Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university in Cleveland, Ohio, formed by the 1967 federation of Case Institute of Technology and Western Reserve University and known for its strength in engineering, the biomedical sciences, and pre-health education through ties to the adjacent Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals. Admission is selective: CWRU admitted about 35% of more than 39,000 applicants for its most recent class, and enrolled first-years posted middle-50% SAT scores of 1440–1530 and an average high school GPA near 3.78. Engineering and the biological sciences are the two most-conferred fields, together making up nearly 40% of bachelor's degrees. CWRU is test-optional, offers binding Early Decision alongside non-binding Early Action, and meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for first-year students.
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Case Western admissions statistics
Acceptance rate
Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.
Early decision
Case Western offers binding Early Decision. Applying early can meaningfully change your odds — but ED commits you to enroll if admitted.
Admit rate by application plan
% admitted~0.7× higher admit rate applying early.
Standardized tests
Case Western is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Case Western supplemental essays — 2026-2027 cycle
In the college application process, you are constantly prompted for a list of your achievements, awards, and accomplishments. While this information is useful to us, we are interested in hearing more about you. Describe an event, achievement, or experience of which you are particularly proud but that will not show up on a resume, may not garner any recognition, and does not appear anywhere else on your admission application. This essay should not exceed 750 words in length.
By applying to the Pre-Professional Scholars Program, you are applying to gain admission to professional school earlier than students who apply in the traditional way. Please indicate why you're interested in your chosen profession. How do you see yourself being particularly suited to this field? What events and/or experiences have led you to your choice? This essay should be between 250 and 500 words in length.
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Class rank
Where Case Western's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 17% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Case Western does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions factors
How Case Western weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Case Western's Common Data Set.
Private universities charge the same tuition regardless of state residency.
Financial aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Frequently asked questions about Case Western admissions
Case Western is selective but not in the single-digit range: it admitted about 35% of applicants in the most recent cycle, offering admission to roughly 13,890 of more than 39,000 applicants and enrolling about 1,663 first-years. Admissions are holistic, with the rigor of your course load, class rank, academic GPA, and extracurricular activities all weighed as very important factors.
Enrolled first-year students at Case Western report an average high school GPA of about 3.78, and the class skews toward the top of its cohort — among the 17% who reported a class rank, roughly 70% were in the top tenth of their graduating class and 93% were in the top quarter. There is no hard cutoff, but rigor of course load, class rank, and academic GPA are all weighed as very important factors.
Yes — a 1490 sits right at the median for enrolled students. The middle 50% of first-years scored between 1440 and 1530 on the SAT (32–34 on the ACT), so a 1490 is solidly competitive, just above the 50th percentile. About 90% of enrolled students who submitted the SAT scored 1400 or higher.
No. Case Western is test-optional, so you may apply without submitting scores, and standardized test scores are only “considered” in the review rather than weighed heavily. Among enrolled students who did submit, the middle 50% scored 1440–1530 on the SAT and 32–34 on the ACT.
Early Decision is a binding option worth considering if Case Western is your clear first choice. For the Fall 2025 class, the ED round drew 1,053 applications and admitted 263 — an admit rate around 25%, lower than the 35% overall rate, since the ED pool is smaller and more committed. Case Western also offers a non-binding, non-restrictive Early Action plan, and it meets 100% of demonstrated need for first-years, so financial fit can still be evaluated.
Tuition and required fees run about $70,000 per year, with the total cost of attendance higher once on-campus housing and food (around $19,500) and books (about $1,200) are added. Case Western meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for first-year students, and about 56% receive aid, with an average need-based package near $63,400.
Case Western is strongest in STEM and pre-health fields. Engineering is the single most-conferred area at about 23% of bachelor's degrees, followed by the biological and life sciences at 16% — together nearly 40% of all degrees — with computer science (8%) also prominent. With a 10:1 student-faculty ratio, a 93% first-year retention rate, and an 87% six-year graduation rate, it pairs research depth with strong student outcomes.
Popular majors
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student-faculty ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by gender
Student diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Source: Case Western Reserve University Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-07. In-State Cost, Out-of-State Cost, % in Fraternities, and % in Sororities are from the 2024-2025 edition. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Case Western. Banner photo by Rdikeman, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0). Cite this page as: Esslo College Explorer, “Case Western Reserve University admissions statistics, transcribed from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set,” https://www.esslo.org/colleges/case-western (retrieved 2026-06-07).