Northwestern University
Our Commitment
“As a student from a small, rural town in Tennessee, I never expected the breadth of opportunities that awaited me at Northwestern. The academic, extracurricular, and social possibilities afforded to me during my time at the university would have been unfathomable to my high-school self.” –Bryce ’22
At Northwestern, we believe that diversity—of background, identity, belief, interest, expertise—is essential to undergraduate learning and to a healthy society. We convene a community of open-minded individuals who are eager to benefit from and contribute to the world of perspectives on campus, and we are committed to ensuring students from rural areas and small towns are well represented in this community. Your unique societal lenses are invaluable to our exchange of ideas, and to the conversations that help students learn and grow outside of the classroom—insights linked to growing up in geographically remote settings, or in communities where college-going isn’t necessarily a given after high school, or in local economies driven by agriculture. Your experiences and identities are many-layered, and intersectional viewpoints like yours make possible the inclusive teaching and learning emphasized on Northwestern’s campus. We are likewise committed to removing the barriers to college access that rural and small-town students often encounter through a combination of tailored programming, information-sharing, regional connections (we’ll come to you!), and of course our generous financial aid policies, which meet full demonstrated need for all undergraduates with no loans.
Learn more about Northwestern University's Rural and Small Town Programming
Learn more about Northwestern University's Admissions
View news coverage on Northwestern University's participation in STARS
Northwestern University Events
Virtual Event
STARS Virtual Panel: College to Career (Humanities)
August 5th 2025, 7:00 pm CDT
Join STARS representatives from Brown University, Northwestern University, University of Denver, and the University of Texas at Austin to learn more about how STARS member schools support their students as they pursue a wide variety of careers in the Humanities. From art therapy to graphic design to writing, and everything in between, STARS member schools have programs to set their students up for success in hundreds of careers using their Humanities degrees. We'll explore the wide variety of resources and opportunities available to you as you think about your future!
Host: Northwestern University, University of Denver, University of Texas at Austin, Brown UniversityVirtual Event
STARS Virtual College Fair
October 7th 2025, 7:00 pm CDT
Join all 32 STARS Network partner colleges and universities to discover the exceptional opportunities all of our schools have to offer through a virtual college fair!
Host: Amherst College, Auburn University, Berkeley, Brown University, California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Case Western Reserve University, Colby College, Columbia University in the City of New York, Dartmouth College, Duke, Georgia Tech, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, Notre Dame, SMU, Spelman College, Stanford University, The Ohio State University, The University of Alabama, The University of Chicago, The University of Iowa, University of Arizona, University of Arkansas, University of Denver, University of Maryland, College Park, University of South Carolina, University of Southern California, University of Texas at Austin, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Vanderbilt University, Washington University in St. Louis, Yale University