Visiting Campus

Visitors can stop by the Segal Visitors Center vestibule twenty four hours a day to register for a self-guided visit and download a copy of the tour route. The self-guided tour includes a robust guide to campus buildings and academic information that mirrors an extended tour route that our student guides would provide, with stories from over twenty Northwestern students!

Visitors can park in the Segal Visitors Center garage outside of business hours. Typically, the garage is available free of charge on weekends and on weekdays after 4 p.m.

We are unable to add attendees to a campus visit once registration has filled. Other parties may cancel and create available space, particularly in the days leading up to the visit, and you are welcome to periodically check our website for any openings.

We allow walk-in attendees on campus tours if space permits. Guests are welcome to check in at the Segal Visitors Center before a campus tour departs to inquire about available space. If the tour is full and all registered parties have checked in, we will be glad to provide you with a self-guided tour and connect you with staff and students who can answer any questions you may have. Please note that we cannot guarantee a guided campus tour for walk-in guests.

Rescheduling
To reschedule a visit, please cancel the original visit using the cancellation link provided in the original confirmation email before selecting another available date from our website and submitting a new registration form.

Canceling
A cancellation link is provided in the confirmation email that you received after scheduling your visit.

Campus tours depart regardless of the weather, so please dress appropriately. The majority of the 90-minute walking tour is held outdoors. Please note that while we have a limited supply of courtesy disposable ponchos, loaner umbrellas are not available. The Office of Admission reserves the right to cancel tours or move programming indoors if severe weather threatens guest and student safety. We will communicate any changes with as much advanced notice as possible.

Parking is available in the Segal Visitors Center parking garage. Parking costs $9, but undergraduate admission guests who are registered for a campus visit can validate their parking with the staff in the Segal Visitors Center during business hours.

The Segal Visitors Center has a convenient luggage room in the main lobby. Let the welcome team know when you check in, and they will direct you to the storage space. Please note that the luggage room is monitored but not secured, and all luggage must be retrieved before the end of the business day.

• Wheelchairs are available for any registered guest to use for the duration of their visit.
• Certified American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters are available for all programming hosted in the Visitors Center, including campus tours.
• Service animals are always welcome at the Visitors Center.

If you would like to share more about any accommodations you may need, please email us via the link below at least one week prior to your desired visit.

ACCOMMODATIONS REQUEST

The Office of Admission does not coordinate meetings with faculty or visits to classes. Students who have specific questions for Northwestern faculty or academic departments should plan to attend their information sessions, either in person or digitally, or visit our website for department contact information.

Visit our YouTube channel to find pre-recorded information sessions, student panels, and other events that provide more insight about each of Northwestern's six undergraduate schools. Schools may also offer online live information sessions throughout the school year.  For dates and registration information, please visit our Online Undergraduate School Information Sessions webpage.

The general campus tour lasts about 90 minutes and provides a comprehensive overview of the academic, student life, and residential experience at Northwestern. Guests will explore academic buildings, visit a Northwestern classroom, stop by the student union, and enjoy lakefront views as they see the sites of some of Northwestern's most iconic student traditions. Please note that the majority of the general campus tour takes place outdoors.

While we are not able to show the inside of a residential living space, for the safety and comfort of current students, our YouTube channel features a playlist of recorded residential tours.

Specialized tours provide a general introduction to campus and share insights about resources available to all Northwestern students, but each has a specific focus. The following specialized tours are offered on most Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.

• Engineering and Design: explore the McCormick School of Engineering along with related design and entrepreneurial spaces.
• Journalism, Arts and Media: Explore the Medill School of Journalism and the School of Communication, including spaces related to media and broadcast journalism, theatre, dance and fine arts.
• Labs, Libraries and Learning Beyond the Classroom: Explore the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Education and Social policy, with visits to research labs, libraries, and other spaces that support study abroad, internships and experiential learning.

We cannot accommodate late arrivals on guided campus tours. If you are running late for your visit, please continue to park and check in at the Segal Visitor Center. Our team will be happy to set you up with a self-guided tour and answer any questions you may have.

The nearest location for coffee, meals, and snacks is the Norris University Center, located about a five-minute walk north of the Segal Visitors Center. If you would like to visit Norris for refreshments, please plan to arrive and park at the Segal Visitors Center at least 30 minutes prior to your tour time.

Yes! You will meet current Northwestern students during your campus tour and at the front desk of the Segal Visitors Center. They are available to answer questions and share more about the academic and student life experience at Northwestern.

Yes! Admission directors are typically available at the Segal Visitors Center during business hours to say hello and answer questions. Please note that the Office of Admission does not offer individual meetings or interviews with admission staff. To find your regional representative’s name and contact information, please visit our Regional Programming webpage.

Yes. Please feel free to stop by the front desk at the Segal Visitors Center during your visit to obtain verification. Alternatively, request a school absence note after your visit via the link below.

Contact the Office of Undergraduate Admission