Touring the Campus

The Graduate School (TGS) encourages prospective students to visit our campus and learn more about our programs. TGS is unable to finance any travel or lodging expenses, and may not be able to accommodate visits requested without ample planning time. Visiting groups can contact TGS Admissions or individual academic programs for more campus visit options.
Stop by the Segal Visitors Center
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, staff and current students are available in the main lobby of the Visitors Center to assist you at the front desk and answer any questions. For individuals looking to visit specific program facilities, please contact your academic program of interest to explore visit options.
Take a Virtual Campus Tour
Follow along on any number of recorded campus tours from the Northwestern University Office of Undergraduate Admissions. In addition to academic buildings, you can see residential buildings, dining halls, athletic facilities, and more. Undergraduate students will give you a personal perspective on residential life and academics, including research opportunities, innovation, design, and the arts.
Self-Guided Tours of Northwestern
For a deeper look at Northwestern’s history and communities, continue to explore campus on your own with the help of the following self-guided audio tours.
Getting Around
The Chicagoland area has a streamlined public transportation system that makes it easy to travel around Chicago and Evanston. Both the Evanston and Chicago campuses are within walking distance from Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) train stops and buses, Metra rail stations, and campus shuttle buses.
- The Evanston campus is on the CTA Purple Line and is close to the Davis, Foster, and Noyes stops. You can download the Ventra app for wait-time estimates for buses and trains. Northwestern students who opt-in for the U-Pass receive an unlimited CTA pass to use each quarter at a discounted rate.
- Metra has frequent service to Evanston from Chicago and the northern suburbs on the Union Pacific/North Line. View the complete schedule of the Union Pacific/North Line on the Metra website.
- In addition to public transit, our free intercampus shuttle runs between the Evanston and downtown Chicago campuses.
For more information on traveling to and from our campuses, visit the
Transportation & Parking website.