These are the rankings that I go by, and as far as I know are the rankings that actually matter to school presidents as opposed to USNews type rankings:
https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2023
They more heavily favor research activity, as opposed to just "reputation".
NW is not a research power. Still, it's #32 in the world by these guys and the 2nd best in the Big Ten.
So perhaps indeed I underestimated NW a bit. I knew they weren't anything like a Stanford or Ivy, and I knew they were behind Michigan. That is correct.
I'm not sure what the reputation of NW is built upon. It's not some crazy academic school, like the U of Chicago, where it's genuinely difficult to survive as an undergrad. Being an undergrad at NW is no more difficult than being an undergrad at any other Big Ten school.
Maybe they have a great law school? Business school? No idea.
Not sure what majors the guys on the basketball team are in. Has to be tough to be in a really rigorous program and play P5 basketball.