Northwestern University acceptance rate, scores and deadlines
Source: Common Data Set 2025–26 · deadlines from Northwestern's admissions site.
Acceptance rate
Northwestern acceptance rate by year
3,933 of 52,676 applicants admitted for Fall 2025, against 7.7% for Fall 2024.
Show the numbers
| Entering class | Applied | Admitted | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | 52,676 | 3,933 | 7.5% | Common Data Set |
| Fall 2024 | 49,474 | 3,806 | 7.7% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2023 | 51,769 | 3,703 | 7.1% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2022 | 51,261 | 3,695 | 7.2% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2021 | 47,636 | 3,321 | 7.0% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2020 | 39,263 | 3,654 | 9.3% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2019 | 40,585 | 3,673 | 9.0% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2018 | 40,425 | 3,422 | 8.5% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2017 | 37,259 | 3,442 | 9.2% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2016 | 35,100 | 3,743 | 10.7% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2015 | 32,122 | 4,190 | 13.0% | IPEDS |
2026–27 applications
Northwestern deadlines for 2026–27
Apply with Common App or Coalition with Scoir or QuestBridge. Checked October 24, 2026 on Northwestern's admissions site. Dates can change; confirm them there before you submit.
- Early decision Apply by Decisions Mid-December
- Regular decision Apply by Decisions March
Early rounds
Early decision and early action at Northwestern
Early pools include recruited athletes and other special cases, so the gap overstates the boost for a typical applicant. Early decision is binding: apply only if you would enroll.
Scores and GPA
Test scores and GPA at Northwestern
Scores are for enrolled students who sent them, not for everyone admitted.
What counts
What Northwestern weighs
From section C7 of Northwestern's Common Data Set 2025–26.
Very important
- Course rigor
- Class rank
- GPA
- Essays
- Recommendations
- Activities
- Talent or ability
- Character
Considered
- Test scores
- First-generation status
- Alumni relation
- Where you live
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Demonstrated interest
Not considered
- Interview
- State residency
- Religious affiliation
Cost
What Northwestern costs
From the College Scorecard. For your own estimate, use Northwestern's net price calculator.
Compare
Colleges with a similar acceptance rate
Close to Northwestern's 7.5%, from the same official data.
FAQ
Questions about Northwestern admissions
What is Northwestern's acceptance rate?
Northwestern admitted 3,933 of 52,676 first-year applicants for Fall 2025, an acceptance rate of 7.5%. That is down from 7.7% for Fall 2024. Source: Common Data Set 2025–26.
Is Northwestern test-optional for 2026–27?
Yes. Northwestern is test-optional for 2026–27: you can apply with or without SAT or ACT scores.
When are Northwestern's application deadlines for 2026–27?
Early decision: November 1, 2026; Regular decision: January 4, 2027. Check Northwestern's admissions site before you apply, as dates can change.
What SAT score do you need for Northwestern?
There is no cutoff. The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1520–1560 on the SAT (Fall 2025), and 48% of them sent a score. A score at or above 1560 is in the top quarter of enrolled students.
Does applying early decision help at Northwestern?
For Fall 2025, Northwestern admitted 20.4% of 5,939 early decision applicants, compared with 7.5% overall. Early pools include recruited athletes and other special cases, so the gap overstates the boost for a typical applicant.
Where the numbers come from
Sources
- Northwestern University Common Data Set 2025–26
- College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), IPEDS admissions 2015–2024
- Northwestern first-year admissions, checked October 24, 2026
Odds are estimates from public data, shown as a range. An estimate, not a guarantee.
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