Electrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersEvanston, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
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.
Electrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Electrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Electrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Evanston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Electrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University business model
Business model- 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
Electrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University product offering
Product offeringCore 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.
Companies that use Electrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Electrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability11 records
Feature10 records
Electrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Argonne National LaboratorycoreCollaborative 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.
- FermilabcorePartnership with Fermilab, America's premier particle physics and accelerator laboratory, enabling collaborative research in quantum, nanoengineering, and related physics domains.
- Nokia Bell LabscoreIndustry collaboration with Nokia Bell Labs for research and development activities, providing exposure to cutting-edge communications technology research and potential career pathways for graduates.
- MotorolacoreCollaboration 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.
- FordcorePartnership 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
Electrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
Electrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University social profiles
Digital presenceElectrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Electrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Electrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Electrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Electrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University
What does Electrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University do?
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.
Is Electrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University a public or private company?
Electrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Electrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University founded?
Electrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Electrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University based?
Electrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University is headquartered in Evanston, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Electrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Caltech Electrical Engineering, Princeton Electrical and Computer Engineering, Stanford Electrical Engineering, Purdue University Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Michigan Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Tech Electrical and Computer Engineering, MIT Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), UC Berkeley Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Electrical and Computer Engineering and Carnegie Mellon University Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Does Electrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Electrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University.
What industry is Electrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University in?
Electrical & Computer Engineering | Northwestern University's product category is Higher Education / Engineering Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAEAK, Technical Universities with Computing, Data & AI Focus, with a secondary code of EDAHAEAA, Engineering & Technology Institutes (Comprehensive). Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.