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Northwestern University
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Northwestern University - Parking - College ProwlerCollege Prowler2.31

Parking

C
Where does this grade come from?View all Parking rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Parking Grades:

Quick Stats

Student Parking Lot? Yes
There are student parking lots spread throughout campus for students eligible for parking permits, including all seniors, graduate students, and commuting students living outside of the walking zone.
Freshmen Allowed to Park? No
Neither are sophomores or juniors.
Approximate Parking Permit Cost
  • $489 per year for a student permit
  • $7 for one-day parking
Common Parking Tickets
  • Valid permit not properly displayed: $10
  • Expired parking meter: $15
  • More than 20 minutes in a loading/dock zone: $15
  • Parking over lines or in two spaces: $15
  • Incorrect permit for lot: $30
  • Parked on walk or grass area: $30
  • Blocking or obstructing traffic lanes, service areas, posted areas: $40
  • Fire lane: $40
  • No valid permit: $50
  • Unauthorized permit: $50
  • Reserved space violation: $100
  • Altered permit: $250
  • Handicapped space violation: $250

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

If there's one detractor from NU, it's definitely the parking: It’s expensive, tightly enforced, and sparse. Really, it's hard to find too many positives to bringing a car to campus. After all, between campus-provided transportation to Chicago, the Evanston area, Ryan field, and various on-campus stops, and public transportation services like the El and Metra, if you need to get somewhere, you can do so without a car.

Parking permits are only granted to seniors, grad students, faculty and staff, and commuter students who live outside of a "designated walking area" determined by NUPD. So, unless you plan on road tripping it to the various state schools like U of I and Wisconsin often, leave your car at home. And if you do bring it, be prepared to accumulate a fair share of tickets in your time here.

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Northwestern University Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Parking at Northwestern University

nuwildcat

'15

Economics

3.1
B-

Bring a Bike

Freshmen aren't allowed to have cars or parking permits. As you go up in seniority, you get better options, but the campus is very walkable and bikeable, so it's more expensive and more of a hassle bringing a car and trying to find parking spaces (they are limited) than just bringing a bike. There are a plenty of bike storage places all around campus. Both the campus and Evanston are very walkable. Also, the officers ticket hard if you park off limits.

Dec 15, 2011

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Parking at Northwestern University

sotkar

'15

Biological Sciences

N/A

Just Turned Old Enough...

...but I did not learn how to drive in the time leading up.

Oct 17, 2011

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Parking at Northwestern University

andrysb24

'12

Psychology

3.8
B+

Parking Is Someone Average

Parking rules are very strict. If you park where you shouldn't even for 5 minutes, you will get caught and fined. I think the average is $50. Permit costs are pretty average, relative to what I've heard other colleges charge. You don't really need a car on campus if you live on campus or within walking distance. The only people who really need a car would be people who live 2 miles or more away from school and mostly only because of the winter months which can be brutal to biking and shuttle commuters.

Sep 21, 2011

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Page 1 of 9

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate the campus parking on the following topics

How convenient is off-campus parking?

Facts

Getting a Parking Permit

To get a permit, you have to fill out an application and submit it to NUPD. Again, only seniors, grad students, faculty and staff, and commuters are generally given them. For the application, an FAQ, and some general information, visit www.northwestern.edu/up/parking/permit_students.html.

Did You Know?

Best Places to Find a Parking Spot:

  • SPAC lot, Seabury lot, or Lakeside if you're a senior
  • Otherwise, your best bet is to parallel park on a random street in the neighborhoods around campus.

Good Luck Getting a Parking Spot Here!

  • Virtually anywhere on campus. Parking is tight, and parking enforcement officials are not shy about ticketing cars.

Parking ServicesWhat's This?

Campus Police & Parking Regulation
1819 Hinman Ave.
(847) 491-3456
parking@northwestern.edu
www.northwestern.edu/up/parking

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Most Recent Student Author

College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at NU

Name: Kevin Echavarria

Hometown: San Antonio, Texas

Major: Journalism/Comparative Literary Studies

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