McCormick School of Engineering

What McCormick School of Engineering does

The Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science is Northwestern University's private, non-profit engineering school, founded in 1909 and located on the Evanston, Illinois campus. It offers undergraduate (BS), graduate (MS, professional master's), and doctoral (PhD) degree programs across roughly ten departments, including Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences, Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Civil and Environmental Engineering, plus interdisciplinary units such as the Segal Design Institute, Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the Transportation Center, and the Northwestern Institute for Complex Systems (NICO).

The school's product surface is its academic portfolio: ABET-accredited undergraduate programs, joint degrees (e.g., MS in Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science), specialized master's programs (Robotics, Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering Design Innovation, Engineering Management, Machine Learning and Data Science), and PhD tracks. Research is organized around seven cross-cutting areas in Mechanical Engineering alone and spans robotics, AI, biomaterials, optimization, statistical learning, healthcare systems, and self-assembly materials, supported by 13 affiliated research centers in Materials Science and dedicated deep learning and optimization centers in IEMS. Notable applied outputs include eye-tracking wheelchair control technology licensed to Apple for the Vision Pro and exoskeleton rehabilitation research with the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.

McCormick does not operate a commercial revenue model; it is funded through Northwestern University's budget, research grants, tuition, and private donations. Its three primary 'customer' segments are undergraduate students, graduate students (including working professionals in part-time master's programs), and industry/corporate partners engaged through a dedicated Corporate Engagement office. The school differentiates via its 'whole-brain engineering' philosophy, integrating technical rigor with design, entrepreneurship, and leadership, and via deep interdisciplinary collaboration across 24+ departments in five Northwestern schools.

Name

McCormick School of Engineering

Legal name

Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, Northwestern University

Website

https://mccormick.northwestern.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1909

Operating status

Operating

Short description

McCormick School of Engineering is Northwestern University's private, non-profit engineering school (founded 1909) offering BS, MS, and PhD programs across ten departments, with research strengths in materials science, robotics, AI, and optimization.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Engineering & Technology Institutes (Comprehensive) (EDAHAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Technical Universities with Architecture, Built Environment & Design Engineering (EDAHAEAJ)

Keywords

• Engineering education
• Graduate research programs
• Applied mathematics
• Mechanical engineering
• Materials science

Headquarters

HQ city

Evanston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

McCormick School of Engineering offers undergraduate (BS), graduate (MS/Master's), and doctoral (PhD) engineering degree programs across 10 departments including Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, Industrial Engineering & Management Sciences, and Engineering Sciences & Applied Mathematics. The school delivers interdisciplinary research in robotics, AI, healthcare, manufacturing, and sustainability, and provides professional master's programs for working engineers. Education is grounded in a whole-brain engineering philosophy that integrates technical rigor with design thinking, entrepreneurship, and leadership.

