Electrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University

What Electrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University does

The Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department is an academic unit within Northwestern University's Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, based at the Technological Institute building in Evanston, Illinois. The department delivers undergraduate BS programs in Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering, a combined BS/MS pathway, MS programs with twelve named specializations, PhD programs in both disciplines, and an affiliated MS in Information Technology. Teaching and research are organized around five pillars: AI Engineering, Computing and Systems, Intelligent Systems, Networks, and Quantum and Nanoengineering.

Research infrastructure spans 16 active research centers and faculty covering computational imaging, computer architecture, embedded systems, information theory, machine learning and signal processing, physical electronics, photonics, quantum devices, VLSI, and wireless communication. One-third of faculty hold joint appointments across other Northwestern departments, and 16 faculty members have received NSF CAREER or comparable young-investigator awards. Core technology assets include lab facilities for advanced optics, semiconductor work, high-performance computing, and quantum-device research.

The department operates as a nonprofit academic unit rather than a commercial entity. Revenue mechanics consist of tuition and fees routed through Northwestern's central admissions and financial-aid systems, externally funded research grants, university endowment allocation, and industry-sponsored research; tuition details are not disclosed at the departmental level. Industry partnerships with Argonne National Laboratory, Fermilab, Nokia Bell Labs, Motorola, and Ford are framed as collaborative research and graduate-recruitment relationships rather than fee-paying customer accounts, and the department's market reach is concentrated in the United States, primarily the Midwest region.

Name

Electrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University

Legal name

Northwestern University - Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Website

https://ece.northwestern.edu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Academic department within Northwestern University's McCormick School of Engineering offering BS, MS, and PhD programs in electrical and computer engineering, organized around five research pillars including AI Engineering, Quantum and Nanoengineering, and partnerships with Argonne, Fermilab, and major technology companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education / Engineering Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Universities with Computing, Data & AI Focus (EDAHAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Engineering & Technology Institutes (Comprehensive) (EDAHAEAA), Quantum Education, Workforce Development & Academic Centers (HDAGAMAM), Quantum Education & Certification Programs (HDAGALAA), Emerging Tech & Specialized Computing (IoT, Edge, AR/VR, Blockchain, HPC) (EDABAFAO)

Keywords

• Engineering education
• Graduate degree programs
• Electrical engineering research
• Computer engineering research
• University research centers

Headquarters

HQ city

Evanston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The department offers undergraduate BS degrees in Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering, a combined BS/MS program, MS degrees in both disciplines with twelve specialized tracks (including AI/ML, Computer Vision, Quantum Computing, Robotics, Cybersecurity, Photonics, Embedded Systems, HPC, IoT, Semiconductors, and Sustainable Energy), and PhD programs in Computer and Electrical Engineering, alongside an affiliated MS in Information Technology. Teaching and research are organized around five research pillars: AI Engineering, Computing and Systems, Intelligent Systems, Networks, and Quantum and Nanoengineering, supported by 16 research centers and partnerships with Argonne National Laboratory, Fermilab, Nokia Bell Labs, Motorola, and Ford.

Product overview

The Electrical and Computer Engineering department at Northwestern University offers a comprehensive academic portfolio spanning undergraduate BS degrees in Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering, combined BS/MS programs, graduate MS programs in both disciplines with twelve specialized tracks (including AI & Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Quantum Computing, Robotics, Cybersecurity, Photonics, Embedded Systems, High-Performance Computing, IoT & Edge Computing, Semiconductors, and Sustainable Energy), and PhD programs in Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering. The department also maintains an affiliated MS in Information Technology program. The academic offerings are organized around five core research pillars: AI Engineering, Computing and Systems, Intelligent Systems, Networks, and Quantum and Nanoengineering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering Four-year undergraduate degree program preparing students in computer engineering fundamentals including computer architecture, embedded systems, and VLSI design.
• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Four-year undergraduate degree program covering electrical engineering fundamentals such as physical electronics, photonics, and wireless communication.
• Combined BS/MS Degree Program Accelerated combined bachelor's and master's degree program allowing students to complete both degrees in a streamlined path.
• Master of Science in Computer Engineering Master's degree program with specializations in AI/ML, computer vision, embedded systems, cybersecurity, and high-performance computing.
• Master of Science in Electrical Engineering Master's degree program with specializations in photonics, quantum devices, wireless communications, and sustainable energy.
• PhD in Computer Engineering Doctoral program in computer engineering for advanced research in AI engineering, computing systems, and intelligent systems.
• PhD in Electrical Engineering Doctoral program in electrical engineering focusing on quantum and nanoengineering, networks, and physical electronics.
• Master of Science in Information Technology (Affiliated) Affiliated master's program in information technology offered through Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering.

