Northwestern University is an elite private research university located in Evanston, Illinois, in the Chicago metropolitan area. It is a mid-sized university with around 9,157 undergraduate students. Admissions are very competitive, with an acceptance rate of around 7.2%. Economics, Journalism, Psychology, Political Science, and Theatre are some of the popular majors. The six-year graduation rate is 96%, and Northwestern graduates have a median starting salary of around INR 69,82,000 (converted from $84,300 median earnings ten years after commencement).
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public research university in Los Angeles, California, Westwood. It is a big university with around 33,040 undergraduate students. Admissions are very competitive, with an acceptance rate of around 9.4%. Popular majors are Social Sciences, Biology, Psychology, Business Economics, and Film Studies. Six-year graduation rate is 93%, and UCLA alumni have a median starting salary of around INR 61,71,000 (from $74,500 median earnings ten years post-graduation).
| Northwestern University | University of California | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 7.3 Out of 10 | 7.8 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 30 Times Higher Education 2026 # 42 QS World University 2026 # 15 Center for World University Rankings 2025 | # 18 Times Higher Education 2026 # 46 QS World University 2026 # 17 Center for World University Rankings 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 16 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 51 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 42 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 | # 13 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 12 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 12 for Law by US News 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -64 PG Programs -55 Doctorate Programs -11 | UG Programs -24 PG Programs -43 Doctorate Programs -7 |
| Acceptance Rate | 7.0 % | 9.0 % |
| Exam Score | GMAT-660 IELTS-7.5 SAT-1440 TOEFL-71 | GMAT-703 GRE-325 IELTS-7 TOEFL-87 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 56286 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 66912 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 32094 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 42993 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 26544 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 27396 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | 95% graduates employed within 6 months of graduation. Average annual salary of 82,000 USD; Top recruiters- United Airlines, Inc., IBM, Abbott Laboratories, Abbvie Inc. Highest paid degrees- Executive MBA (200,000 USD); MBA (160,000 USD); Executive Masters (125,000 USD); LLM (120,000 USD); Master of Arts (55,000 USD). | Graduate Employability rank: QS-#3 University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is one of the top public universities in Los Angeles, United States. It is ranked #44 in QS World University Rankings 2023.
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| application requirements | Counselor recommendation; 1 Teacher recommendation; Standardized test scores; English proficiency scores; 2-3 LORs; SOP; Resume; Additional documents (audition; portfolio; research paper, etc.) | 94% in 12th for UG and 83% in bachelors for graduate admission; Name and email of references; Statement of Purpose |
| Campuses and B-Schools | Kellogg School of Management | Anderson School of Management |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 8.0/10 Read 5 reviews | 8.0/10 Read 11 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 17 for Management by QS World University 2024 # 26 for Management by Times Higher Education 2023 | # 20 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 31 for Business by QS World University 2025 |
| application | #2795 Applicants # 559 Admissions # 20 % Acceptance Rate | - |
| exam scores | IELTS - 7.5/9TOEFL - 100/120 | GMAT - 703/800IELTS - 7/9TOEFL - 87/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -99883 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -131669 |
| Return on Investment/Average Package | #Average Salary186438 | #Average Salary |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Sep 10, 2025 (Round 1 Application Deadline For 2026 Intake) Dec 10, 2025 (Round 1 Decision Release Date For 2026 Intake) Jan 7, 2026 (Round 2 Application Deadline For 2026 Intake) Mar 25, 2026 (Round 2 Decision Release Date For 2026 Intake) Apr 1, 2026 (Round 3 Application Deadline For 2026 Intake) May 13, 2026 (Round 3 Decision Release Date For 2026 IntakeRound 1 Decision Release Date For 2026 Intake) | Jan 6, 2026 (Round 2 Application Deadline for 2026 Intake) Mar 27, 2026 (Round 2 Decision Date for 2026 Intake) Apr 7, 2026 (Round 3 Application Deadline for 2026 Intake) May 15, 2026 (Round 3 Decision Date for 2026 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Northwestern University | University of California |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1851 | 1919 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 6:1 | 20:1:1 |
| Male:Female | 47% Male, 53% Female | 49% Male, 0% Female |
| Location Facts | 2 campuses that are 12 miles apart; Main campus is a 240-acre campus along the shores of Lake Michigan in Evanston, while law, medical, professional and Northwestern Memorial Hospital is located in downtown Chicago in Streeterville; Close to Magnificent Mile, the Museum of Contemporary Art and John Hancock Center. | Five mile from Pacific Ocean, Located in West-wood neighborhood of LA |
