Northwestern University
Admissions
Interested in attending Northwestern University?
On this page, you'll learn how difficult it is to get into Northwestern University, we'll dig into high school grades and test scores, and you'll find out the factors the school considers when reviewing applications.
Admission Rates
Is it difficult to get into Northwestern University?
Using the most up-to-date data on record, Northwestern accepted 7% of applicants. We classify this as most selective.
In the most recent year, 51,767 people applied and 3,739 were accepted.
Applied/Accepted
Acceptance rates at colleges can change over time, with some becoming more competitive and others accepting more students. Here’s a look at the acceptance rate trend for the past 2 years at Northwestern University:
Acceptance rates at schools can vary depending on if the student is in-state, out-of-state, or international.
Of those accepted, 56% ended up enrolling at Northwestern University, making their yield rate Very High. The yield rate is the percentage of accepted students who enroll at the school. You can use the yield rate to find out how coveted a school is for the students who apply to it.
Application Factors
You can increase your chances of getting into Northwestern University by looking at what the school considers during the application process.
Here are the things Northwestern considers:
Very Important
- Academic GPA
- Application Essay
- Character/Personal Qualities
- Class Rank
- Extracurricular Activities
- Recommendation(s)
- Rigor of Secondary School Record
- Talent/Ability
Considered
- Alumni/AE Relation
- First Generation
- Interview
- Level of Applicant's Interest
- Standardized Test Scores
- Volunteer Work
- Work Experience
Not Considered
- Geographical Residence
- Religious Affiliation/Commitment
- State Residency
Grades & Testing
Do you have the grades and test scores to get into Northwestern University?
Grades
Northwestern is Test Optional. This means scores are considered if they are submitted, but applicants do not need to submit scores.
Applicants submitting SAT Scores
Applicants submitting ACT Scores
SAT Math Scores
SAT Verb Scores
SAT Composite Scores
ACT Scores
Application Deadlines
These are the deadlines for applying to Northwestern University. Application deadlines are subject to change, so please verify all deadlines with the school.
Regular Admissions
Early Decision
Early Decision is a program in which students commit to attend a school if they are accepted. Some schools have a higher acceptance rate for Early Decision than regular decision. Northwestern's Early Decision acceptance rate is 23%, compared to 7% overall. If you’re sure you want to attend Northwestern University, you might consider applying Early Decision.
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