Northwestern Acceptance Rate 2024/2025

The article provides important information about the Northwestern Acceptance Rate to assist prospective students in their admission process.

Northwestern University, situated near Chicago in Evanston, Illinois, boasts a student body of 8,500 exceptional undergraduates and offers a range of top-tier academic programs.

While Northwestern’s reputation as a highly selective institution is well-known, the competition for admission has become even fiercer in 2023. The acceptance rate has remained below 9% for the past five years, although the Early Decision (ED) acceptance rate is relatively higher.

In the past, the acceptance rate was much more favorable, with 42% of applicants welcomed aboard in 1993 and 27% in 2009.

However, in the current 2023-24 admissions landscape, gaining admission to this prestigious private Midwestern research university is significantly more challenging, being three-to-four times more selective compared to a decade ago.

Considering this trend towards increased selectivity, applicants will need every advantage available to them. The purpose of this blog is to provide an overview of essential information to support prospective students in their admission journey.

• Northwestern acceptance rate – Class of 2027
• Northwestern ED acceptance rate
• SAT, ACT, and class rank of accepted Northwestern University applicants
• Admissions trends from the Class of 2027
• The demographics of current Northwestern University undergraduates
• Northwestern University’s yield rate
• How Northwestern’s admissions officers evaluate candidates
• Tips for applying to Northwestern
• Essay Tips for the Northwestern Supplement
• How to assess whether applying to Northwestern is even worth the $75 application fee (for you)

Northwestern Acceptance Rate – Class of 2027

In creating the 2022-23 freshman class, Northwestern received 52,000+ applications. The Northwestern acceptance rate was 7%. Recent historical Northwestern acceptance rates are as follows:

• Class of 2026: 7%
• 2025: 7%
• 2024: 9%

Northwestern ED Acceptance Rate

Around 50% of the incoming freshman class at the university is selected from the Early Decision (ED) round. Although there is no official acceptance rate for the Class of 2027 at Northwestern released yet, the Director of Admissions mentioned that out of approximately 5,200 applicants, around 1,000 students were accepted, resulting in an estimated ED acceptance rate of 20%. Consequently, it becomes evident that aspiring students with a strong desire to attend Northwestern should seriously contemplate applying through the binding early decision option.

Northwestern University Admissions – SAT, ACT, and Class Rank

Those enrolled in the Class of 2024 (most recent official stats available), sported median standardized test scores of 1520 on the SAT and 34 on the ACT. An astonishing 95% of Class of 2026 members placed in the top decile of their graduating high school class and 99% landed in the top quartile.

Admissions Trends & Notes – (Class of 2026 & 2027)

• There were 667 more applications submitted in 2022-23 than in the previous cycle.
• 15% of those in the Class of 2026 are first-generation college students up from 13% the previous year.
• Undergraduates now come from 100 countries and speak 60+ languages.
• 60% of current undergraduates receive some form of financial assistance.
• 22% of Class of 2026 members were Pell Grant recipients.

Who Actually Gets Into Northwestern University?

Let’s look at the demographics of the Northwestern University Class of 2026:

• 10% of incoming students are international, double the figure from a decade ago.

For domestic students, the greatest percentage come from the following states:

1. Illinois
2. California
3. New York
4. Florida
5. Texas
6. New Jersey
7. Ohio
8. Massachusetts
9. Wisconsin
10. Michigan

According to Northwestern University, there are four factors considered “very important” in their admissions process: the rigor of the secondary school record, class rank, GPA, and standardized test scores (which are test-optional through at least 2024).

Now, five factors are deemed “important,” including essays, recommendations, extracurricular activities, character/personal qualities, and talent/ability. There are also other “considered” items that are optional, such as an alumni interview, first-generation status, legacy (alumni relation), racial/ethnic status, volunteer work, paid work, and the applicant’s level of interest in Northwestern.

In the admissions process, Northwestern University follows a holistic approach, aiming to understand each student’s background comprehensively through various sources of information. The Dean of Undergraduate Admission emphasized that they carefully review applications, taking into account the diverse range of student experiences found in the applicant pool. They assess each student’s achievements, talents, and skills within the context of their high school and community setting.

The admissions decisions at Northwestern are not based on a specific formula or quota. The university possesses the necessary resources to meet the full financial needs of all admitted students. Importantly, if an applicant applied for financial aid as a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or undocumented U.S. high school student, their financial need did not play a role in the final decision-making process.

Looking at ethnic identity, the breakdown of one recent freshman class:

• Asian American: 25%
• Hispanic: 17%
• African American: 12%
• White: 52%

The breakdown by gender of all current undergraduates is as follows:

• Male: 47%
• Female: 53%

Yield Rate

Northwestern University’s yield rate—the percentage of accepted students who elect to enroll, divided by the total number of students who are admitted was 63% for the Class of 2026. For comparison, other top-ranked private schools have the following yield rates: Duke (57%), WashU (49%), and Rice University (45%).

How the University Rates Applicants

At Northwestern University, as with any prestigious and selective institution, the competition is most intense among applicants from states with high numbers of qualified candidates, including New York, California, and Massachusetts. On the other hand, students from less densely populated states like Alaska, North Dakota, or Montana may enjoy an advantage in the admissions process due to their location.

Being recruited as an athlete to join one of Northwestern University’s 19 Division I sports teams can significantly benefit your admissions prospects. The university currently has approximately 500 varsity athletes participating in these sports programs.

Tips for Applying to Northwestern University

If you plan on joining the 52,000+ Wildcat hopefuls for the next admissions cycle, you should know the following:

• 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.
• You must apply to one of the six academic schools on your application. Some have different admissions requirements and standards. The schools are: 1) The College of Arts & Sciences 2) the School of Engineering and Applied Science 3) the School of Communication 4) the School of Education and Social Policy 5) the School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications 6) the School of Music.
• Northwestern University does offer optional alumni interviews.
• 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.
• Make sure to dedicate sufficient time and effort to the supplemental essay offered by Northwestern. In the 2021-22 cycle, the prompt is as follows:

While other parts of your application give us a sense of who you are, we are also excited to hear more about how you see yourself engaging with the larger Northwestern community.

In 300 words or less, help us understand how you might engage specific resources, opportunities, and/or communities here. We are curious about what these specifics are, as well as how they may enrich your time at Northwestern and beyond.

• We should note that Northwestern’s supplement essay is technically “optional,” but skipping the prompt would be a huge mistake. In the school’s own words, “We strongly encourage a response, as your answer will help us connect the dots across your application to imagine what kind of college student you might become.)”
• The key to addressing the prompt is to learn everything you can about Northwestern and communicate genuine reasons why it is the right place for you. For more, read our blog entitled Mastering the “Why This College?” Essay.

Northwestern University Acceptance Rate – Final Thought

In recent years, Northwestern University has maintained acceptance rates ranging from 7% to 9%, indicating their preference for applicants who score at or above the 98th percentile on standardized tests and have excelled in their high school class, preferably ranking near the top. An impressive academic record with mostly “A” grades in a rigorous AP-heavy curriculum is expected.

For those aspiring to attend Northwestern University, it is crucial to have a strong backup plan. Creating a well-balanced college list that includes both “target” and “safety” schools is essential for all students. Seeking guidance from their counselor during this selection process is highly advisable.