Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Established in 1851 to serve the historic Northwest Territory, it is the oldest chartered university in Illinois. The university has its main campus along the shores of Lake Michigan in the Chicago metropolitan area. Chartered by the Illinois General Assembly in 1851, Northwestern was initially affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church but later became non-sectarian. By 1900, the university was the third-largest university in the United States. Northwestern became a founding member of the Big Ten Conference in 1896 and joined the Association of American Universities in 1917.
Northwestern is composed of eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools which includes Kellogg School of Management, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Sciences among others. In addition to the Evanston campus, it has campuses in downtown Chicago, Coral Gables, San Francisco, Doha, and Washington, D.C. More and more students at home and abroad are applying to Northwestern University to pursue their educational dreams, knowing Northwestern University acceptance rate can better prepare for it.
What is Acceptance Rate?
Acceptance rate is the percentage of admitted applicants compared to the total number of applicants in a given class or year. To calculate acceptance rates, you divide the number of accepted students by the total number of applicants.
Northwestern University Acceptance Rate (Class of 2028)
Northwestern announced that it has received over 50,000 applicants for Class of 2028, and has accepted 7% of these applicants.
While the university didn’t release the exact number of regular and early applicants, or the exact number of admitted students, we can estimate these numbers based on the acceptance rate and the approximate number of applicants.
Northwestern Acceptance Rate for Class 2028
| Number of Applications | Accepted Students | Acceptance Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Applications | ~44,800 | ~2,750 | ~6.1% |
| Early Applications | 5,200 | ~1,000 | ~19% |
| Total Applications | ~50,000 | ~3,750 | 7.5% |
Northwestern’s Regular Decision Acceptance Rate
Analyzing Northwestern’s regular decision admission numbers for the Class of 2028 indicate a significant level of competitiveness. The university received about 44,800 applications, with approximately 2,750 students gaining acceptance, resulting in an estimated regular decision acceptance rate of around 6.1%.
Comparing these figures to previous years, the number of regular decision applications this year is slightly lower than last year’s, when the university received around 47,005 applicants.
Notably, the regular decision acceptance rate this year is the highest in the past few years. In the past, the acceptance rate hovering between 5 and 5.6% previously, while acceptance rate is estimated at 6.1% this year.
Northwestern's Regular Decision Statistics
| Class of | Total Applications | Accepted Applicants | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028 | ~44,800 | ~2,750 | ~6.1 |
| 2027 | ~47,005 | ~2,656 | ~5.6% |
| 2026 | 47,013 | ~2,692 | ~5.7% |
| 2025 | 47,636 | ~2,292 | ~5.3% |
Northwestern's Early Decision Acceptance Rate
Just like previous years, Northwestern aimed to admit half of its incoming Class of 2028 through Early Decision. The university stated that it has a goal of 2,100 students for Class of 2028, half of which are admitted through Early Decision.
With 5,200 applicants to Northwestern’s early decision cycle, the Early Decision Acceptance rate is estimated to be around 19%, a slight decrease from last year’s estimated 20%.
The number of applicants this year is almost identical to last year’s, with only 20 more students applying.
Northwestern University’s early decision cycle has a noticeably higher acceptance rate than its regular decision cycle, which is evident from the data. To improve your likelihood of being admitted to Northwestern University, we strongly recommend applying early.
Early Decision Acceptance Rate Comparison
| Class of | ED Applicants | ED Admitted | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028 | 5,200 | ~1,000 | ~19% |
| 2027 | 5,220 | ~1,000 | ~20% |
History of Northwestern University Acceptance Rate
In recent years, Northwestern University’s acceptance rate has been hovering around 7-9%, making it one of the most selective universities in the United States.
