List of Northwestern University alumni

The following is a list of notable alumni who attended Northwestern University

Academia

Ann-Margret, actress

Warren Beatty, actor

Edgar Bergen, ventriloquist

Andrew Bird, musician

Rod Blagojevich, former Governor of Illinois

David Boies, counsel, Bush v. Gore; founding partner, Boies, Schiller & Flexner

Mike Greenberg, ESPN employee and host of radio show Mike & Mike in the Morning

William Jennings Bryan, former U.S. Secretary of State & three-time Democratic presidential nominee

Stephen Colbert, comedian

Arthur Goldberg, former U.S. Supreme Court Justice

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, actress

Rahm Emanuel, mayor of Chicago, former White House Chief of Staff, former U.S. Congressman

Dick Gephardt, former U.S. House Majority Leader

Charlton Heston, actor

Douglas Kmiec, U.S. Ambassador

Todd Martin, former professional tennis player

George McGovern, former U.S. Senator and Democratic presidential nominee

Charles Horace Mayo, co-founder of the Mayo Clinic

Seth Meyers, comedian

Peter George Peterson, Chairman of the Council on Foreign Relations; co-founder and Senior Chairman of the Blackstone Group

Graham Spanier, former President of Penn State University

John Paul Stevens, U.S. Supreme Court Justice

Rachael Yamagata, musician

• Madeleine Wing Adler (B.A. 1962), President, West Chester University
• Amy Allen (Ph.D. 1996), Parents Distinguished Research Professor in the Humanities and professor of philosophy, Dartmouth College
• Diane Marie Amann (J.D. 1986), Associate Dean for International Programs & Strategic Initiatives and Emily & Ernest Woodruff Chair in International Law, University of Georgia School of Law
• Elijah Anderson (Ph.D. 1976), William K. Lanman, Jr. Professor of Sociology, Yale University
• Clinton Bristow, Jr. (B.A. 1971), former President, Alcorn State University
• Joyce Chaplin (B.A. 1982), James Duncan Phillips Professor of Early American History, Harvard University
• K. T. Chau (Ph.D. 1991), Chair Professor of Geotechnical Engineering, former Associate Dean of Faculty of Construction and Land Use, and former Associate Head of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Johnnetta B. Cole (M.A. 1959, Ph.D. 1967), President Emerita, Spelman College; President, Bennett College
• Juan Cole (B.A. 1975), Richard P. Mitchell Collegiate Professor of History, University of Michigan
• James Hal Cone (M.A. 1963, Ph.D. 1965), Charles A. Briggs Distinguished Professor of Systematic Theology, Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
• Margaret Cuninggim, Dean of Women at the University of Tennessee and at Vanderbilt University
• William C. Dudley (M.A. 1995, Ph.D. 1998), Provost and Professor of Philosophy, Williams College
• Mitchell Duneier (B.A.), Professor of Sociology, Princeton University
• Troy Duster (B.A. 1957, Ph.D. 1962), Professor of Sociology, New York University and University of California, Berkeley
• Lee Edelman (B.A. 1975), Fletcher Professor of English Literature, Tufts University
• Kathryn Edin (Ph.D. 1991), Professor of Public Policy and Management, Harvard University
• Fred D. Fagg, Jr., former President, University of Southern California
• William R. Ferris (M.A. 1965), Joel Williamson Eminent Professor of History, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Susan Fuhrman (B.A. 1965, M.A. 1966), President, Teachers College, Columbia University
• Simon Gikandi (Ph.D., 1986), Robert Schirmer Professor of English, Princeton University
• Barry Glassner (B.S. 1974), Executive Vice Provost & Professor of Sociology, University of Southern California
• Avner Greif (M.A. 1988, Ph.D. 1989), Bowman Family Endowed Professor in Humanities & Sciences, Stanford University
• Herbert S. Hadley (LL.B ) Chancellor of Washington University in St. Louis (1923–1927) Governor of Missouri
• Geoffrey Galt Harpham (B.A. 1968), Director, National Humanities Center
• Cynthia Herrup (B.S.J. 1972, Ph.D. 1982), Professor of History and Law, University of Southern California
• Rosanna Hertz (M.A. 1977, Ph.D. 1983), Luella LaMer Professor of Sociology and Women's Studies, Wellesley College
• John B. Hogenesch (Ph.D. 1999), Professor of Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania
• Michael J. Hopkins (B.A. 1979, Ph.D. 1984), Professor of Mathematics, Harvard University
• Frank E. Horton (Ph.D. 1968), Chancellor of University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee(1980–1985), University of Oklahoma (1985–1988) and the University of Toledo (1989–1998).
• Jonathan D. Katz (Ph.D. 1996), former head of Larry Kramer Initiative for Lesbian and Gay Studies, Yale University
• Joann (Wheeler) Kealiinohomoku (M.A. 1965), anthropologist and dance researcher
• Marc W. Kirschner (B.A. 1966), John Franklin Enders University Professor and Professor of Systems Biology, Harvard University
• Nirmalya Kumar (Ph.D. 1991), Professor of Marketing and Director of Aditya Birla India Centre at London Business School; included in Thinkers50
• Zachary Leader (B.A.), Professor of English, Roehampton University
• Michael Lounsbury (PhD 1999), professor of strategic management, organizations and sociology at the University of Alberta
• Glenn Loury (B.A. 1972), Merton P. Stoltz Professor of the Social Sciences, Brown University
• Mark Crispin Miller (B.A. 1971), Professor of Media Ecology, New York University
• Ed Morgan (B.A. 1976), Professor of International Law at the University of Toronto
• George Nemhauser (Ph.D. 1961), A. Russell Chandler lll Chair and Institute Professor, Georgia Institute of Technology
• J. Dennis O'Connor (Ph.D. 1968), former Chancellor, University of Pittsburgh
• Scott E. Page (M.S. 1990, Ph.D. 1993), Leonid Hurwicz Collegiate Professor of complex systems, political science, and economics, University of Michigan
• Deborah Paredez (Ph.D. 2002), Professor of Theatre and Dance at University of Texas at Austin, poet and co-founder of Cantomundo
• Charles M. Payne (Ph.D. 1976), Frank P. Hixon Distinguished Service Professor in the School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago
• Ralph Pearson (Ph.D. 1943), Professor of Chemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara
• Benjamin Polak (M.A. 1986), William C. Brainard Professor of Economics, Yale University
• Jack Nusan Porter (Ph.D. 1971), sociologist; former Research Associate in Ukrainian Studies, Harvard University; former Assistant Professor in Social Science, Boston University
• Adam Przeworski (Ph.D. 1966), Carroll and Milton Petrie Professor of European Studies, New York University
• Mark Ratner (Ph.D. 1969), Lawrence B. Dumas Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry, Northwestern University
• David R. Roediger (Ph.D. 1980), professor of history, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Said Sheikh Samatar (Ph.D. 1979), professor of history, Rutgers University
• Norbert M. Samuelson, scholar of Jewish philosophy at Arizona State University and prolific writer and lecturer
• John B. Simpson (Ph.D. 1973), President, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
• David J. Skorton (B.A. 1970, M.D. 1974), President, Cornell University
• Graham Spanier (Ph.D. 1973), President, Pennsylvania State University
• Barbara Maria Stafford (B.A. 1964, M.A. 1966), William B. Ogden Distinguished Service Professor of Art History, University of Chicago
• Grover C. Stephens (B.A. 1948, M.A. 1949, Ph.D. 1952), Dean, School of Biological Sciences University of California at Irvine
• Roger Taylor (J.D. 1971), President, Knox College
• Stephan Thernstrom (B.A. 1956), Winthrop Professor of History, Harvard University
• Augusta Read Thomas (B.M. 1987), University Professor of Composition, University of Chicago
• France Winddance Twine (B.S., 1980), Professor of Sociology University of California Santa Barbara
• Glen L. Urban (Ph.D. 1966), Dean Emeritus of MIT Sloan School of Management
• John E. Worthen (B.S. 1954), President of Ball State University (1984–2000)

