Chances of getting into Northwestern University
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Elite | |
| Applicant Competition | Extreme |
Will you get accepted?
Find out how likely you are to get accepted at Northwestern based on your GPA, test scores, and even extracurricular activities. Then, get custom recommendations for how to improve your odds - completely for free.
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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, 3,673 out of 40,585 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. Northwestern University typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students. 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.
Test Requirements
You must submit admission test scores with your application. Northwestern University is not a test optional school. Note: Please consult the school directly to determine if testing requirements are temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Northwestern SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
Applicants Submitting SAT
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 700 |
| SAT Math 25th | 740 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1440 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 760 |
| SAT Math 75th | 790 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1550 |
| Average SAT Score | 1500 |
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to Northwestern University?
Northwestern University typically prefers applicants to be in the top 3 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1440 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 1380. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1500 out of 1600. The school ranks #2 in Illinois for highest average SAT composite score. 45 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2019 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1550 and Above | Good | >14% |
| 1495 to 1550 | Avg + | 9%-14% |
| 1440 to 1495 | Avg - | 5%-9% |
| 1385 to 1440 | Reach | 3%-5% |
| Less than 1385 | Low | <3% |
Northwestern ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
Applicants Submitting ACT
| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 34 |
| ACT Math 25th | 31 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 33 |
| 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?
Admission data indicates that Northwestern regularly accepts students with ACT's of 33 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 2 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 32 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 34 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 35 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 65 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Northwestern University.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2019 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 35 and Above | Good | >14% |
| 34 to 35 | Avg + | 9%-14% |
| 33 to 34 | Avg - | 5%-9% |
| 32 to 33 | Reach | 3%-5% |
| Less than 32 | Low | <3% |
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Northwestern GPA
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Avg. High School GPA
Typical High School Grades
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 #3 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.
*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.
Similar Requirements
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% |
Applying
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 21,069 | 19,516 | 40,585 |
| Accepted | 1,877 | 1,796 | 3,673 |
| Acceptance Rate | 9% | 9% | 9% |
| Enrolled | 1,014 | 992 | 2,006 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 54% | 55% | 55% |
Fall 2022 Application Deadline
Applications were Due
Days left to Apply
The application deadline for Fall 2022 has passed. Applications were due on Jan 1, 2022.
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to Northwestern University is $75.
Admission Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Northwestern University and what student information is used for 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.
FAQs
Does Northwestern University prefer SAT or ACT?
45% of students submit their SAT scores to Northwestern. 65% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into Northwestern University?
9% 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 1440 and 1550. 45% 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 33 and 35. 65% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.