Illinois, United States
Northwestern University Alumni
International Students
25
% of international students in the university
5500
Total International Students in the university
Northwestern, based in Evanston and Chicago, is known for its strong programs in journalism, business, engineering, and the arts. Its alumni—nicknamed the "Purple Mafia"—have made waves in politics, entertainment, science, sports, and beyond
Here are 25 notable alumni:
Alumni Name |
Notable Achievement / Famous For |
Degree |
Graduating Year |
---|---|---|---|
Gerald R. Ford |
38th U.S. President |
BA (Economics & Poli Sci) |
1935 |
Stephen Colbert |
Emmy-winning comedian and host (The Late Show) |
BA (Communication) |
N/A |
Julia Louis-Dreyfus |
Emmy-winning actress (Veep, Seinfeld) |
BA (Theatre) |
N/A |
Warren Beatty |
Academy-nominated actor/director (Reds, Heaven Can Wait) |
BA (Drama) |
N/A |
George R.R. Martin |
Author (A Song of Ice and Fire) |
BA (Journalism) |
1970 |
John Paul Stevens |
U.S. Supreme Court Justice |
JD |
1947 |
Saul Bellow |
Nobel Prize-winning novelist |
BA (English) |
1937 |
George McGovern |
U.S. Senator and presidential candidate |
BA (History & Poli Sci) |
1943 |
Rahm Emanuel |
Former Mayor of Chicago |
BA (History) |
N/A |
Chad Mirkin |
Chemist, inventor of dip‑pen nanolithography |
PhD (Chemistry) |
N/A |
Matt Grevers |
Olympic swimmer, six-time medalist |
BA (Journalism) |
2007 |
Sherry Lansing |
First female head of a major film studio (Paramount Pictures) |
BA (English) |
1963 |
Meghan Markle |
Duchess of Sussex, former actress (Suits) |
BA (Communications) |
2003 |
Harrison Ford (attended) |
Iconic actor (Star Wars, Indiana Jones) |
N/A (attended) |
N/A |
Hugh Hefner |
Founder of Playboy magazine |
BA (Psychology) |
1949 |
Zooey Deschanel |
Actress/musician (New Girl, Elf) |
BA (Drama) |
2000 |
Seth Meyers |
Saturday Night Live and late-night host |
BA (Theatre) |
N/A |
Penny Fuller |
Emmy- and Tony-nominated actress |
BA (Theatre) |
N/A |
Veronica Roth |
Author of Divergent trilogy |
BA (Creative Writing) |
2010 |
Daniel H. Pink |
Best-selling author (Drive, To Sell is Human); former Gore speechwriter |
BA (English) |
1986 |
Gwynne Shotwell |
President & COO of SpaceX |
BS/MS (Mechanical Engineering & Applied Math) |
1985/86 |
Christine Poon |
Vice chair of Johnson & Johnson |
BS (Pharmacy) |
N/A |
William “Will” Shu |
Co-founder & CEO of Deliveroo |
BA (Economics) |
N/A |
Saul Bellow (duplicate) |
Nobel Prize-winning novelist |
BA |
1937 |
Seth Meyers (duplicate) |
Late-night host |
BA |
N/A |
Cloris Leachman |
Emmy- and Oscar-winning actress |
BA |
1948 |
Students
Northwestern University admitted student profiles
319
106
8
Profiles that got Into Northwestern University

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