Arts and entertainment (theatre, TV and film)

• Mara Brock Akil (B.A. 1992), creator and executive producer of Girlfriends and The Game, former supervising producer of The Jamie Foxx Show
• Claude Akins (B.S. 1949), actor (Inherit the Wind, Battle for the Planet of the Apes, The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo)
• Ann-Margret (Olsson) (never graduated), Academy Award-nominated actress (Tommy, Carnal Knowledge)
• Sharif Atkins (B.S. 1999), actor (ER)
• Jayne Atkinson (B.S. 1981), Tony Award-nominated actress (Enchanted April, The Rainmaker); currently portrays Karen Hayes on 24
• Jane Badler (B.S. 1976), actress (V)
• Kate Baldwin, actress (1997 – theater school)
• Bonnie Bartlett (B.S. 1950), Emmy Award-winning actress (St. Elsewhere, Twins, Ghosts of Mississippi)
• Warren Beatty (class of 1959, never graduated), Academy Award-winning actor/writer/director (Bonnie and Clyde, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Shampoo, Reds)
• Lee Phillip Bell (B.A. 1950) Emmy Award-winning co-creator of The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful
• Rob Benedict (B.S. 1993), actor (Threshold, Felicity)
• Richard Benjamin (B.S. 1960), actor (Catch-22, Westworld, The Last of Sheila); director (My Favorite Year, Mermaids)
• Edgar Bergen (attended, did not graduate), Academy Award-winning actor and ventriloquist (Charlie McCarthy)
• Greg Berlanti (B.S. 1994), screenwriter and producer (Dawson's Creek); creator of Everwood and Jack & Bobby; writer/director of Broken Hearts Club
• Eric Bernt (B.S. 1986), screenwriter (Surviving the Game, Virtuosity, Romeo Must Die)
• Craig Bierko (B.S. 1986), actor (Cinderella Man, The Thirteenth Floor); Tony Award nominee (The Music Man)
• Andrew Bird (B.S. 1996), musician, songwriter, whistler
• Karen Black (attended, never graduated), Academy Award-nominated actress (Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces)
• Jeff Blumenkrantz (B.S. 1986), Tony Award-nominated musical theatre composer/lyricist (Urban Cowboy)
• Zach Braff (B.S. 1997), Emmy Award-nominated actor (Scrubs); writer/director (Garden State, Wish I Was Here)
• Cary Brothers (B.S. 1995), Grammy-nominated musician (Garden State)
• Clancy Brown (B.S. 1981), actor (Highlander, The Shawshank Redemption)
• Charles Busch (B.S. 1976), Tony Award-nominated playwright (The Tale of the Allergist's Wife)
• Frank Buxton (B.S. 1951), actor/writer/director
• Bruno Campos (B.S. 1995), actor (Nip/Tuck)
• Josh Chetwynd, UK-based baseball analyst and former player
• Cindy Chupack (B.S. 1987), Emmy Award-winning executive producer and writer (Sex and the City, Everybody Loves Raymond)
• Jack Clay, acting teacher/director/actor
• Jeanne Clemson (M.A.), theater director, stage actress and teacher, preserved the Fulton Opera House
• Claire Coffee, actress (General Hospital, Grimm)
• Meghan Markle, television actress
• Stephen Colbert (B.S. 1987), Emmy Award-winning comedian (The Colbert Report, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart)
• Kate Collins, actress (All My Children)
• Robert Conrad (B.S. 1955), actor (The Wild Wild West, Baa Baa Black Sheep, Hawaiian Eye)
• Steven Conrad (B.A. 1991), screenwriter (The Pursuit of Happyness, The Weather Man)
• J Anthony Crane (B.S. 1993), actor (The Big Easy, The Lion King)
• Cindy Crawford (attended, never graduated), model
• Jan Crull Jr. (attended, never graduated), filmmaker, Native American rights activist, attorney
• Jane Curtin (attended, never graduated), original cast member of Saturday Night Live; Emmy Award-nominated actress (Kate & Allie, 3rd Rock from the Sun)
• Stephanie D'Abruzzo (B.S. 1993), Tony Award-nominated actress and puppeteer (Avenue Q)
• William Daniels (B.S. 1950), Emmy Award-winning actor (St. Elsewhere, Boy Meets World); former president of the Screen Actors Guild
• Beau Davidson (B.Mus. 2003), Emmy Award-nominated recording artist/actor (The Bold and the Beautiful, The Singing Bee, Gilmore Girls, Days of Our Lives); Ten Outstanding Young Americans of 2013
• Zooey Deschanel (attended, never graduated), actress (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Elf, Almost Famous, New Girl)
• Lydia R. Diamond (B.S. 1992), playwright
• Matt Doherty (B.S. 1999), actor (So I Married an Axe Murderer, The Mighty Ducks films)
• Anne Dudek, actress (House, Psych, Law and Order: CI, Desperate Housewives, How I Met Your Mother, Mad Men, White Chicks, The Human Stain)
• Teddy Dunn (B.S. 2003), actor (Veronica Mars)
• Nancy Dussault (B.A. 1957), actress (Too Close for Comfort); two-time Tony Award nominee (Do Re Mi, Bajour)
• Gregg Edelman (B.S. 1980), Tony Award-nominated actor (City of Angels, Into the Woods)
• Billy Eichner, comedian, actor
• Jennie Eisenhower (B.S. 2000), actress; granddaughter of Richard Nixon and the great-granddaughter of Dwight D. Eisenhower
• Temi Epstein (B.S. 1996), child actress (North and South)
• Joe Flynn, actor (McHale's Navy)
• Mary Frann (B.S. 1965), actress (Newhart, Days of Our Lives)
• Gerald Freedman (B.S. 1949, M.A. 1950), theatre director (The Gay Life, The Robber Bridegroom, The Grand Tour)
• David T. Friendly (B.S. 1978), Academy Award-nominated producer (Little Miss Sunshine)
• Penny Fuller (B.S. 1959), Emmy Award-winning actress (The Elephant Man); Tony Award nominee (The Dinner Party)
• George Furth (B.S. 1955), Tony Award-winning playwright (Company); actor (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid)
• Daniele Gaither (B.S. 1993), actress, comic (MADtv)
• Frank Galati (B.A. 1965), Tony Award-winning director (The Grapes of Wrath), Academy Award-nominated screenwriter (The Accidental Tourist)
• Aimee Garcia (B.S. 2000), actress (George Lopez)
• Ana Gasteyer (B.S. 1989), actress (Mean Girls, Wicked); former cast member of Saturday Night Live
• Ileen Getz (B.S. 1985), actress (3rd Rock from the Sun)
• Zach Gilford (B.S. 2004), actor (Friday Night Lights)
• Eric Gilliland (B.S. 1984), writer/producer (Rosanne, My Boys)
• Ira Glass (attended, transferred), radio and TV personality
