| Subject | QS | THE | ARWU | U.S. News |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials Science | #15 | — | #2 | #33 |
| Sociology | #36 | — | #5 | — |
| Communication & Media | #26 | — | #8 | — |
| Economics & Econometrics | #16 | — | #11 | #17 |
| Chemistry | #18 | — | #11 | #14 |
| Law | #79 | #58 | #12 | — |
| Marketing | #14 | — | — | — |
| Business & Management | #17 | — | #42 | — |
| Business & Economics | — | #17 | — | — |
| Medicine / Clinical | #46 | — | #22 | #18 |
| Psychology | #32 | #22 | #26 | #30 |
| Music | #26-50 | — | — | — |
| Performing Arts | #26 | — | — | — |
| Anatomy & Physiology | #27 | — | — | — |
| Social Sciences & Management | #38 | #28 | — | — |
| Accounting & Finance | #30 | — | #30 | — |
| Earth & Geosciences | #201-275 | — | #301-400 | #31 |
| Engineering & Technology | #80 | #33 | — | #159 |
| Natural / Physical Sciences | #55 | #35 | — | — |
| Chemical Engineering | #42 | — | #301-400 | — |
| Physics & Astronomy | #76 | — | #49 | #42 |
| Biological Sciences | #65 | — | #51-75 | #43 |
| Statistics | #46 | — | #44 | — |
| Nanoscience & Nanotechnology | — | — | #44 | #90 |
| Political Science & IR | #101-150 | — | #46 | — |
| Arts & Humanities | #111 | #101-125 | — | #46 |
| Energy Science & Engineering | — | — | #46 | #148 |
| Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering | #60 | — | #47 | — |
| Education | #101-150 | #62 | #47 | #87 |
| Mathematics | #125 | — | #49 | #138 |
| Archaeology | #51-100 | — | — | — |
| History | #51-100 | — | — | — |
| Artificial Intelligence | #51-100 | — | #76-100 | — |
| Civil Engineering | #51-100 | — | #151-200 | — |
| Anthropology | #51-100 | — | — | — |
| Sports Science | #51-100 | — | — | — |
| Automation & Control | — | — | #51-75 | — |
| Clinical & Health | — | #51 | — | — |
| Life Sciences & Medicine | #71 | #52 | — | — |
| Public Health | — | — | #76-100 | #61 |
| English Language & Literature | #72 | — | — | — |
| Computer Science | #118 | #86 | #76-100 | #177 |
| Biomedical Engineering | — | — | #76-100 | — |
| Metallurgical Engineering | — | — | #76-100 | — |
| Art & Design | #101-150 | — | — | — |
| Linguistics | #101-150 | — | — | — |
| Modern Languages | #101-150 | — | — | — |
| Philosophy | #101-150 | — | — | — |
| Biotechnology | — | — | #101-150 | #115 |
| Electrical & Electronic Engineering | #147 | — | #301-400 | #404 |
| Transportation Science | — | — | #151-200 | — |
| Polymer Science | — | — | — | #168 |
| Nursing | — | — | #201-300 | — |
| Pharmacy & Pharmacology | — | — | #401-500 | #219 |
| Environmental Science | #251-300 | — | #401-500 | #284 |
Northwestern University ranks #42 in QS 2026, #30 in THE 2026, #31 in ARWU 2025 and #24 in U.S. News 2026. Its consensus position across the major rankings is #25 globally.
Northwestern University was founded in 1851.
Approximately 20% of Northwestern University's students are international.