Building on our founders' commitment in 1851 to bring "the highest order of excellence" to the Midwestern region of a developing nation, Northwestern University has a reputation as a top-tier research university with an unwavering commitment to the undergraduate education experience.

Our goal is to become the university of choice for the most creative and talented scholars in the world. Attracting such individuals demands that we create a learning environment that allows them to continually find new and interesting academic challenges. To that end, we have made a commitment to promote even more encounters that take place across disciplines — multidisciplinary initiatives around which faculty and students gather to learn from one another and seek new answers to old problems.

As a premier research university with a strong commitment to undergraduate education, Northwestern already occupies a unique position in the academic landscape. We attract the most talented students — regardless of financial circumstances — and the most distinguished and innovative faculty. By nurturing our interdisciplinary culture, the University will continue to recruit and retain those scholars and educators who reach across traditional academic boundaries to make exciting new discoveries and insights. We will create an even greater sense of community, advancing our reputation as a visionary institution that values creative change.

Northwestern University continues to be a place where students, faculty, and staff eagerly look beyond what is possible today, making room for tomorrow’s discoveries. We attract leaders with strong ideals about making a positive difference in the world — scholars who prize path-breaking connections. We will plan intelligently and act boldly in order to further Northwestern's standing as one of the premier institutions of higher learning in the world.