• Jonathan Glassner, TV writer/producer, most known for developing Stargate SG-1
• Virginia Graham (M.S.J.), former daytime TV talk show host
• Michael Greif (B.S. 1981), Tony Award-nominated director of Rent and Grey Gardens
• Mamie Gummer (B.S. 2005), actress (Evening), daughter of Meryl Streep
• Anna Gunn (B.S. 1990), actress (Deadwood, Breaking Bad)
• Kathryn Hahn (B.S. 1995), actress (Crossing Jordan, Step Brothers, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, We're the Millers)
• Brad Hall (B.S. 1990), former cast member of Saturday Night Live; creator of The Single Guy, Watching Ellie
• Samantha Harris (B.S. 1996), Emmy Award-nominated co-host of Dancing with the Stars
• Bill Hayes (M.M. 1949), Daytime Emmy Award-nominated actor (Days of Our Lives)
• Heather Headley (B.S. 1997), Tony Award-winning actress and singer (Aida, The Lion King); Grammy Award-nominated R&B vocalist
• Kyle T. Heffner, actor, Flashdance
• Marg Helgenberger (B.S. 1982), Emmy Award-winning actress (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, China Beach, Erin Brockovich)
• Charlton Heston (attended from 1941-1943), Academy Award-winning actor (Ben-Hur) and National Rifle Association President
• Michael Hitchcock (B.S. 1980), writer, co-executive producer (MADTv); actor (Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, Serenity )
• Ron Holgate (B.S. 1959), Tony Award-winning actor (1776, The Grand Tour)
• David Hollander (B.S. 1990), creator, screenwriter, and executive producer of The Guardian
• David Horowitz (M.S. 1961), former host of Fight Back! With David Horowitz
• Jeffrey Hunter (B.A. 1949), actor (The Searchers, The Last Hurrah, King of Kings, The Longest Day)
• Lew Hunter (M.S. 1956), Emmy Award-nominated screenwriter (Fallen Angel); Chairman Emeritus and Professor of Screenwriting, UCLA School of Theater Film and Television
• Ron Husmann (B.S. 1959), Tony Award-nominated actor (Tenderloin)
• Martha Hyer (B.S. 1945), Academy Award-nominated actress (Some Came Running, Houseboat, The Sons of Katie Elder, Bikini Beach)
• Rex Ingram, actor (Cabin in the Sky, The Thief of Baghdad, Sahara, Green Pastures)
• Laura Innes (B.S. 1979), Emmy Award-nominated actress (ER); Emmy Award-nominated director (The West Wing)
• David Ives (B.A. 1971), playwright, (All in the Timing)
• Brian d'Arcy James (B.S. 1990), Tony Award-nominated actor (Sweet Smell of Success: The Musical)
• Tim Johnson (B.A. 1983), director (Antz, Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas)
• Traci Paige Johnson (B.A. 1991), creator of Blue's Clues
• Jennifer Jones, Academy Award-winning actress (The Song of Bernadette, Since You Went Away, Love Letters, Duel in the Sun, The Towering Inferno)
• Adam Kantor, Broadway actor, singer, dancer, Rent
• Peter Kapetan (B.A. 1978), Broadway actor, singer, dancer (1956–2008)
• Spencer Kayden (B.S. 1990), former cast member of MADTv; Tony Award nominee for Urinetown
• James Keach (B.S. 1970), actor (The Long Riders); producer (Walk the Line); director (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman)
• Stacy Keach, Sr. (B.S. 1935), actor (Get Smart); director (Tales of the Texas Rangers)
• Clinton Kelly (M.S. 1993), co-host of What Not to Wear
• Richard Kind (B.S. 1978), actor (Mad About You, Spin City)
• Richard Kline (M.A. 1967), actor (Three's Company)
• Robert Knepper (attended, never graduated), actor (Prison Break, Hostage, Carnivàle)
• Gary Kroeger (B.S. 1981), former cast member of Saturday Night Live
• Roger Kumble (B.S. 1988), writer/director (Cruel Intentions)
• Clyde Kusatsu (B.S. 1970), actor (All American Girl, In the Line of Fire)
• Mark Lamos (B.S. 1969), Tony Award-winning former artistic director of the Hartford Stage
• Sherry Lansing (B.S. 1966), former CEO of Paramount Pictures; Academy Award-nominated producer (Fatal Attraction); 2007 recipient of The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award
• Britt Leach, actor (Weird Science)
• Cloris Leachman (B.S. 1948), Academy Award-winning and Emmy Award-winning actress (The Last Picture Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Spanglish)
• Harry J. Lennix (B.S. 1986), actor (The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, Commander in Chief, Ray)
• Herschell Gordon Lewis, filmmaker
• Richard J. Lewis (B.A. 1982), Emmy Award-nominated director/producer (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation)
• Laura Linney (attended for a year then transferred), actress (The Truman Show, Love Actually)
• John Logan (B.S. 1983), Academy Award-nominated screenwriter (The Aviator, Gladiator, The Last Samurai, Hugo, Skyfall)
• Shelley Long (class of 1971, never graduated), Emmy Award-winning actress (Cheers, The Money Pit, Irreconcilable Differences)
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus (class of 1982, never graduated), Emmy Award-winning actress (Seinfeld, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Veep); former cast member of Saturday Night Live
• Paul Lynde (B.S. 1948), actor (Hollywood Squares, Bewitched, Bye Bye Birdie)
• J. P. Manoux (B.S. 1991), actor (ER, Phil of the Future, The Emperor's New School)
• Stephanie March (B.S. 1996), actress (Law & Order: SVU, Conviction)
• Michael Markowitz (B.S. 1983), Emmy Award-nominated writer and producer (Duckman, Becker)
• Garry Marshall (B.S. 1956), creator of Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, and Mork & Mindy; director (Pretty Woman, Beaches, The Princess Diaries)
• Marshall W. Mason (B.S. 1961), Tony Award-nominated director (Fifth of July, As Is)
• Jacquelyn Mayer (B.S. 1964), former Miss America
• Ralph Meeker (B.S. 1943), actor (Kiss Me Deadly, Paths of Glory, Picnic, The St. Valentine's Day Massacre, The Anderson Tapes)
• Susan Messing (B.S. 1986), performer, teacher, and director at The Second City, ImprovOlympic, and the Annoyance Theatre
• Josh Meyers (B.S. 1998), actor (MADtv, That '70s Show)
• Seth Meyers (B.S. 1996), cast member of Saturday Night Live; host of Late Night with Seth Meyers; winner of the third Celebrity Poker Showdown
