Chances of getting into Northwestern University
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
9.2%| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Elite | |
| Applicant Competition | Extreme |
How hard is it to get into Northwestern and can I get accepted? The school has a 9% acceptance rate ranking it #2 in Illinois for lowest rate of acceptance. Last year, 3,442 out of 37,259 applicants were admitted making Northwestern an extremely competitive school to get into with a very low chance of acceptance - even for applicants with the highest scores and grades. Academically, it has exceptionally high requirements for admission test scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 2 percent. Of those applicants who were admitted, 55% enrolled. With over half of admitted students enrolling, acceptance by Northwestern University is a prized outcome for many students. Most incoming freshmen graduated in the top quarter of their high school class.
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Find out which students are getting accepted at Northwestern, which are not, and how your GPA, SAT, or ACT scores compare.
Calculate My ChancesNorthwestern SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
1470-1570Applicants Submitting SAT
35%| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 720 |
| SAT Math 25th | 750 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1470 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 770 |
| SAT Math 75th | 800 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1570 |
| Average SAT Score | 1520 |
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to Northwestern University?
Northwestern University typically requires applicants to be in the top 2 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1470 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT's as low as 1420. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1520 out of 1600. The school ranks #2 in Illinois for highest average SAT composite score. 35 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school. Note: SAT scores presented on this page have been adjusted upwards per the College Board's concordance tables for test takers after March 2016.
Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1570 and Above | Good | >14% |
| 1520 to 1570 | Avg + | 9%-14% |
| 1470 to 1520 | Avg - | 5%-9% |
| 1420 to 1470 | Reach | 3%-5% |
| Less than 1420 | Low | <3% |
Northwestern ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
32-34Applicants Submitting ACT
77%| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 32 |
| ACT Math 25th | 32 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 32 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 34 |
| ACT Math 75th | 34 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 34 |
| Average ACT Score | 33 |
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into Northwestern?
Admission data indicates that Northwestern regularly accepts students with ACT's of 32 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 3 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 31 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 33 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 34 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #2 in Illinois for highest average ACT composite score. Scoring well on the ACT is very important as 77 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Northwestern University.
Estimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 34 and Above | Good | >14% |
| 33 to 34 | Avg + | 9%-14% |
| 32 to 33 | Avg - | 5%-9% |
| 31 to 32 | Reach | 3%-5% |
| Less than 31 | Low | <3% |
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Northwestern University has not reported high school GPA data for its accepted students.
High School Class Rank
91% of Northwestern University freshman were in the top twenty five percent of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 9% |
| Top 25% of class | 91% |
| Top 50% of class | 100% |
| Bottom 50% of class | 0% |
| Bottom 25% of class | 0% |
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 19,306 | 17,953 | 37,259 |
| Accepted | 1,766 | 1,676 | 3,442 |
| Acceptance Rate | 9% | 9% | 9% |
| Enrolled | 981 | 922 | 1,903 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 56% | 55% | 55% |
Fall 2020 Application Deadline
Applications are Due
Jan 1, 2020Days left to Apply
109Applicants have 109 days left until the Fall 2020 term applications are due on Jan 1, 2020.
Seniors, these are the SAT and ACT test dates you can still sit for a test and send your results to Northwestern before the Jan 1 application deadline.
| SAT Test Date | Scores Available |
|---|---|
| Oct 5 | Oct 18 |
| Nov 2 | Nov 15 |
| Dec 7 | Dec 20 |
| ACT Test Date | Scores Available |
|---|---|
| Sep 14 | Sep 24 |
| Oct 26 | Nov 14 |
| Dec 14 | Dec 24 |
Admission Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Northwestern University and what considerations affect admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Required |
| High School GPA | Required |
| High School Class Rank | Recommended |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Required |
| Recommendations | Required |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Neither required nor recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | Yes |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=147767 IPEDS survey data for Northwestern University.