Product overview

McCormick School of Engineering is Northwestern University's engineering school offering a comprehensive portfolio of academic programs across 10 departments and multiple interdisciplinary institutes. The school provides undergraduate (BS), graduate (MS/Master's), and doctoral (PhD) degree programs through departments including Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, Industrial Engineering & Management Sciences, Engineering Sciences & Applied Mathematics, and others. Programs include traditional disciplinary degrees as well as joint programs (Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science), interdisciplinary minors (Machine Learning and Data Science), and professional master's programs (Engineering Design Innovation, Robotics, Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering Management). The school emphasizes whole-brain engineering combining technical rigor with design, entrepreneurship, and leadership education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science degree program in Mechanical Engineering with options for combined BS/MS degrees, designed for prospective undergraduate students.
• Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering Master's degree program in Mechanical Engineering with thesis and non-thesis options and possible specializations, for prospective graduate students.
• PhD in Mechanical Engineering Doctoral degree program preparing students for the highest level of academic or private-sector research careers in Mechanical Engineering.
• Joint MS in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science & Engineering Combined Master of Science program offered jointly with the Materials Science & Engineering department.
• Master of Science in Advanced Manufacturing Master's program focused on advanced manufacturing technologies and methodologies for prospective graduate students.
• Master of Science in Engineering Design Innovation Graduate degree focused on product design methodologies and innovation processes, offered through the Segal Design Institute.
• Master of Science in Robotics Graduate program in robotics covering autonomous systems, control systems, and robotic applications.
• Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics providing mathematical foundations for engineering applications.
• Master of Science in Engineering Sciences & Applied Mathematics Master's degree program in Engineering Sciences & Applied Mathematics for advanced study in mathematical modeling and analysis.
• PhD in Engineering Sciences & Applied Mathematics Doctoral program in Applied Mathematics for research in mathematical methods applied to engineering and sciences.
• Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering focusing on optimization, operations research, and systems engineering.
• PhD in Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences Doctoral program in Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences for advanced research.
• Master of Engineering Management Professional master's program combining engineering and management principles for career advancement, geared toward working professionals.
• Master of Science in Machine Learning and Data Science Interdisciplinary program with three specialization tracks in machine learning, data science, and hybrid, offered jointly by IEMS and Computer Science departments.
• Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Engineering ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science and Engineering, the first academic department of its kind in the world.
• Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering Master's degree in Materials Science and Engineering, ranked #2 graduate program in the United States by US News & World Report.
• PhD in Materials Science and Engineering Doctoral program in Materials Science and Engineering for advanced research in materials innovation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Materials Science ranked #2 graduate program in US (US News)
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Shirley Ryan AbilityLabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst-ever 'translational' research hospital where clinicians, scientists, innovators and technologists work together to apply research in real time to physical medicine and rehabilitation. Collaboration includes Brenna Argall's wheelchair control technology licensed to Apple for Vision Pro.
• Argonne National LaboratorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNearby national laboratory with Advanced Photon Source and Center for Nanoscale Materials. Faculty and students collaborate on materials research including advanced manufacturing and nanomaterials.
• Northwestern's Feinberg School of MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical school collaboration for biomedical engineering, biomaterials research, and healthcare engineering applications.
• Art Institute of ChicagominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Art Conservation Science research applying materials science to preservation of art and cultural heritage.
• Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFulbright-supported program for modernizing undergraduate engineering education. Delegation visited to learn about curriculum innovation, active learning, and AI in education.
• Center for Optimization and Statistical LearningcoreOthersCross-disciplinary center integrating optimization and statistical learning research areas within the department.
• Center for Engineering and HealthcoreOthersDevelops systems solutions to healthcare operations and policy problems through engagement of students and postdocs.
• Center for Deep LearningcoreOthersAdvances deep learning technology across disciplines with large projects engaging PhD students and post-docs.
• Segal Design InstitutecoreOthersInterdisciplinary design institute offering programs in design thinking, engineering design innovation, and product design.
• Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and InnovationcoreOthersSupports entrepreneurship education and innovation ecosystem for engineering students and alumni.
• Transportation CenterminorOthersResearch and education in transportation systems and logistics.
• Northwestern Institute for Complex Systems (NICO)minorOthersInterdisciplinary institute for complex systems research.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cornell University College of Engineering: Cornell Engineering is a direct peer at a top-tier private research university with parallel programs in mechanical, materials, and applied engineering. Both compete for the same Ivy-tier applicant pool and overlapping faculty specialties.
• Princeton School of Engineering and Applied Science: Princeton SEAS is a direct peer as a private university engineering school offering BS, MSE, and PhD programs with strengths in materials, mechanical engineering, and applied mathematics — direct overlap with McCormick's named departments and research priorities.
• University of Michigan College of Engineering: Michigan Engineering is a direct peer — same disciplines (mechanical, materials, industrial/applied math, design), comparable scale, similar public-private research intensity. The two schools frequently compete for federal research awards, graduate students, and industry-sponsored research.
• Carnegie Mellon College of Engineering: CMU's College of Engineering is a direct peer with comparable disciplinary coverage and a particularly strong overlap with McCormick in robotics, AI, machine learning, and data science. Both schools compete heavily in interdisciplinary research and graduate placement in tech industry roles.
• UC Berkeley College of Engineering: UC Berkeley College of Engineering is a direct peer of comparable scale and reputation with overlapping programs in mechanical, materials, industrial engineering, and applied math. It is one of McCormick's primary competitors for faculty, federal research funding, and graduate students in California and beyond.
• Georgia Tech College of Engineering: Georgia Tech's College of Engineering is a direct peer offering the same core disciplines and a strong industrial engineering program directly competitive with McCormick's IEMS department. Both schools emphasize robotics, AI, and interdisciplinary research with industry partners.
• MIT School of Engineering: MIT's flagship engineering school is a direct peer with comprehensive BS, MS, and PhD programs across the same disciplines as McCormick (mechanical, materials, industrial/applied math). Both schools compete for the same faculty, federal research grants, top students, and corporate partnerships, and both are ranked in the top tier by US News.
• Caltech Division of Engineering and Applied Science: Caltech's EAS division is a direct peer in the highest tier of US engineering schools, with similarly named departments (mechanical, materials, applied math) and similar research emphasis on fundamental science and engineering. The schools compete for top faculty and National Academy-level recognition.
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Grainger College of Engineering: Grainger College of Engineering is a direct peer with deep historical strength in materials science, mechanical, and industrial engineering. Same-state (Illinois) competitor for engineering talent and corporate partnerships.
• Stanford University School of Engineering: Stanford Engineering is a direct peer offering the same depth and breadth of engineering disciplines (mechanical, materials, industrial, applied math) and competing for the same talent pool. Its Silicon Valley proximity and tech-transfer track record set the benchmark for university engineering commercialization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/NorthwesternEng
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCX2Xg61G1tDeyzDkBDya7tw
• Facebookfacebook.com/northwesternengineering
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mccormick-school-of-engineering
• Instagraminstagram.com/northwesterneng

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about McCormick School of Engineering