College Facts
The Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences is the oldest, largest, and most comprehensive of Northwestern University’s 12 schools. The College educates all Northwestern undergraduates, and its multidisciplinary depth and breadth create the intellectual foundation for the University’s world-renowned graduate and professional programs.
The Basics
- More than 4,000 undergraduate students
- More than 1,400 graduate students
- Approximately 650 faculty members
- 6:1 student:faculty ratio
Entering Students
- Roughly 1,100 first-year undergraduates enter the college annually
- From 50 states and 30+ foreign countries
- Chosen from 20,000+ applicants
- The top states of origin: Illinois, California, New York, Texas, Ohio, Florida, and New Jersey
Undergraduate Experience
Students need 45 credits to graduate, typically four courses a quarter, three quarters per year. Every student needs to meet the following requirements:
- Writing proficiency—may be fulfilled in a variety of ways by graduation.
- Foreign language proficiency—the equivalent of two years of college instruction.
- First-year seminars—two seminars, one in the fall quarter and another in the winter or spring quarter.
- Distribution requirements—two courses in each of six areas: natural sciences; formal studies (e.g., math, logic); social and behavioral sciences; historical studies; ethics and values (e.g., philosophy, religion); literature and fine arts.
- At least one major chosen from over 45 disciplinary and interdisciplinary options.
More than 30 percent of our students complete a double major. In a given quarter, between 70 and 80 percent of our classes have 20 students or fewer.
Our Most Popular Majors
Evanston and Chicago
College History and Leadership
Founded 1851, Northwestern's College of Arts and Sciences has been educating undergraduates since its inaugural class of 10 met in 1855. Today, the College enrolls more than half of all Northwestern undergraduates.
It's led by Dean Adrian Randolph, who joined the College in 2015.