| Library | Northwestern University Libraries is a collection of 7,918,603 of total prints and volumes; 304 TB of digital content; 228,505 maps; 142,133 audio files; 125,052 graphic images; 100,560 films and videos; 27,336 linear feet of archives and manuscripts; 107,446 print journals and 173.089 electronic journals | 12 million print and electronic volumes |
| Campus Life | Intercampus shuttle runs between the Evanston and downtown Chicago campuses; Technological Institute; Pick-Staiger Concert Hall; Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art | Over 100 Student organizations |
| Hostel | #Room & Board - $16047 #Room & Board - $16047 | #Food & Housing - $27396 |
| Famous Alumni | 19 Nobel Prize laureates, 23 National Medal of Science winners; 11 National Humanities Medal recipients; 1 Fields Medalist; 10 living billionaires; 84 members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; 2 Supreme Court Justices; George McGovern (U.S. Senator and presidential candidate), George J. Stigler (Economist), Saul Bellow (Novelist), Ned Rorem (Composer), David Schwimmer (Actor); Meghan Markle (the Duchess of Sussex), Pharrell Williams (Musician) | 14 Nobel laureates, 15 Mac Authors |
| City Life | Evanston is a city in Cook County, Illinois; situated 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, Wilmette to the north, and Skokie to the west. Northwestern University is one of the top recruiters in the city. Evanston is considered a thriving business economy and has public lakefront recreation activities. The unemployment rate was 3.7% in March 2020. | Los Angeles (LA) is the second most populous city of USA; Hollywood is located here; 841 Museums and art galleries, California Beaches, Disneyland park, Los Angeles offers various concert halls, regular festivals, and bustling nightlife; Ranked 7th on Global City Index and 9th on Global Economic Power Index; Unemployment rate in December 2019 was 4%; Industries employing maximum number of people are healthcare, retail, hospitality, and manufacturing |
| Weather |
Northwestern University vs University of California, Los Angeles
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
Northwestern and UCLA are both excellent universities, both ranks higher globally. In QS World University Rankings 2026, UCLA is around 46th worldwide, and Northwestern is around 42nd. As per Times Higher Education 2025, UCLA ranks 17th, and Northwestern stands at 31st. Northwestern performs well in Journalism (7th in EduRank 2025), Economics (8th in US News 2025), and Psychology (8th in US News 2025). UCLA is a strength in Film (global top 10), Engineering (US News 2025 15th), and Medicine, with strong ratings in Social Sciences and Business (QS 2025 top 20).
General Information
UCLA is much larger with a total student body of 46,678 students to Northwestern's 23,203. UCLA's urban Los Angeles campus provides a highly diverse, dynamic setting with 125 undergraduate and 98 graduate degrees. Northwestern's smaller, suburban Evanston campus offers an intimate environment, with 83 undergraduate and 69 graduate degrees, focusing on undergraduate education and highly selective graduate areas such as Journalism, Theatre, and Law.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Both universities have highly competitive admissions, Northwestern with an acceptance rate of 7.2% and UCLA's 9.4%. Northwestern's average ACT is 34, SAT is 1530, whereas UCLA's SAT scores range from 1300–1530 (test-optional). Both demand high school GPA, transcripts, and personal statements, with Northwestern also looking at recommendations and extracurriculars. UCLA, with its larger applicant pool (145,904 compared to Northwestern's 51,261), is a public university, but Northwestern has a higher yield rate (57% compared to UCLA's 51.7%).
Research Impact & Facilities
Both are Research Universities with extremely high research activity. UCLA's research facilities are large, including 5,513 faculty members, a huge library system, and research strengths in Medicine, Engineering, and Film, with 137,276 publications and 5,750,283 citations (EduRank 2025). Northwestern, with 2,859 faculty members, leads in Journalism, Materials Science, and Economics, with 89,091 publications and 3,769,141 citations. UCLA's size accommodates more extensive research, while Northwestern's concentrated facilities, such as its old libraries and law research facilities, accommodate specialized disciplines.
Cost & Financial Aid
Northwestern's undergraduate cost is $65,997, much more than UCLA's $13,747 (in-state) or $44,524 (out-of-state). Northwestern's graduate cost is $53,871 compared to UCLA's $13,883 (in-state) or $28,985 (out-of-state). Northwestern dispenses more financial aid overall ($57,927 to UCLA's $21,007), with 65% of its students receiving aid compared to UCLA's 55%. Both give need-based and merit-based aid, with UCLA's public funding making it more accessible for California residents.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
Northwestern graduates have a higher median salary ($84,300 compared to UCLA's $74,500 ten years after graduation), demonstrating excellent outcomes in Journalism, Law, and Business. UCLA's alumni network is extensive, especially in Entertainment, Tech, and Medicine, with high-profile individuals in Hollywood and Silicon Valley. Northwestern's smaller body of alumni thrives in Midwest industries, media, and academia with a close-knit network. Both have excellent retention rates (97%) and excellent career services, but UCLA's Los Angeles site provides more exposure to entertainment and tech sectors, while Northwestern's location near Chicago enhances financial and media opportunities.
