evanston, Illinois. It was founded in 1851 and is one of the oldest universities in the state.
Campus
Northwestern has two main campuses: the 240-acre Evanston campus, which is located just north of Chicago, and the 25-acre Chicago campus, which is located in the Streeterville neighborhood.
Academic Reputation and Rankings
Northwestern is known for its strong academic reputation and consistently ranks highly in various national and international university rankings.
In the 2021 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, Northwestern was ranked #10 among national universities. It is also highly ranked in other areas, including business, engineering, and law.
Here are the details for Northwestern QS World University Rankings 2023:
#32 in the world (QS WUR 2023)
#14 US Universities (QS WUR 2023)
#29 in the world (QS Graduate Employability Ranking 2023)
#14 in the US (QS Graduate Employability Ranking 2023)
Achievement
In terms of achievements, Northwestern has a strong record of producing successful graduates. Many Northwestern alumni have become leaders in their fields, including several Fortune 500 CEOs, politicians, and award-winning artists and writers.
Schools and Colleges
Northwestern University is home to eight undergraduate schools and colleges, as well as graduate and professional schools.
The undergraduate schools and colleges include:
The Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
The McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
The Medill School of Journalism
The School of Communication, the Bienen School of Music
The School of Education and Social Policy
The School of Professional Studies
The Kellogg School of Management.
Student Life
In addition to its strong academic programs, Northwestern is known for its active student life. The university has more than 400 student organizations, including cultural groups, honor societies, and recreational sports teams.
