Chances of getting into Northwestern University
Acceptance Rate
How hard is it to get into Northwestern and can I get accepted?
The acceptance rate at Northwestern is 7%. It ranks #2 in Illinois and #15 in the nation for lowest rate of acceptance. Northwestern is extremely competitive school to get into with a very low chance of acceptance - even for applicants with the highest scores and grades. Last year, 3,321 out of 47,636 applicants were admitted.
The school has exceptionally high admission requirements, generally admitting students who can score in the top 2 percent on standardized admission tests. Northwestern University typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.92. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top ten percent of their high school class. Of those applicants who were admitted, 63% enrolled. With over half of admitted students enrolling, acceptance by Northwestern University is a prized outcome for many students.
The Northwestern application fee is $75 and applications are due by Jan 1.
Test Optional
Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission to Northwestern University. If you submit test scores, they will be considered with your application, but they are not mandatory. 43% of students submitted SAT scores and 39% submitted ACT scores for admission for the 2021/2022 academic year..
Northwestern SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
| 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 is a test optional school meaning applicants are not required to submit SAT scores with their application. The position on SAT scores from the school is "considered but not required".
Students who get into Northwestern University score in the top 2 percent of all SAT test takers.. The SAT composite score range for the middle 50% of students is 1470-1570.
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Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2021 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
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Northwestern ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 35 |
| ACT Math 25th | 32 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 34 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 36 |
| ACT Math 75th | 35 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 35 |
| Average ACT Score | 34
|
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into Northwestern?
Northwestern University is test optional. Students are not required to submit ACT scores with their application. The policy on ACT scores is "considered but not required".
Northwestern regularly accepts students who score 34 and above on the ACT. These students typically score in the top 1 percent nationally. The ACT composite score range for the middle 50% of students is 34-35.
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Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2021 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
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Northwestern GPA
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
What GPA do you need to get into Northwestern University?
Applicants require exceptionally good grades to get into Northwestern. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at Northwestern University was 3.92 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily A- students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #2 in Illinois for highest average GPA. Given the school's very highly selective admissions, acceptance at Northwestern extremely difficult and unlikely even with a 3.92 GPA. The school should be considered a reach even if you have a 3.92 GPA.
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*This school has not released high school GPA data for its incoming freshmen. In these cases, CollegeSimply employs an artificial intelligence (AI) process to predict GPA based on this school's test scores and a large sample of other colleges' data. 3.92 is an estimate of the school's average incoming freshman GPA.
High School Class Rank
95% of Northwestern University freshman were in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 95% |
| Top 25% of class | 0% |
| Top 50% of class | 0% |
Applying
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 25,855 | 21,781 | 47,636 |
| Accepted | 1,869 | 1,452 | 3,321 |
| Acceptance Rate | 7% | 7% | 7% |
| Enrolled | 1,161 | 925 | 2,086 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 62% | 64% | 63% |
Fall 2023 Application Deadline
Applications were Due
Days left to Apply
The application deadline for Fall 2023 has passed. Applications were due on Jan 1, 2023.
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to Northwestern University is $75.
Application Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Northwestern University and what student information is used for admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Considered but not required |
| High School GPA | Recommended |
| 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 |
Other Colleges to Consider
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=147767 IPEDS survey data for Northwestern University.
FAQs
Does Northwestern University prefer SAT or ACT?
43% of students submit their SAT scores to Northwestern. 39% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into Northwestern University?
7% of those who apply are granted admission to Northwestern. Admission competition is extreme and the college has elite admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.
What SAT score is required for Northwestern University?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1470 and 1570. 43% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.
What ACT score is required for Northwestern University?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 34 and 35. 39% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.