• Terri Minsky (B.S. 1980), creator, writer, executive producer of Lizzie McGuire, Less Than Perfect, The Geena Davis Show
• John Cameron Mitchell (B.S. 1985), writer/actor/director (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), executive producer (Tarnation)
• Karen Moncrieff (B.S. 1986), Miss Illinois 1985; writer and director of The Dead Girl and Blue Car
• Jason Moore (B.S. 1993), Tony Award-nominated director (Avenue Q)
• Andrew Moskos (B.A. 1990), co-founder of Boom Chicago in Amsterdam
• Megan Mullally (class of 1981, never graduated), Emmy Award-winning actress (Will and Grace)
• Dermot Mulroney (B.S. 1985), actor (About Schmidt, My Best Friend's Wedding, The Family Stone)
• Tony Musante, actor (Toma, As the World Turns)
• John Musker (B.A. 1975), writer/producer/director (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules)
• Margaret Nagle, screenwriter (Emmy Award-winning Warm Springs)
• Patricia Neal (B.S. 1947), Academy Award-winning and Tony Award-winning actress (A Face in the Crowd, Hud, Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Subject Was Roses)
• Tom Neal, actor (Detour, Jungle Girl)
• George Newbern (B.S. 1986), actor (Father of the Bride, Father of the Bride Part II, Justice League Unlimited)
• Jamie Ray Newman (B.S. 2000), actress (Veronica Mars, Stargate Atlantis)
• Agnes Nixon (B.S. 1944), Emmy Award-winning writer/producer (All My Children, One Life to Live, Another World, As the World Turns, Loving)
• Denis O'Hare (B.S. 1984), Tony Award-winning actor (Take Me Out, Sweet Charity, Assassins)
• Dana Olsen (B.S. 1980), screenwriter (George of the Jungle, The 'Burbs)
• James Olson (B.S. 1952), actor (Rachel, Rachel, The Andromeda Strain, Ragtime, Commando)
• Jerry Orbach (class of 1956, never graduated), Tony Award-winning and Emmy Award-nominated actor (Law & Order, Promises, Promises, Dirty Dancing)
• Maulik Pancholy (B.S. 1995), actor (30 Rock, Weeds)
• Mary Beth Peil (B.S. 1962), Tony Award-nominated actress (The King and I, Dawson's Creek, The Good Wife)
• Jeff Pinkner, screenwriter (Lost)
• David Pitts, figure skater (appeared in professional musicals and joined Ice Capades)
• Jenny Powers (B.S. 2003), Miss Illinois 2000; Broadway actress (Little Women)
• Paula Prentiss (B.S. 1959), Emmy Award-nominated actress (Where the Boys Are, The Parallax View, In Harm's Way, The World of Henry Orient)
• Michael Prywes (B.S. 1996), writer and director of Returning Mickey Stern
• John Qualen, actor (The Grapes of Wrath, The Searchers, Casablanca, The High and the Mighty)
• Maeve Quinlan (attended, transferred to University of Southern California), actress (90210, South of Nowhere, Ken Park, The Bold and the Beautiful)
• Lily Rabe (B.S. 2004), actress (No Reservations, Steel Magnolias)
• Charlotte Rae (B.S. 1948), Emmy Award-nominated and Tony Award-nominated actress (The Facts of Life, Diff'rent Strokes, Queen of the Stardust Ballroom)
• Tony Randall (class of 1941, never graduated), Emmy Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated actor (The Odd Couple, Mr. Peepers, Inherit the Wind)
• Keith Reddin (B.S. 1978), playwright
• Robert Reed (B.S. 1954), Emmy Award-nominated actor (The Brady Bunch, The Boy in the Plastic Bubble, Roots)
• Daphne Maxwell Reid (B.A. 1970), actress (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)
• Tony Roberts (B.S. 1961), Tony Award-nominated actor (Annie Hall, Serpico, Play It Again, Sam)
• Marcia Rodd (B.S. 1960), Tony Award-nominated actress (Little Murders)
• Jeri Ryan (B.S. 1991), actress (Boston Public, Star Trek: Voyager, Shark)
• Ethan Sandler (B.S. 1995), actor (Crossing Jordan)
• Kristen Schaal (B.S. 2001), actress and comedian, contributor to The Daily Show
• David Schwimmer (B.S. 1988), Emmy Award-nominated actor (Friends, Band of Brothers, Madagascar)
• Yuki Shimoda (Yukio Shimoda, B.A. in Accounting 1950s), Emmy Award-nominated actor
• Katherine Shindle (B.S. 1999), Miss America 1998, actress (Capote)
• Dan Shor, actor (Tron, Strange Behavior, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure)
• Candace Smith (J.D. 2002), Miss Ohio USA 2003; actress (Beerfest)
• Jerry Springer (J.D. 1968), host of The Jerry Springer Show; former mayor of Cincinnati
• Florence Stanley, actress (My Two Dads, Atlantis: The Lost Empire)
• McLean Stevenson (B.S. 1952), Emmy Award-nominated actor (M*A*S*H, The Doris Day Show); guest host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
• Peter Strauss (B.S. 1969), Emmy Award-winning actor (Rich Man, Poor Man, Masada, Soldier Blue, The Secret of NIMH)
• Nicole Sullivan (B.S. 1991), original cast member of MADtv; actress (The King of Queens); winner of the inaugural Celebrity Poker Showdown
• Hope Summers, actress (The Andy Griffith Show)
• Inga Swenson (B.S. 1953), actress (The Miracle Worker, Benson)
• Leigh Taylor-Young (attended, never graduated), Emmy Award-winning actress (Soylent Green, Picket Fences, I Love You, Alice B. Toklas)
• Lloyd Thaxton (B.A. 1950), television show host, Emmy Award-winning producer of Fight Back! With David Horowitz
• David Thompson (B.S.J.), playwright and writer (The Scottsboro Boys, Steel Pier)
• Chuti Tiu (B.A. 1991), Miss Illinois 1994; actress (Desire)
• Deborah Tranelli (B.S. 1977), actress (Dallas)
• Robert Trebor, actor (Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Raise Your Voice)
• Tom Virtue (B.S. 1979), actor (Even Stevens, Read It and Weep)
• Billie Lou Watt (B.S. 1945), actress (Search for Tomorrow, Astro Boy)
• Michael Weston (B.S.), actor (The Last Kiss, Coyote Ugly, Six Feet Under)
• Kimberly Williams (B.S. 1993), actress (Father of the Bride, Father of the Bride Part II, According to Jim)
• Pharrell Williams (attended, never graduated), Grammy-winning musician/producer
• Fred Williamson (B.S. 1960), actor (MASH, Three the Hard Way, Black Caesar, Starsky & Hutch); former professional defensive back who played in Super Bowl I
• Edward D. Wood, Jr., filmmaker
• Mary Zimmerman (B.S. 1982, M.A. 1985, Ph.D. 1994), Tony Award-winning director/writer (Metamorphoses); librettist (Galileo Galilei)

