Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university on the shore of Lake Michigan in Evanston, Illinois, just north of Chicago, known for its top-ranked Medill School of Journalism, strong engineering and economics programs, and a distinctive quarter-system calendar. Admission is extremely competitive — Northwestern admitted about 7.7% of roughly 49,000 first-year applicants, and enrolled students who submitted scores posted middle-50% SATs of 1510–1560 and ACTs of 34–35. The university is test-optional, retains 98% of first-years into their second year, and meets 100% of demonstrated financial need. The figures below are drawn directly from Northwestern's official Common Data Set.
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Northwestern admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.
Early Decision
Northwestern 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~3.9× higher admit rate applying early.
Standardized Tests
Northwestern is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Admissions Factors
How Northwestern 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 Northwestern'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.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
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
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Frequently asked questions about Northwestern admissions
Is it hard to get into Northwestern?＋
Yes — Northwestern is extremely selective, admitting about 7.7% of applicants in the most recent cycle. It offered admission to roughly 3,806 of about 49,474 first-year applicants and enrolled around 2,105 students. Admission is holistic: the rigor of your course load, GPA, class rank, essays, recommendations, extracurriculars, and personal qualities are all weighed as very important factors.
What is Northwestern's acceptance rate?＋
Northwestern admitted about 7.7% of first-year applicants in the most recent cycle — roughly 3,806 offers out of about 49,474 applications, with around 2,105 students enrolling. Northwestern also offers a binding Early Decision plan, which received 5,154 applications and admitted 1,186 students for the entering class.
What GPA do you need to get into Northwestern?＋
Northwestern does not publish a single average high school GPA on its Common Data Set, but admitted students are almost uniformly near the top of their classes. The review is holistic, and the rigor of your secondary school record, academic GPA, and class rank are each weighed as very important factors — so the strongest applications pair a near-perfect transcript with the most demanding course load your school offers.
Does Northwestern require the SAT or ACT?＋
No. Northwestern is test-optional, so you may apply without submitting scores, and standardized test scores are only 'considered' in the holistic review rather than weighed heavily. Among enrolled students who did submit, the middle 50% scored 1510–1560 on the SAT and 34–35 on the ACT.
Is a 1500 SAT good enough for Northwestern?＋
A 1500 sits just below the middle-50% range for enrolled students who submitted scores, which runs 1510–1560 on the SAT (34–35 ACT). Because Northwestern is test-optional and treats scores as only 'considered,' a 1500 won't sink a strong application — but the admitted class skews very high, with 97% of score-submitters reporting a 1400–1600. A score below your target is one reason applicants choose to apply without scores.
What is Northwestern's Early Decision acceptance?＋
Northwestern offers a binding Early Decision plan and no Early Action. In the most recent cycle the ED round received 5,154 applications and admitted 1,186 students for the entering class. ED is binding, so apply early only if Northwestern is clearly your first choice; the same very important factors — course rigor, GPA, essays, and extracurriculars — drive the decision.
How much does Northwestern cost, and is financial aid available?＋
Tuition and required fees run about $70,589 per year, with on-campus housing and food adding roughly $21,975 and books about $1,539 on top. Northwestern meets 100% of demonstrated financial need; about 44% of first-years receive need-based aid, and the average need-based package is roughly $67,785.
What are the most popular majors at Northwestern?＋
The social sciences are the single most popular area at about 18% of degrees, followed by engineering (12%) and communication and journalism (11%), the latter anchored by the Medill School. The biological and life sciences (10%), computer and information sciences (9%), psychology (7%), and the visual and performing arts (8%) round out the most-conferred fields.
Source: Northwestern University Common Data Set 2024-2025. Figures transcribed 2026-06-07. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Northwestern. Banner photo by Madcoverboy, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).