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Visit Campus

Explore our campus and city.

Northwestern observes a winter recess from December 24 through January 1.

The Segal Visitors Center will be closed from Monday, December 22 through Thursday, January 1. Campus tours resume on Friday, January 2 for registered guests.

During the holiday break, visitors may still come to campus to take a self-guided campus tour, available below.

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.

Jump to our on-campus programming options below:

Campus Visits

Browse options for on-campus programming and put together a campus visit experience tailored to your interests.

All of our guided tours employ a “choose your own adventure” format where visitors select a tour guide who shares a common interest or point of connection. Registration is required. 

Campus Tour Personalization Options

Choose from one of the options below. More information, including tour details and availability, can be found on the registration page.

  • General tour (75-90 minutes) and optional Affordability and Aid presentation (30 minutes)
  • Engineering and Design tour (90+ minutes)
  • Journalism, Arts and Media (90+ minutes)
  • Labs, Libraries and Learning Beyond the Classroom (90+minutes)

Register for a Guided Tour

Affordability and Aid Presentation (weekdays only)

Following each general tour, you'll have the option to learn more about Northwestern’s holistic admission review process and our affordability commitments, This session provides an overview of the application and financial aid processes and answers questions about Northwestern and the college search. For additional guidance about admission and affordability, we encourage you to explore our website and YouTube channel, or connect directly with admission staff.

While you are on campus, get to know our academic community. Representatives 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.

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.

Fall 2025 Sessions

Bienen School of Music

Offered select Mondays, Thursday Fridays 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)

Note: This session is intended for prospective music majors.

School of Communication

Offered select Fridays at 3:30 p.m.

Located in Louis Hall 119: 10 Arts Circle Dr., Evanston, IL 60208 (5-minute walk from the Segal Visitors Center)

School of Education and Social Policy

Offered most Mondays and Fridays at 12 p.m. (Check in at least 15 minutes before your session!)

Located in Annenberg Hall 123: 2120 Campus Dr, Evanston, IL 60208 (15-minute walk from the Segal Visitors Center) 

McCormick School of Engineering

Fall information sessions will be held online.

Current offerings can be found on our Online Undergraduate School Information Sessions page.

Medill School of Journalism

Offered most Fridays at 3:30 p.m.

Located in McCormick Foundation Center 3-119: 1870 Campus Dr, Evanston, IL 60208 (3-minute walk from the Segal Visitors Center)

Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences

Fall information sessions will be held online.

Current offerings can be found on our Online Undergraduate School Information Sessions page.
Register for an academic session

 

Online versions of these program can also be found on our Online Undergraduate School Information calendar.

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!

Register In-Person for a Downloadable Guide

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.

Attend Themed Programming

Exploring Northwestern: a Program for First-generation Students and their Families 

As part of our ongoing commitment to those who will be the first in their family to graduate from college, Northwestern invites first-generation students  and their families to spend a day and explore our collaborative campus community—from the perspective of a first-generation college student.

At Exploring Northwestern, a panel of current first-generation college students talk candidly about their Northwestern experience, answer students’ questions about how they navigated the admissions process, and share how they adjusted to campus and student life. Attendees will also receive an overview of our admission and financial aid process, attend a essay writing workshop, enjoy lunch on campus, and go on a campus tour. Please note: while we cannot offer travel assistance, lunch will be provided.

Program Dates and Registration

The Exploring Northwestern program was held in October 2025; future program dates will be posted here when available.

Small Town and Rural Teen University Prep Innovation Intensive

In partnership with the Small Town and Rural Students (STARS) College Network, Northwestern’s Office of Undergraduate Admission is excited to team up with The Garage to host the Small Town and Rural Teen University Prep Innovation Intensive, or START-UP.

Participants will explore cutting-edge technologies and strategies for building a business or product while experiencing the best of Evanston and our neighboring hub of Chicago. Simultaneously, students will be given deep-dive courses on the college application and financial aid processes at Northwestern.

Program Dates and Registration

START-UP will be held July 9th–July 11th, 2026. Applications for the program will open on January 12th, 2026, with a deadline of March 10th, 2026.

Learn More about START-UP

Alumni Perspectives on Community, Belonging, and Careers

Join our Alumni Admission Council’s Affinity & Special Interest Groups for stories about campus experiences and insights on the exciting paths Wildcats pursue after graduation. The program will include presentations by admissions staff and Northwestern Career Advancement, an alumni panel, lunch roundtables, and a campus tour.

Program Dates and Registration

The Alumni Perspectives program was held in November 2025; future program dates will be posted here when available.

If you are not able to register for an event and would like to visit Northwestern another time, you’re welcome to do! There are lots of ways to engage and connect with Northwestern, including online events and campus tours. Please sign up for our mailing list here and contact ug-admission@northwestern.edu with any questions. If you wish to connect with alumni and students to hear their perspectives, you can meet our Wildcat Ambassadors.

Explore History, Culture and Community

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.

Visit with a Group

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.

Register for a Large Group Visit

Northwestern students walking and giving high fives in branded t-shirts and smiling