Business

• James L. Allen (B.S. 1929), founder of Booz Allen Hamilton
• Arthur E. Andersen (B.B.A. 1917), founder of Arthur Andersen LLP
• Edwin G. Booz (B.S. 1914), founder of Booz Allen Hamilton
• Lisa Caputo (M.S. 1987), Chairman and CEO, Citigroup Women and Company
• Sue Castorino (B.S. 1975), founder and President of The Speaking Specialists
• Nicholas Chabraja (B.A. 1964), Chairman and CEO, General Dynamics
• Douglas Conant (B.A. 1973, MBA 1975), President and CEO, Campbell Soup Company
• Bill Cook (B.S. 1953), billionaire founder and owner of the Cook Group
• Brian Engel (M.B.A. 1975), former Public Affairs Executive and Marketing Strategist, Continental Resources
• D. Cameron Findlay (B.A. 1982), Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Medtronic, Inc.
• Scott J. Freidheim (B.A. 1987, MBA 1991), President and CEO, CDI Corp
• Christopher Galvin (B.A. 1973), former Chairman and CEO of Motorola
• Elbert Henry Gary (J.D. 1868), co-founder of the United States Steel Corporation
• Hugh Hefner (attended for semester of graduate sociology courses), founder of Playboy Enterprises, Inc.
• David Grossman, founder of The Grossman Group
• David Ing (M.B.A. 1982), marketing scientist and senior consultant
• John H. Johnson (attended, never graduated), founder of the Johnson Publishing Company (Ebony and Jet magazines)
• Sheraton Kalouria (M.B.A. 1993), Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President Sony Pictures Television
• Shalom Klein, founder Jewish B2B Networking
• Sonita Lontoh (M.B.A. 2006), Green Technology Expert and Women in Technology Leadership Advocate
• Andrew Mason (B.Mus. 2003), founder and CEO, Groupon
• Blythe McGarvie, director of Accenture, Viacom, and the Pepsi Bottling Group
• John Meriwether (B.S. 1969), founder of Long-Term Capital Management
• Divya Narendra (J.D./M.B.A. 2012), co-founder of ConnectU
• William A. Osborn (B.A. 1969), Chairman and CEO, Northern Trust Corporation
• Peter George Peterson (B.S. 1947), former Chairman and CEO of Lehman Brothers; co-founder of the Blackstone Group
• Tom Poberezny (B.S. 1970), former Chairman and President of Experimental Aircraft Association
• Christine Poon (B.A. 1973), Vice Chairman and Worldwide Chairman of Medicines & Nutritionals, Johnson & Johnson
• Ginni Rometty (B.S. 1979), Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, IBM
• Pat Ryan (B.A. 1959), founder and Executive Chairman of Aon Corporation
• Paul Sagan (B.S. 1981), President and CEO, Akamai Technologies
• Faiza Seth (B.A. 2000), CEO of Casa Forma, Ltd.
• Judith A. Sprieser (B.A. 1974, M.B.A. 1977), former CFO and EVP of Sara Lee.
• Alfred Steele (B.A. 1923), former CEO of Pepsi-Cola
• Lee Styslinger III (B.A. 1983), chairman and CEO of Altec, Inc.
• Cody Sweet, (Ph.D. 1972), creator of Milton Bradley Body Language board game, perpetual scholarship recipient
• Robert Wayman (B.S. 1967), former CFO and EVP, Hewlett-Packard

For notable M.B.A. alumni, also see the Kellogg School of Management

Journalism

• J. A. Adande, ESPN contributor, Around the Horn; former Los Angeles Times sports columnist
• Peter Alexander, national correspondent, NBC News
• Peter Applebome (M.S. 1974), reporter at The New York Times
• Jabari Asim, columnist, Washington Post
• David Barstow (B.S. 1986), Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for The New York Times
• Steve Bell (M.S. 1963), former correspondent for ABC News
• Amalie Benjamin, sports columnist, Boston Globe
• Ira Berkow (M.S. 1964), author, former sports columnist, The New York Times
• Kai Bird (M.S. 1975), Pulitzer Prize-winning author and columnist
• Kevin Blackistone (B.S. 1981), ESPN contributor, Around the Horn; former Dallas Morning News sports columnist
• Valerie Boyd (B.S. 1985), author of Wrapped in Rainbows: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston; former Atlanta Journal-Constitution arts editor
• Christine Brennan (B.S. 1980, M.S. 1981), sports columnist, USA Today
• Elisabeth Bumiller, former White House Correspondent, The New York Times
• Benedict Carey (M.S. 1985), science reporter, The New York Times
• Amanda Congdon (B.S. 2003), former hostess of Rocketboom
• Mort Crim (M.S. 1963), former broadcast journalist
• Benoit Denizet-Lewis (B.S. 1997), contributor to the New York Times Magazine and author of America Anonymous
• Gregg Easterbrook (M.S.J.), author and journalist, senior editor of The New Republic
• Rich Eisen, NFL Network anchor
• Shirley E. Flynn, American historian, author of Let's Go! Let's Show! Let's Rodeo!, a history of Cheyenne Frontier Days in Cheyenne, Wyoming
• Linda Foley (B.S. 1977) president, The Newspaper Guild
• John Fricke, Emmy Award-winning author/historian; expert on Judy Garland and The Wizard of Oz
• Georgie Anne Geyer, journalist
• Ira Glass, host of NPR's This American Life, attended Northwestern but transferred to and graduated from Brown University
• Susan Goldberg, editor-in-chief, National Geographic Magazine
• Patrick Goldstein (B.A. 1975, M.A. 1976), former columnist and reporter, Los Angeles Times
• Joshua Green (M.S.J.), senior editor, The Atlantic
• Lauren Green, religion correspondent for Fox News Channel
• Mike Greenberg, ESPN Sportscenter anchor, co-host of Mike and Mike in the Morning on ESPN Radio
• John Heilemann (B.S.J. 1987), journalist at New York magazine and co-author of Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime
• Jon Heyman, baseball writer, Sports Illustrated
• Cassidy Hubbarth, ESPN anchor
• Stephen Hunter, Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic for the Washington Post and novelist
• Michael Isikoff, former investigative journalist for Newsweek magazine and NBC News
• Laura Jacobs (B.A. 1978), contributing editor at Vanity Fair and New Criterion dance critic
• Jeff Jarvis, creator of Entertainment Weekly, columnist, professor at CUNY Journalism program
• Clara Jeffery, editor-in-chief, Mother Jones Magazine
• Maura Johnston (B.S. 1997), editor and critic
• Sheinelle Jones, anchor, NBC News
• Sherry Jones (M.S. 1971), senior producer, Frontline
• Walter Kerr, Broadway theater critic, playwright, and author
• Hank Klibanoff (M.S.J. 1973), former managing editor of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Pulitzer Prize-winning co-author of The Race Beat: The Press, the Civil Rights Struggle, and the Awakening of a Nation
• Rikki Klieman, Court TV anchor and legal analyst
• Michelle Kosinski, correspondent, NBC News
• Irv Kupcinet, former Chicago Sun-Times columnist
• Katherine Lanpher (B.S.J.), writer and radio personality, author of Leap Days
• Nicole Lapin (B.S.J. 2005), anchor, CNN Pipeline
• Stewart Mandel, college football writer, Sports Illustrated
• Robert R. McCormick, former owner of the Chicago Tribune
• Brent Musburger, sportscaster, ABC
• Nyo Mya (M.S. 1943), author and journalist from Burma
• Rachel Nichols, ESPN and Washington Post reporter
• Kelly O'Donnell (B.A. 1987), White House correspondent for NBC News
• John Palmer, former news correspondent for NBC News
• Ben Parr (B.A. 2008), CNET columnist and former co-editor of Mashable
• Kevin Peraino (B.S.J. 1998), journalist and author of Lincoln in the World: The Making of a Statesman and the Dawn of American Power
• Barry Petersen, foreign correspondent, CBS News
• Daniel H. Pink (B.A. 1986), author of A Whole New Mind
• Neal Pollack, novelist, essayist
• Seth Porges, technology writer, television commentator, and Popular Mechanics editor
• Steven Reddicliffe (B.S. 1975), former editor-in-chief, TV Guide; current television editor for The New York Times
• Nick Reding (B.A. 1994), author, Methland
• Kathy Reichs, best-selling novelist and forensic anthropologist
• Jacque Reid, television and radio personality, former lead anchor for the BET nightly news
• Dave Revsine, sportscaster for Big Ten Network, formerly with ESPN
• James Risen (M.S. 1978), Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for The New York Times
• Adam Rittenberg, ESPN Big Ten blogger
• Tina Rosenberg (B.A. 1981, M.S.J.) author and journalist at The New York Times Magazine
• Darren Rovell, CNBC sports business reporter
• Daniel Rubin, metro columnist, The Philadelphia Inquirer
• Steve Scully (Master of Science), host, political editor, and senior producer of C-SPAN's Washington Journal
• Anatole Shub, journalist for Washington Post and New York Times, author
• David Sirota, author of Hostile Takeover and political strategist
• Jane Skinner, host of Fox News Live
• Evan Smith, Editor in Chief of Texas Monthly
• W. E. "Pete" Snelson, journalist-turned-businessman and member of both houses of the Texas State Legislature from 1961 to 1983, later educational consultant in Austin
• Lynn Sweet, Washington, D.C., bureau chief and columnist, Chicago Sun-Times
• Rick Telander, sportswriter, Chicago Sun Times
• Dina Temple-Raston (B.A. 1986), journalist, author, and National Public Radio correspondent
• Sander Vanocur, journalist
• Julia Wallace (B.S. 1978), editor, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
• Jack Wardlaw (B.S., M.A.), Louisiana journalist; capital bureau chief in Baton Rouge of the New Orleans Times-Picayune
• David Weigel, political reporter, Slate magazine
• Alan Weisman (B.A., M.A.), journalist and author of The World Without Us
• Gary Weiss, journalist
• Michael Wilbon, ESPN analyst (Pardon the Interruption, NBA Countdown) and Washington Post sports columnist