While the acceptance rate increased, it remains lower than pre-pandemic levels. This year’s increase to 7.5% represents the highest acceptance rate since Class of 2024, which was significantly higher at 9.3%
Northwestern Acceptance Rate Throughout the Years
| Class of | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|
| 2028 | 7.5% |
| 2027 | 7% |
| 2026 | 7.2% |
| 2025 | 7% |
| 2024 | 9.3% |
| 2023 | 9.1% |
| 2022 | 8.5% |
| 2021 | 9.2% |
| 2020 | 10.7% |
Northwestern University Admissions Statistics
There are eight factors that Northwestern University ranks as being “very important” to their admissions process: rigor of secondary school record, class rank, GPA, essay, recommendations, extracurricular activities, character/personal qualities, and talent/ability. An additional seven factors are “considered”: standardized test scores, first-generation status, alumni relation (legacy), geographic residence, volunteer work, paid work, and the level of an applicant’s interest in Northwestern. Knowing Northwestern University Admissions Statistics helps students better prepare for it.
| SAT Range | 1490-1570 |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading | 730-770 |
| SAT Math | 760-800 |
| Students Submitting SAT | 47% |
| Early Decision Acceptance Rate | No data available |
| ACT Range | 33-35 |
|---|---|
| ACT English | 35-36 |
| ACT Math | 32-35 |
| ACT Writing | 8—10 |
| Students Submitting ACT | 31% |
Northwestern University Admissions Deadlines
| Application Deadline | January 3 |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | $75 |
| Early Decision Deadline | November 1 |
| Early Action Deadline | / |
| Offers Early Decision | Yes |
| Offers Early Action | / |
Composition of Students Applying to Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a prestigious American school that is well-known at home and abroad. A large number of American and overseas students apply to Northwestern University every year. Understanding the composition of the applicant pool can provide a better understanding of the future school and cultural environment.
| White | 50.30% |
|---|---|
| Asian American or Pacific Islander | 26.90% |
| Black or African American | 13.40% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 14.90% |
| International | 10.10% |
| Native or Indigenous | 1.80% |
Tips for Applying to Northwestern University
- Prepare for Test
Northwestern will remain test-optional for the 2024-25 application cycle.
- Take Multiple Advanced Classes
Northwestern University expects to see evidence of advanced coursework in high school. Taking multiple advanced classes, particularly within your area of academic interest is a must.
- Choose Academic Schools
Students must apply to one of the six academic schools on your application. Some have different admissions requirements and standards.
- Prepare for Optional Alumni Interviews
Northwestern University does offer optional alumni interviews, both in-person and virtually. However, they state that is not possible to accommodate every applicant.
- Develop Interests
Northwestern University weighs “demonstrated interest” in the admissions process. Therefore, you will be judged on whether or not you made a campus visit (in non-pandemic times), contacted an admissions officer, etc.
- Complete Supplemental Essays
Make sure to dedicate sufficient time and effort to the supplemental essays offered by Northwestern.
Conclusion
Northwestern University acceptance rate is expected to be 7% after receiving more than 50,000 first-year applications during the 2024-25 admissions cycle. After you have admitted into Northwestern University, housing is the first and foremost thing. uhomes.com will provide you with affordable, reliable and comfortable student housing in United States.
FAQ
Understanding acceptance rates is essential when planning for college applications, but what exactly are they? Simply put, a school’s acceptance rate is the percentage of admitted applicants compared to the total number of applicants in a given class or year. To calculate acceptance rates, you divide the number of accepted students by the total number of applicants. Here is the formula: Acceptance rate = (Number of students accepted / Total number of applicants) x 100. For example, if a college receives 10,000 applications and accepts 2,000 students, the acceptance rate would be 20%.
The first factor is the school’s own standards and internal processes. All schools filter applicants based on criteria such as high school GPAs, standardized test scores, recommendations, and essays. The nation’s most prestigious schools tend to have loftier standards in all these categories and more applicants in general, leading us to our second factor: volume. If a school has tens of thousands of applicants each year, it will have a lower acceptance rate than schools with only a few thousand applicants, assuming those schools are the same size. However, schools vary considerably in size, so that’s something to consider, too. The lowest acceptance rate colleges are small, prestigious schools with many applicants. Colleges with the highest acceptance rates have large student bodies, low or average admissions standards, and relatively low applicant numbers. When you submit your application also matters. If you apply during an early action or early decision window, your application is reviewed before the flood of regular decision applications comes in. Being among a smaller group, your achievements may be more noticeable, and the comparison to the existing pool might be more favorable. Some schools also offer an ongoing or rolling application window. If you apply early in these rolling application windows, you are more likely to be admitted, too.
