How hard is Northwestern to get into?
Northwestern University acceptance rate is 7.15% for 2023-2024 admission. A total of 51,769 students applied and 3,703 were admitted to the school. Its acceptance rate is very low, which means it is very hard to get into Northwestern.
Northwestern's acceptance rate is the 2nd lowest among 60 Illinois colleges with competitive admission.
The median SAT score is 1530 and the ACT score is 34 at Northwestern. Northwestern's SAT score is 2nd highest among 37 Illinois colleges that consider SAT score for admission.
To apply to Northwestern, recommendations and personal statement (or essay) are required to submit. The SAT and ACT score is not required, but considered for admission. In addition, english proficiency test score is also considered (required).
Admission Statistics
For the academic year 2023-24, the acceptance rate of Northwestern University is 7.15% and the yield (also known as enrollment rate) is 57.01%. 24,511 men and 27,258 women applied to Northwestern and 1,705 men and 1,998 women students were accepted.
Among them, 965 men and 1,146 women were enrolled in Northwestern (Fall 2023).
Data source: IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) (Last update: December 11, 2024)
Median SAT and ACT Score
In 2024, 1,063 students (50% of enrolled) have submitted their SAT scores and 614 students (29%) have submitted their ACT scores for seeking degrees at Northwestern.
The median SAT score is 1,530 with 750 SAT EBRW and 780 SAT Math median scores. The 75th percentile SAT score of EBRW (Evidence-Based Reading / Writing) is 770 and the 25th percentile is 730. The SAT Math 75th percentile score is 790 and 25th percentile is 760 .
The median ACT composite score is 34 with 75th percentile score of 35 and 25th percentile score of 33 at Northwestern. The median ACT math score is 34 and the ACT English score is 35.
How competitive is Northwestern's score?
The SAT and ACT scores at Northwestern University are similar to the average score compared to similar colleges (SAT: 1,492, ACT: 33 - private (not-for-profit) research university with very high research activity).
The institutional SAT code for Northwestern is 1565 and 4-digt code ACT code is 1106.
Data source: IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) (Last update: December 11, 2024)
Application Requirements
It requires to submit High School Record (or Transcript), Completion of College Preparatory Program, Recommendations, English Proficiency Test, and Personal statement or essay to its applicants.
The SAT and ACT test score is not reqired, but considered in admission process at Northwestern. The english proficiency test is reqired .
The next table summarizes the application requirements to apply Northwestern University.
For more admission information such as minimum GPA and deadlines, see its online application page .
General Admissions Information
The application fee is $75 for applying undergraduate schools and $95 for for applying graduate schools at Northwestern University. The following table provides general admission information for applying to Northwestern.