Law

• Simeon R. Acoba, Jr. (J.D. 1969), Justice, Hawaii Supreme Court
• Diane Marie Amann (J.D. 1986), Associate Dean for International Programs & Strategic Initiatives and Emily & Ernest Woodruff Chair in International Law, University of Georgia School of Law
• Rachel E. Barkow (B.A. 1993), Professor of Law, New York University Law School
• Randy Barnett (B.A. 1974), Carmack Waterhouse Professor of Law, Georgetown University
• Henry Moore Bates (LL.B. 1892), Dean of the University of Michigan Law School (1910–1939) and Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• Richard Ben-Veniste (L.L.M. 1968), former Watergate counsel and 9/11 Commission member
• William Duane Benton (B.A. 1972), Federal Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
• Raoul Berger (J.D. 1935), former Charles Warren Senior Fellow in American Legal History, Harvard Law School
• Mary Frances Berry, Geraldine R. Segal Professor of American Social Thought and Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania; Civil Rights Commissioner, 1980–2004
• Dalveer Bhandari (L.L.M. 1972), former Judge, Supreme Court of India, presently a Judge at the International Court of Justice, Hague
• Brian Blanchard, Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals
• David Boies (B.S. 1964), counsel, Bush v. Gore; founding partner, Boies, Schiller & Flexner
• Erwin Chemerinsky (B.S. 1975), dean, University of California, Irvine School of Law
• G. Marcus Cole (J.D. 1993), Professor of Law, Helen L. Crocker Faculty Scholar, and Associate Dean for Curriculum, Stanford Law School
• Cyrus E. Dietz (J.D. 1902), Justice, Illinois Supreme Court
• Carl E. Douglas (B.A. 1980), lawyer, O.J. Simpson trial
• Arthur Goldberg (B.S.L. 1929, J.S.D. 1930), former Justice, U.S. Supreme Court
• Douglas Kmiec (B.A. 1973), Caruso Family Chair and Professor of Constitutional Law, Pepperdine University School of Law; U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Malta
• Lyman Ray Patterson, former Pope F. Brock Professor of Professional Responsibility, University of Georgia School of Law
• Seymour Simon (B.S. 1935), former Justice, Illinois Supreme Court
• Loren Smith (B.A. 1966, J.D. 1969), Federal Judge, United States Court of Federal Claims
• Jerry Springer 1968 politician, Jerry Springer Show
• John Paul Stevens (J.D. 1947), Justice, U.S. Supreme Court
• Richard Tallman, Justice, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Jonathan Turley, J.B. and Maurice Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law, The George Washington University Law School

See also Northwestern University School of Law

Medicine, science and technology

• Pulickel Ajayan, professor of materials science and nanotechnology, Rice University
• David Applebaum, Israeli physician
• Deborah Asnis, B.S., M.D. 1981, infectious disease specialist, discovered and reported the first human cases of West Nile virus in the United States.
• Archana Bhattacharyya, Indian physicist
• Robert A. Buethe, Surgeon General of the U.S. Air Force
• Andy Carvin, founding editor and former coordinator of the Digital Divide Network
• George W. Crane, Ph.D., M.D., psychologist, physician, author, newspaper columnist
• Segun Toyin Dawodu, MD, JD, MBA, LL.M, MS. Associate Professor of Pain Medicine at Albany Medical College
• Robert F. Furchgott, Ph.D., 1940, Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine 1998
• Alston Scott Householder (B.A. 1925), mathematician
• Cheddi Jagan, dentist, president of Guyana
• Marc Kirschner (B.A. 1966), founding chair of Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School
• Kermit E Krantz (B.S. 1945, M.S. 1947, M.D. 1948), professor, developed surgical techniques and invented expandable tampon
• Gary Kremen, internet entrepreneur, founder of Match.com; first investor in Dolores Labs
• Richard Lerner, past president of Scripps Research Institute, co-inventor of HUMIRA
• Irene D. Long, Chief Medical Officer, Kennedy Space Center
• Boris Lushniak, Assistant Surgeon General of the United States
• Charles Horace Mayo, doctor (Mayo Clinic)
• Kathy Reichs Ph.D., forensic anthropologist, former Chief Medical Examiner of North Carolina, author, professor
• Sonya Rose (Ph.D. 1974), sociologist and historian
• Richard Skrenta, creator of the first computer virus, Elk Cloner
• Thomas Starzl (MS 1950, MD 1952), surgeon, father of modern transplantation, performed first liver transplant
• Joseph Staten, writer and director of the Halo video games
• Debi Thomas, orthopedic surgeon and 1988 Winter Olympics bronze medalist in figure skating
• Sam Treiman, former theoretical physicist and professor of physics at Princeton University
• Jacques Vallee (Ph.D. 1967), computer scientist, astronomer and UFO researcher
• Edward Weiler (B.A. 1971, M.S. 1973, Ph.D. 1976), director, Goddard Space Flight Center