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 capability11 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Argonne National LaboratorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research relationship with nearby Argonne National Laboratory, one of the largest U.S. Department of Energy science and engineering research national laboratories, providing students and faculty with access to advanced research facilities and joint research opportunities.
• FermilabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Fermilab, America's premier particle physics and accelerator laboratory, enabling collaborative research in quantum, nanoengineering, and related physics domains.
• Nokia Bell LabscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry collaboration with Nokia Bell Labs for research and development activities, providing exposure to cutting-edge communications technology research and potential career pathways for graduates.
• MotorolacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Motorola, a major communications technology company, supporting research initiatives and providing industry connections for students in areas such as wireless communication and embedded systems.
• FordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Ford Motor Company for research collaboration, particularly in areas such as intelligent transportation systems, autonomous vehicles, and smart grid technologies where electrical and computer engineering expertise is essential.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Caltech Electrical Engineering: Caltech's small, elite EE option offers parallel graduate research depth in quantum devices, photonics, and information theory, and competes with Northwestern ECE for high-end graduate applicants.
• Princeton Electrical and Computer Engineering: Princeton ECE has parallel research thrusts in computing systems, AI/ML, photonics, quantum, and wireless, with a comparable private-university departmental structure and graduate training focus.
• Stanford Electrical Engineering: Stanford's EE department is a top-ranked program covering similar research areas (AI, hardware, networking, photonics, quantum) and serves a comparable graduate and undergraduate engineering population with strong industry ties.
• Purdue University Electrical and Computer Engineering: Purdue ECE is a Big Ten peer department with overlapping strengths in VLSI, semiconductors, communications, and quantum, competing for the same Midwest engineering talent pool and industry partners.
• University of Michigan Electrical and Computer Engineering: Michigan ECE is a large peer program with overlapping graduate specializations in embedded systems, HPC, AI, and wireless, and competes for Midwest-based industry partnerships including automotive (Ford-adjacent) research.
• Georgia Tech Electrical and Computer Engineering: Georgia Tech ECE is a large research-intensive peer with parallel specializations in robotics, cybersecurity, ML, photonics, and embedded systems, and competes nationally for industry-sponsored research.
• MIT Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS): MIT's flagship ECE/EECS department offers comparable BS, MS, and PhD programs in electrical engineering and computer science with overlapping specializations in AI, quantum, photonics, and systems — the most direct academic peer to Northwestern ECE.
• UC Berkeley Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS): Berkeley EECS is a leading combined ECE/CS department with overlapping research strengths in AI/ML, architecture, VLSI, signal processing, and quantum, and a similar graduate specialization structure.
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Electrical and Computer Engineering: UIUC ECE is a top-5 Midwestern peer with directly overlapping research areas (computing systems, VLSI, quantum, AI) and is a direct competitor for faculty and graduate students in the same regional ecosystem.
• Carnegie Mellon University Electrical and Computer Engineering: CMU's ECE department offers parallel BS/MS/PhD programs with comparable specializations in computer architecture, embedded systems, cybersecurity, ML, and photonics, making it a close academic competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NorthwesternEng
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCX2Xg61G1tDeyzDkBDya7tw
• Facebookfacebook.com/northwesternengineering
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nu-ece

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Electrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University