Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Admissions, Tuition & Student Feedback

School Overview

Degrees: MD
Ownership: Private Non-Profit
Program Length: 4 years
Total Enrollment: 160
Founding Year: 1859
Accreditation Year: 1942

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SDN Insights

Cost of Attendance: $551,076

Estimate repayment

Estimated loan burden for NU using 4 years of in-state tuition, $1,500 annual fees, $3,000 monthly living expenses, government-derived local cost-of-living adjustment, $1,000 loan fees, and an 8.5% interest assumption.

Cost of Living: High-cost city

Chicago, IL is about 1.48x higher than the national average for cost of living. In the debt estimate, the government-derived local cost adjustment raises the living allowance from $3,000 to about $4,440 per month, mainly reflecting rent, food, transportation, and day-to-day expenses. Compare this with your own housing plan before treating it as exact.

Environment: Urban

With top-tier walkability and great biking infrastructure, the neighborhood around NU offers true versatility. Whether on foot or on wheels, students have a range of options to navigate their surroundings comfortably.

Interview Feedback

Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 14% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a moderate stress level and felt they did okay.

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Secondary Essays for NU

1. Motivation and Fit

Feinberg’s mission is to train future leaders who will serve their patients, communities and society. Describe one specific aspect of the FSM integrated curriculum that will help you achieve your...

2. Other

Describe specific steps you take to manage your stress while balancing personal, educational and professional responsibilities.

3. Community, Diversity, and Equity

The Feinberg School of Medicine values the totality of our students’ experiences. As everyone has their own narrative, please describe how your unique experiences would enrich the Northwestern...

4. Motivation and Fit

MSTP Only: Why did you choose your undergraduate major? How does the subject appeal to you?

5. Other

MSTP Only: Name a scientific paper that you have read recently that had a strong impact on you and describe what impact it had.

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About the School

The Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, established in 1859, is located in Chicago's Streeterville neighborhood. It offers a full-time Doctor of Medicine degree program, multiple dual degree programs, graduate medical education, and continuing medical education. The school is affiliated with Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, and the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, forming an $11 billion academic medical enterprise. Feinberg has approximately 4,830 faculty members.

Curriculum

Feinberg's MD curriculum is structured into three phases. Phase 1 spans the first 20 months and includes 14 organ-based modules integrating science and clinical medicine. Phase 2 focuses on immersive clinical experiences through core clerkships in various specialties. Phase 3 emphasizes advanced clinical rotations and professional development tailored to students' chosen medical fields. Throughout all phases, the curriculum incorporates elements such as Science in Medicine, Clinical Medicine, Health & Society, and Professional Development, along with threads like Healthcare Quality & Patient Safety and Health Equity & Advocacy.

Facilities

Feinberg's facilities include the state-of-the-art Northwestern Memorial Hospital, which encompasses more than 3 million square feet and provides 943 inpatient beds. The campus also features the Prentice Women's Hospital, a 947,000-square-foot facility dedicated to women's healthcare needs. Additionally, the Louis A. Simpson and Kimberly K. Querrey Biomedical Research Center, opened in June 2019, added over 625,000 square feet of research space to the downtown campus.

Demographics

Feinberg has a total student body of approximately 3,500, including 631 MD students, 654 graduate professional/master's students, 467 PhD students, and 455 post-doctoral fellows. Additionally, there are 1,292 residents and fellows.

Last Updated: Sep 03, 2025