Music, literature and the arts

• Steve Albini, recording engineer, musician
• Jack Anderson, dance critic, The New York Times
• Marie Arana, editor of Washington Post Book World, author of National Book Award finalist American Chica and the novel Cellophane
• Steven Bach (B.A. 1961), former film executive and author of Final Cut and biographies including Leni: The Life and Work of Leni Riefenstahl
• Ernst Bacon, composer
• Mary Jo Bang (B.A., M.A.), 2007 National Book Critics Circle award winner for poetry collection Elegy, professor of English at Washington University in St. Louis
• Saul Bellow (B.A. 1937), Nobel Prize-winning novelist
• Andrew Bird (B.M. 1995), singer-songwriter
• Chris Bliss, juggler
• Anthony Bozza, music journalist, author of Whatever You Say I Am: The Life and Times of Eminem and Tommyland
• Grace Bumbry, mezzo-soprano
• Robert Olen Butler (B.S. 1967), Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist
• William Butler (B.A. 2005), member of indie rock band Arcade Fire
• Mark Camphouse, composer, notably of symphonic wind pieces, and conductor
• Dan Chaon, author
• Andrew Clements, author
• Julia Davids, founding member and Artistic Director of the Canadian Chamber Choir
• Lydia R. Diamond (B.S. 1992), playwright and professor at Boston University
• Cynthia Dobrinski, handbell composer and clinician
• Ivan Doig (B.S.J., M.S.J.), novelist
• Tananarive Due, novelist and journalist, The Living Blood
• Andy Duncan, former member of OK Go
• Mary Dunleavy, soprano
• Wilma Dykeman, writer
• Timothy Ferris, science author
• William R. Ferris (M.A. 1965), former chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities
• Gillian Flynn (M.S.), author of mystery novels and former television critic at Entertainment Weekly
• Kyle Gann, composer, microtonalist
• Shari Goldhagen, author
• Chester Gould, cartoonist
• James Green (B.A. 1966), author
• Ayun Halliday, author and actor
• Amir Hamed, Uruguaya writer
• Howard Hanson, composer
• Sheldon Harnick, lyricist
• Aleksandar Hemon (M.A. 1996), author and MacArthur Fellow, The Lazarus Project, Nowhere Man
• Myron Hunt, architect
• Payal Kapadia (M.S.J. 1999), author; winner of the Crossword Book Award for Best Children's Writing in India, 2013
• Brendan Kelly, member of The Lawrence Arms
• Ardis Krainik (B.S. 1951), former General Manager of the Lyric Opera of Chicago
• Jay Krush, tubist
• William Lava, composer
• Laura Lippman (B.S.J.), mystery novelist
• Margaret Lloyd, soprano
• George R.R. Martin (B.S.J. 1970, M.S.J. 1971), author, A Game of Thrones
• Luke Matheny (B.S.J. 1997), director and star of 2011 Academy Award-winning short film God of Love
• Robert McHenry, encyclopedist and author
• Sherrill Milnes, baritone
• Audrey Niffenegger (M.F.A. 1991), novelist and artist; author of The Time Traveller's Wife
• Bruce Norris (B.A. 1982), Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of Clybourne Park
• Tawni O'Dell (B.S.J. 1986), novelist, Sister Mine, Coal Run, Back Roads
• Karen A. Page, writer
• Marge Piercy, novelist and poet
• Leslie Pietrzyk, writer
• Neal Pollack (B.S.J. 1992), satirical author and journalist
• Joshua Radin, singer-songwriter
• Kathy Reichs, author
• Steve Rodby, jazz bassist
• Ned Rorem, composer
• Tina Rosenberg (B.A. 1981, M.S.J.), Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist
• Veronica Roth, New York Times best-selling author of Divergent
• William M. Runyan, Christian songwriter who composed "Great Is Thy Faithfulness"
• Karen Russell (B.A. 2003), author of St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves and Swamplandia!
• Thom Russo ( B.A 1988), Grammy-winning record producer, mixer, musician
• David Sanborn, saxophonist
• Joseph Schwantner, composer
• Sandra Seacat, actress and acting teacher/coach; director of In the Spirit
• Sidney Sheldon, author (never graduated)
• Nana Shineflug, American dancer and choreographer and founder of the Chicago Moving Company
• Philip Skinner, opera singer
• Jon Solomon, DJ and record label owner
• Warren Spector, game designer
• Michael Sprinker, late literary theorist
• Peter Stuart (B.A. Film, 1989), singer-songwriter, lead vocalist of Dog's Eye View
• Frederick Swann, organist and President of the American Guild of Organists
• Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate, composer
• Augusta Read Thomas (B.M. 1987), composer
• Trevanian, author
• Thomas Tyra (B.A. 1954, M.A. 1955), composer, music educator, bandmaster
• Walter Wager, author
• Nike Wagner, author
• Kate Walbert (B.A. 1983), National Book Award-nominated writer, author of A Short History of Women
• Margaret Walker (B.A. 1935), poet and author
• Doug Wamble (M.M. 1997), musician and composer
• Joshua Weiner (B.A. 1985), poet, author of The World's Room
• Paul Winter, musician
• Rachael Yamagata (B.S. 1997), musician
• Claire Zulkey, author

Politics, government, and public policy

• Armida Alisjahbana (M.A. 1987), State Minister of National Development Planning, Head of National Development Planning Agency (BAPPENAS), Republic of Indonesia
• Ali Babacan (M.B.A. 1992), Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey
• Michael Bakalis (B.A. 1959, M.A. 1962, Ph.D. 1966), former Deputy Secretary of Education in the US Department of Education
• George Ball, former Undersecretary of State
• Judy Biggert, Republican congresswoman
• Rod Blagojevich, former Governor of Illinois
• Matthew Bogusz (B.A. 2008), Mayor of Des Plaines, Illinois
• William M. Bray, former Wisconsin State Senator
• William Jennings Bryan, three-time Democratic presidential nominee
• Dale Bumpers (J.D. 1951), former U.S. Senator and Governor of Arkansas
• John A. Cade (M.B.A. 1954), former Maryland State Senator
• Francis H. Case, former U.S. Senator
• Salem Chalabi, ex-General Director of the Iraqi Special Tribunal
• Wendy Chamberlin (B.S. 1970), former U.S. ambassador to Pakistan; former assistant administrator, USAID Bureau for Asia and the Near East
• Cardiss Collins, former U.S. Representative from Illinois
• James L. Connaughton, Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality
• Dan Cronin, Current Illinois State Senator
• Emery Crosby, Wisconsin State Assembly
• Nathan Daschle, former Democratic Governors Association Executive Director
• Dennis Daugaard (J.D. 1978), Governor of South Dakota; former Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota
• Beau Davidson (B.Mus. 2003), former surrogate for Mitt Romney; Ten Outstanding Young Americans of 2013
• Karen DeCrow (B.S. 1959), former President of the National Organization for Women
• Rahm Emanuel, mayor of Chicago, former aide to Bill Clinton, former Democratic congressman of Illinois' 5th congressional district and former White House Chief of Staff of President Barack Obama
• Eric Fingerhut Ohio States Senator, and nominee for 2004 Ohio Senate Election
• Al From, founder and current CEO of the Democratic Leadership Council
• Chrissy Gephardt, prominent LGBT-rights political advocate, daughter of Dick Gephardt
• Dick Gephardt, former House Democratic leader
• Barbara Gittings, LGBT activist
• Warren A. Grady, Wisconsin State Assembly
• Wendy Lee Gramm, former head of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
• Corwin C. Guell, Wisconsin State Assembly
• Robert Hanssen (M.B.A. 1971), former FBI agent who engaged in spying for the Soviet Union and Russia against the United States
• Loy W. Henderson (B.A. 1915), former United States Foreign Service Officer
• John Hoeven (M.B.A. 1981), United States Senator from North Dakota; former Governor of North Dakota
• Earl Dewitt Hutto, former United States Representative from Florida
• Steve Kagen, U.S. Representative from Wisconsin
• Ruth U. Keeton, Maryland politician
• Scott L. Klug (M.S.J. 1976), former U.S. Representative from Wisconsin
• Jim Kolbe, former U.S. Representative from Arizona, served 11 terms
• Liz Krueger (B.A.), New York State Senator
• Dan Lipinski (B.S. 1988), U.S. Representative from Illinois

