Explore our campus and city
Give us an hour, or give us a day.
Thank you for your interest in visiting our beautiful, tree-lined campus on the shore of Lake Michigan and just north of Chicago.
One of the great values of a Northwestern experience is connections: one’s ability to connect with different people, ideas, and disciplines in an inclusive and collaborative community. We encourage you to review our on-campus programming options below and then click the “Register for a campus visit” button to tailor your experience in a way that most interests you.
Explore our lakefront campus on a 75-minute walking tour with current student tour guides and learn more about all that Northwestern has to offer, both inside and outside of the classroom. The tour explores numerous academic and community spaces across campus. When you arrive, you can choose your own adventure with a tour guide who shares a common interest or point of connection.
Registration is required for guided campus tours. To register, click on the button below.
If you are unable to join us for a guided campus tour, or you are interested in exploring campus on your own, we encourage you to follow our self-guided tour. The self-guided tour includes a robust guide to campus buildings and academic information, an extended tour route just like our student guides would provide, and stories from over 20 Northwestern students!
Visitors can head over to the Segal Visitors Center vestibule, open 24 hours a day, to register for a self-guided visit and download a copy of the tour. In addition, during normal business hours, admissions officers and current students are available in the main lobby of the Visitors Center to assist you at the front desk and answer any questions.
Join admission staff members to learn more about Northwestern’s holistic admission review process and our affordability commitments. We’ll start with a brief overview of the application and financial aid processes, and spend the rest of our time answering your questions about Northwestern and the college search and application process more generally. Guests are welcome to join for this session before or after their campus tour or other activities.
If you are a high school senior and are eager to experience life as a Northwestern student, join us for a Purple Preview visit. You will be paired with a current undergraduate student host, and together, you’ll spend the morning attending class, exploring campus, grabbing lunch, and learning more about daily student life.
To ensure that we can match you with a host, you must register for a Purple Preview experience at least two weeks prior to your visit. Click the button below to view available dates and register.
While you are on campus, get to know our academic community. Advisers from Northwestern’s six distinct undergraduate schools host information sessions for prospective students, which help you to learn more about the school’s areas of expertise and ask questions ahead of the admission process.
Availability of sessions varies seasonally; please check the registration calendar to confirm current schedules. Advance registration is required for school-specific programs. Note: school-specific sessions do not include a campus tour.
Offered most Mondays and Fridays (and select Thursdays) at 11:45 a.m.
Located in the Ryan Center for the Musical Arts 2nd floor: 70 Arts Circle Dr., Evanston, IL 60208
5-minute walk from the Segal Visitors Center
Offered most Fridays at 3:30 p.m.
Located in Louis Hall 119: 1877 Campus Dr., Evanston, IL 60208
10-minute walk from the Segal Visitors Center
Offered most Mondays and Fridays at 3:30 p.m.
Located in Annenberg Hall 122: 2120 Campus Dr., Evanston, IL 60208
15-minute walk from the Segal Visitors Center
Offered most Mondays and Fridays at 4:00 p.m.
Located in the Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center 2350 (The Hive): 2133 Sheridan Rd., Evanston IL 60208
15-minute walk from the Segal Visitors Center
Offered most Fridays at 3:30 p.m.
Located in the McCormick Foundation Center room 3-119: 1870 Campus Dr., Evanston IL 60208
5-minute walk from the Segal Visitors Center
Currently offering virtual sessions only; click the button below for online dates and registration.
Our general campus tours (both guided and self-guided) provide a thorough introduction to campus facilities, academic opportunities, and student life. For a deeper look at Northwestern’s history and communities, continue to explore campus on your own with the help of the following audio tours.
High schools and community based organizations who wish to bring a group of 10 or more high school students to campus can attend a large group campus visit. Based on your group’s schedule and interests, you can take a student-led or self-guided campus tour and connect with current students and admission staff to learn more about Northwestern. Groups with 10 or fewer guests should register all participants individually for campus tours and related programming.