The Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering & Applied Science (McCormick) at Northwestern University was established in 1909. At the time, it was the first engineering school in a private university in the United States. The school has since evolved to become one of the most respected and renowned engineering schools in the country, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in a wide range of disciplines.
In recent years, McCormick has become a leader in research and innovation, with faculty members receiving awards for their research achievements. In 2018, Northwestern’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering was ranked number 1 among public universities by U.S News & World Report, while its Department of Computer Science ranked number 8 overall. The school is also home to two National Science Foundation-funded Engineering Research Centers: one devoted to developing low-cost materials for energy storage devices and another focused on developing innovative materials for advanced manufacturing technologies. Additionally, McCormick houses several interdisciplinary research centers such as the Center for Catalysis Innovation and Design and the Center for Robotics and Biosystems Engineering.
As one of the best engineering schools in the state of Illinois, Northwestern University Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering & Applied Science has reported the following admissions statistics, including the acceptance rate, average GPA/GRE scores, and minimum TOEFL scores for iBT and paper test. Also covered is overall rankings and tuition scholarship information for Northwestern University Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering & Applied Science.
The Northwestern University Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering & Applied Science is one of the most prestigious institutions in the world for engineering and applied science. In 2021, the school admitted 5,817 students from all over the world to pursue their studies in engineering and applied science. Of these admitted students, 4,646 were admitted through regular decision and 1,171 were accepted through early decision. The acceptance rate for regular decision applicants was 14%, whereas for early decision applicants it was 18%. The school also reported that the median SAT score of admitted students was 1470. Additionally, 42% of admitted students identified themselves as people of color and 29% identified as first-generation college students. Furthermore, 50% of incoming freshmen received some form of financial aid or scholarship to help cover tuition costs. With such a highly sought after program and competitive admissions process, it is no surprise that Northwestern University Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering & Applied Science continues to attract top talent from around the world each year.
Fall 2022 Admissions Statistics
Total applicants (master’s and Ph.D.)
2,595
Total acceptances (master’s and Ph.D.)
678
Overall acceptance rate
26.1%
Fall 2022 Admissions Information
Application deadline for U.S. residents
12/31
Application fee for U.S. residents
$75
Application deadline for international students
12/31
Application fee for international students
$75
Director of admissions
Beth Bogdewic
2022 Entering Class GPA and GRE Scores
GRE required?
The GRE is required for all departments.
Average GPA of new entrants in master’s program
3.50
Number reporting GPA for master’s programs
54
Average verbal GRE score of new entrants in master’s program
546
Number reporting verbal GRE score for master’s programs
35
Average quantitative GRE score of new entrants in master’s program
763
Number reporting quantitative GRE score for master’s programs
35
Average writing GRE score of new entrants in master’s program
4.00
Number reporting writing GRE score for master’s programs
35
Average GPA of new entrants in doctoral program
3.60
Number reporting GPA for doctoral programs
113
Average verbal GRE score of new entrants in doctoral program
565
Number reporting verbal GRE score for doctoral programs
150
Average quantitative GRE score of new entrants in doctoral program
773
Number reporting quantitative GRE score for doctoral programs
150
Average writing GRE score of new entrants in doctoral program
4.30
Number reporting writing GRE score for doctoral programs
150
Average GPA of new entrants in both master’s and doctoral programs
3.60
Number reporting GPA for both master’s and doctoral programs
167
Average verbal GRE score of new entrants in both master’s and doctoral programs
561
Number reporting verbal GRE score for both master’s and doctoral programs
185
Average quantitative GRE score of new entrants in both master’s and doctoral programs
771
Number reporting quantitative GRE scores for master’s and doctoral programs
185
Average writing GRE score of new entrants in both master’s and doctoral programs
4.24
Number reporting writing GRE score for both master’s and doctoral programs
185
TOEFL
TOEFL required for international students?
Yes
Minimum TOEFL score required for computer test
250
Minimum TOEFL score required for paper test
600
Ranking: Northwestern University (McCormick)
Northwestern University Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering & Applied Science is ranked among the nation’s top 10 engineering schools. According to U.S. News & World Report, the school ranks 7th among graduate engineering programs and 9th among undergraduate engineering programs in 2021. The school has also been consistently ranked as one of the top 10 engineering schools in the nation by other publications such as Forbes, BusinessWeek, and The Princeton Review. In addition to being highly ranked nationally, Northwestern Engineering also ranks first in Illinois and second overall in the Big Ten Conference for both undergraduate and graduate programs. The program offers students a wide range of degree options including Bachelor’s degrees in Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science & Engineering; Master’s degrees in Biomedical Engineering, Chemical & Biological Engineering, Computer Science & Technology Management; and Doctoral programs in Bioengineering and Environmental & Ecological Engineering. Each degree program offers students a unique opportunity to gain an education that is specialized for their career goals while providing a strong foundation of knowledge from which to build upon.
Top Engineering Schools
Score
64
Peer assessment score (5.0 highest)
3.9
Recruiter assessment score (5.0 highest)
3.9
Average quantitative GRE score of new entrants in both master’s and doctoral programs
771
Overall acceptance rate
26.1%
2020 Ph.D. student/faculty ratio
3.9
Faculty membership in National Academy of Engineering
5.0%
2020 Engineering school research expenditures (in millions)
$101.5
Research expenditures per faculty member (in thousands)
$564.1
2020 Ph.D.’s granted
114
Total graduate engineering enrollment
1,261
Tuition & Financial Aid: Northwestern University (McCormick)
Financial Aid Contact Information
Financial aid director
Patricia Mann
Financial aid phone
(847) 491-8495
2022-2023 Expenses
Tuition
Full-time: $36,756 per year, part-time: $13,083 per year
