1.  [College research](/)
2.  /
3.  [Northwestern University](/school/northwestern-university/)
4.  /
5.  Similar & reach alternatives

Similar & reach alternatives

Copy linkPrint brief

# Schools Similar to Northwestern University

Updated September 30, 2026

[Overview](/school/northwestern-university/)[Cost & aid](/school/northwestern-university/cost/)[Outcomes](/school/northwestern-university/outcomes/)[Admissions](/school/northwestern-university/admissions/)[Majors](/school/northwestern-university/majors/)Similar schools

**On this page**+

## Compare alternatives to Northwestern

-   [Similar admissions profiles](#similar-admissions) · 4 matches
-   [Higher admission rates](#higher-admission) · 2 matches
-   [Nearby alternatives](#nearby-alternatives) · 5 matches
-   [Higher earnings at similar cost](#higher-earnings) · 2 matches
-   [Lower cost with similar earnings](#lower-cost) · 2 matches
-   [Similar overall profiles](#related-peers) · 10 matches

## Similar admissions profiles

Similar admissions profiles · matching order within this group

| School | Northwestern · admission rate | Admission rate | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [University of Chicago](/school/university-of-chicago/) | 7.7% | 4.5% | $127,757 4 years after completion |
| [University of Notre Dame](/school/university-of-notre-dame/) | 7.7% | 11.3% | $100,684 4 years after completion |
| [Swarthmore College](/school/swarthmore-college/) | 7.7% | 7.5% | $65,618 4 years after completion |
| [Amherst College](/school/amherst-college/) | 7.7% | 9.0% | $79,243 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Higher admission rates

Higher admission rates · matching order within this group

| School | Northwestern · admission rate | Admission rate | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Cal Poly Maritime Academy](/school/cal-poly-maritime-academy/) | 7.7% | 95.0% | $108,757 4 years after completion |
| [Santa Clara University](/school/santa-clara-university/) | 7.7% | 48.0% | $108,517 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Nearby alternatives

Nearby alternatives · matching order within this group

| School | State | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [University of Chicago](/school/university-of-chicago/) | IL | $127,757 4 years after completion |
| [Illinois Institute of Technology](/school/illinois-institute-of-technology/) | IL | $91,312 4 years after completion |
| [University of Notre Dame](/school/university-of-notre-dame/) | IN | $100,684 4 years after completion |
| [Washington University in St Louis](/school/washington-university-in-st-louis/) | MO | $95,899 4 years after completion |
| [Case Western Reserve University](/school/case-western-reserve-university/) | OH | $94,237 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Higher earnings at similar cost

Higher earnings at similar cost · matching order within this group

| School | Northwestern · earnings | Earnings | Average annual net price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](/school/carnegie-mellon-university/) | $109,275 4 years after completion | $132,971 4 years after completion | $31,944 |
| [University of Pennsylvania](/school/university-of-pennsylvania/) | $109,275 4 years after completion | $124,586 4 years after completion | $28,699 |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Lower cost with similar earnings

Lower cost with similar earnings · matching order within this group

| School | Northwestern · average annual net price | Average annual net price | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Princeton University](/school/princeton-university/) | $29,167 | $6,128 | $108,590 4 years after completion |
| [University of California-Berkeley](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/) | $29,167 | $13,481 | $96,018 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Similar overall profiles

Similar overall profiles · matching order within this group

| School | State | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [University of Notre Dame](/school/university-of-notre-dame/) | IN | $100,684 4 years after completion |
| [Washington University in St Louis](/school/washington-university-in-st-louis/) | MO | $95,899 4 years after completion |
| [University of Chicago](/school/university-of-chicago/) | IL | $127,757 4 years after completion |
| [Case Western Reserve University](/school/case-western-reserve-university/) | OH | $94,237 4 years after completion |
| [Marquette University](/school/marquette-university/) | WI | $80,228 4 years after completion |
| [University of Dayton](/school/university-of-dayton/) | OH | $78,870 4 years after completion |
| [Maryville University of Saint Louis](/school/maryville-university-of-saint-louis/) | MO | $84,871 4 years after completion |
| [Saint Louis University](/school/saint-louis-university/) | MO | $77,024 4 years after completion |
| [University of St Thomas](/school/university-of-st-thomas-mn/) | MN | $82,136 4 years after completion |
| [Loyola University Chicago](/school/loyola-university-chicago/) | IL | $73,865 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Matching methods and sources

[How schools are matched](/methodology/).

## Data & methodology

Sources and reporting periods: [methodology](/methodology/).

Analysis and methodology by [Daniel Rogers](/about/#founder), founder of College Azimuth.

Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source.

Figure notes link to sources and limitations. [About College Azimuth](/about/).