Northwestern University Reports Record Engineering Enrollment for Third Straight Year

Northwestern University's McCormick School of Engineering enrolled its largest incoming freshman class on record this fall, admissions officials announced, marking the third consecutive year of enrollment growth in a program that has become one of the most selective engineering schools in the country.

University administrators attributed the sustained interest to Northwestern's rising national rankings in biomedical and computer engineering, along with continued growth in its materials science and robotics programs, both of which have become increasingly popular among in-state and out-of-state applicants following the university's investment in new research facilities.

"We're seeing students choose Evanston over programs that cost far more, because the outcomes data has become impossible to ignore," said the college's dean of undergraduate admissions. "That wasn't always the perception of Northwestern's engineering program specifically, but it's shifted substantially over the last decade."

The larger class has put pressure on campus housing and lab capacity, and university officials confirmed that several engineering courses have added additional lab sections to accommodate demand while a new engineering building, currently under construction near the Evanston campus, is completed. The university said the new building, expected to open within two years, will add significant lab and classroom capacity specifically for robotics and biomedical engineering coursework.

Illinois higher education officials pointed to the enrollment growth as a sign of confidence in Northwestern's engineering programs, particularly as the university has pushed to expand its research partnerships with Chicago-area hospitals and technology companies. University leaders said they do not expect to grow the incoming class further until the new building opens.