• Steve Litzow (B.A.), Washington State Senator from Mercer Island
• Frank Orren Lowden, former Governor of Illinois
• Edwin M. Martin, former United States Foreign Service Officer
• Catherine Waugh McCulloch, suffragist
• John L. McEwen, Wisconsin State Assembly
• George McGovern, South Dakota Senator and 1972 Democratic candidate for president
• Carroll Metzner, Wisconsin State Assembly
• Newton Minow, former director of the Federal Communications Commission
• Eduardo Mondlane, revolutionary leader of Mozambique
• Lorraine H. Morton, former Mayor of Evanston, Illinois (1993–2009)
• Dawn Clark Netsch (B.A. 1948), politician
• John J. Nimrod, Illinois politician
• Phyllis Oakley (B.A. 1956), former assistant secretary of state for intelligence and research, the State Department
• George M. O'Brien (B.A. 1939), former U.S. Representative from Illinois
• Terry O'Neill (B.A.), president of the National Organization for Women (NOW)
• John Edward Porter (B.S. and B.A 1957), former U.S. Representative from Illinois
• Pat Quinn former Governor of Illinois
• Gary Rader, Green Beret Army Reservist who burned his draft card in 1967
• Jim Reese (Master of Arts 1952), mayor of Odessa, Texas, from 1968 to 1974; lost to George W. Bush in 1978 primary election runoff in Texas's 19th congressional district
• J. Leonard Reinsch, former White House Press Secretary
• Ora R. Rice, Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly
• Alec Ross (B.A. 1994), Senior Adviser on Innovation to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
• Amos Sawyer, former president of Liberia
• Brad Schneider (MBA 1988), former U.S. Representative from Illinois, and candidate for U.S. Representative from Illinois.
• Mel Sembler (B.S. 1952), former U.S. ambassador to Italy
• Adlai Stevenson, Illinois governor and two-time Democratic presidential nominee
• Mike Synar (M.A. 1974), former United States Representative from Oklahoma
• James R. Thompson, former Governor of Illinois
• Judy Baar Topinka, former State Treasurer of Illinois; Republican Gubernatorial candidate, 2006 election
• Tung Hsiang-lung, Minister of Veterans Affairs Council, and former Commander-in-Chief of the Republic of China Navy
• Barbara Ulichny, former Wisconsin State Senator
• Dan Walker, former Governor of Illinois
• Harold Washington, first black Chicago mayor
• Lois Weisberg (B.S. 1946), Commissioner, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs
• Richard E. Wiley (B.S. 1955, J.D.), former Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission

Sports

Baseball

• Jerry Doggett, former broadcaster for the Los Angeles Dodgers
• Eddie Einhorn (J.D. 1960), vice chairman of the Chicago White Sox
• Joe Girardi, former baseball player and current New York Yankees manager
• J.A. Happ, baseball player
• Mike Huff, former baseball player
• Kenesaw Mountain Landis (J.D. 1891), first Commissioner of Baseball
• Mark Loretta, baseball player
• Jerry Reinsdorf, owner of the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bulls
• Mark Walter, founder and CEO of Guggenheim Partners and Chairman of Los Angeles Dodgers

Basketball

• Don Adams, former NBA and ABA player
• Jim Burns, former NBA and ABA player
• Evan Eschmeyer, former basketball player
• Jake Fendley, former NBA player for the Fort Wayne Pistons
• Glen Grunwald (J.D. 1984), executive for the New York Knicks
• Willie Jones, former NBA player
• Billy McKinney, former NBA player, current Director of Scouting for the Milwaukee Bucks
• Daryl Morey (B.S. 1996), general manager of the Houston Rockets
• Max Morris, All-American football and basketball player
• Dan Peterson, basketball coach
• Kevin Rankin, basketball player and insurance underwriter
• Jerry Reinsdorf (J.D. 1960), owner of the Chicago Bulls and the Chicago White Sox
• Joe Ruklick, former NBA player for the Philadelphia Warriors, gave Wilt Chamberlain the final assist in his 100 point game
• Anucha Browne Sanders (B.S. 1985), former executive for New York Knicks
• John Shurna, former basketball player
• Rick Sund, General Manager, Atlanta Hawks

Figure skating

• Ronald Joseph, figure skater and long jumper
• Debi Thomas, figure skater

Football

• Dick Alban, football player
• Mike Adamle, football player and sportscaster
• Frank Aschenbrenner, football player
• Darnell Autry, football player and actor
• Frank Baker, football player
• Cas Banaszek, football player
• Brett Basanez, football player
• D'Wayne Bates, football player
• Sid Bennett, football player
• George Benson, football player
• Kevin Bentley, football player
• Ron Burton, football player, Boston Patriots (now known as New England Patriots)
• Hank Bruder, football player
• Luis Castillo, football player, San Diego Chargers
• Bob Christian, football player, Atlanta Falcons
• Barry Cofield, football player, Washington Redskins
• Joe Collier, football head coach, Buffalo Bills
• Irv Cross, football player
• Andy Cvercko, football player
• Bill DeCorrevont, football player for four NFL teams
• John L. "Paddy" Driscoll, football player
• Curtis Duncan, football player, Houston Oilers
• Tiny Engebretsen, football player
• Trai Essex, football player, Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts
• Pat Fitzgerald, 2-time All-American player, current Northwestern head football coach
• Barry Gardner, professional football player
• Otto Graham, football player
• Napoleon Harris, football player, Oakland Raiders and Minnesota Vikings
• Noah Herron, football player, Green Bay Packers
• Chris Hinton, 7-time Pro Bowl player, Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings
• Paul Janus, football player
• Luke Johnsos, football player
• Mike Kafka, football player, Philadelphia Eagles
• Jim Keane, football player
• Doc Kelley, football player
• John Kidd, NFL punter for five teams
• Elbert Kimbrough, football player
• Bob Koehler, football player
• Sherrick McManis, football player, Chicago Bears
• Alex Moyer, football player
• Matt O'Dwyer, football player
• Ted Phillips, Chicago Bears president and CEO
• Nick Roach, football player, Chicago Bears
• Jack Rudnay, football player
• Pete Shaw, football player
• Zach Strief, football player
• Tyrell Sutton, football player, Carolina Panthers
• Steve Tasker, football player, sports announcer, Buffalo Bills
• Rob Taylor, football player and head coach
• Jim Trimble, football player, Atlanta Falcons
• Ray Wietecha, football player
• George Wilson, football player and head coach
• Fred Williamson, football player
• Corey Wootton, football player, Chicago Bears
• Jason Wright, football player

Golf

• Jim Benepe, golfer
• Luke Donald, golfer
• David Lipsky, golfer
• David Merkow, golfer

Hockey

• Rocky Wirtz, owner, Chicago Blackhawks

Race car driving

• Paul Dana, former race car driver in the Indy Racing League

Swimming

• Matt Grevers, winner of four gold and two silver Olympic medals in multiple events in 2008 and 2012
• Bob Skelton, 1924 Olympic gold medalist in 200-meter breaststroke

Tennis

• Katrina Adams, tennis player
• Audra Cohen, 2007 NCAA women's singles champion (never graduated)
• Grant Golden, tennis player
• Clark Graebner, tennis player
• Seymour Greenberg, tennis player
• Todd Martin, tennis player
• Marty Riessen, tennis player

Track and field

• Jim Golliday, track
• Annette Rogers, sprinter

Professional softball

• Tammy Williams, shortstop, won world championship with Team USA in 2010 and National Pro Fastpitch championship with Chicago Bandits in 2011

Wrestling

• Jake Herbert, olympian

Other

• Patti Davis (attended, never graduated), daughter of Ronald Reagan and Nancy Davis Reagan
• Vernard Eller, author and Christian pacifist
• Vergel L. Lattimore, Air National Guard Brigadier General
• Robert W. Parker, U.S. Air Force Major General
• Davis C. Rohr, U.S. Air Force Major General
• Crispin Sanchez (Ph.D. in education), advocate for education and athletics among Mexican Americans in South Texas
• David N. Senty, U.S. Air Force Major General