It’s easy to find out the number of people getting into the school you’re interested in—just check out their profile on Appily. In each of our college profiles, we show you how many people are applying to a school in any given year, how many are getting admitted, and which demographics those admitted students fall into. Armed with this data, you can make a more educated decision about which colleges you want to put on your list. In the guide below, we answer some of your most-asked questions about college acceptance rates.
Yes, the admission rate and acceptance rate are the same thing. They both refer to the percentage of applicants accepted (or admitted) into a certain college or university in a given year.
While we introduced the idea of “prestige” in the opening section, the notion that a school with a low acceptance rate is prestigious is a myth. Here’s why: There’s no such thing as a good or bad acceptance rate. In general, schools with low acceptance rates (lower than 10 percent) are more selective or have high standards, or have tens of thousands of students applying for relatively few spots. This can be good if you seek a more rigorous academic program or want to be part of a more competitive and prestigious student body. Alternatively, a higher acceptance rate can indicate that a college or university is much bigger, less selective, and more likely to admit a wider range of applicants. This can be great if you are an applicant with a lower GPA or test scores or if you are seeking a more flexible or less competitive academic environment. Ultimately, your “right” acceptance rate will depend on your circumstances and goals. It’s important to consider a range of factors, including the quality of the academic program, the availability of financial aid, and the overall fit with your educational and career goals.
For applications submitted in the fall of 2024, the average acceptance rate for four-year colleges (in the United States) was around 73%. Public colleges tended to have a slightly higher acceptance rate (around 78%) than private colleges (around 70%). This average changes from year to year. For instance, for applications submitted in the fall of 2024, the average acceptance rate was 72.6%. In the fall of 2023, the average was 70%.
As we said, college acceptance rates can vary from year to year. When it comes to high acceptance rates, schools from states across the country all contend for the top spot. Size, geographic location, and academic focus can all play roles in keeping acceptance rates high, so these schools aren’t necessarily “safety” schools.
Take a look at some 2024-2025 colleges and universities with the nation’s highest acceptance rates (in no particular order), according to U.S. News & World Report data. These colleges all have a 100% acceptance rate.
- Academy of Art University
- Broward College
- Cameron University
- Florida Southwestern State College
- Lewis-Clark State College
- Montana State University – Billings
- New England College
- Pensacola State College
- Utah Valley University
- Wayne State College
As we’ve mentioned several times in this guide so far, college acceptance rates are anything but concrete. They vary yearly, sometimes deviating considerably from era to era.
That said, many colleges in the nation have held remarkably low acceptance rates for decades (even centuries). In most but not all cases, these are some of the most prestigious schools out there. According to U.S. News & World Report, the 2022-2023 colleges and universities with the lowest acceptance rates are here.
- Harvard University
- Yale University
- Princeton University
- Brown University
- Stanford University
- Columbia University
- University of Chicago
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- California Institute of Technology
- Pomona College
- Dartmouth College
- Juilliard School
Choosing which colleges to apply to is an important decision that can significantly impact your future. We suggest considering your academic interests and career goals, each school’s campus, budget, potential financial aid, and possible extracurricular opportunities.
However, to maximize your chances of getting into a school you love, you should always put safety, reach, and match schools on your college list. By adding schools with different acceptance rates, you’re guaranteed to end up at a great college.
Northwestern University is often confused with an Ivy League school because of its impressive rankings and selective admission process. Despite not being part of the Ivy League, Northwestern holds a notable position in the U.S. News National Rankings, currently ranked at 9.
To have the best shot of getting in, you should aim for the 75th percentile, with a 1550 SAT or a 35 ACT. You should also have a 4.1 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score.
The Northwestern acceptance rate is 7%, making it one of the most competitive universities in the world. Acceptance rate is generally an indication of how competitive a school is, but it is also an indication of how popular a school is.
Ranked 9th among national universities, Northwestern is recognized around the world for its extraordinary and innovative research and other educational programs. Our environment is a unique one. It is one that unites knowledge, and ideas, ambition and imagination, hard work and joy.
Students who are passionate, intellectually curious, and academically driven fit into the idea of Northwestern. For extracurricular involvement, Northwestern is looking for passionate, focused students, as most other elite universities are.
To be seriously considered for admission to Northwestern, students must perform very well academically. In addition to having a high GPA, students should challenge themselves within the curriculum available to them at their high school. This means that students should display a high level of rigor in their coursework.
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