Northwestern University Acceptance Rate
In the most recent application year 2024, Northwestern University reported an overall acceptance rate of 7.5%, accepting 3,750 out of 50,000 applicants. The Early Action (EA) acceptance rate was notably higher at 20%, with 1,200 out of 6,000 applicants accepted, compared to a Regular Decision (RD) acceptance rate of 5.8% for 44,000 applicants. The transfer acceptance rate stood at a low 1.3%, with only 44 of 3,507 transfer applicants gaining admission. Historically, RD rates have hovered around 5.0% to 5.8% over the last three years, showcasing the growing competitiveness of the application pool. SAT scores for admitted students ranged from a 25th percentile of 1450 to a 75th percentile of 1560, indicating a strong academic profile among successful applicants.
Overall Acceptance Rate
Total Applicants: 50,000
Accepted Applicants: 3,750
Regular Decision vs Early Action Acceptance Rates
Historical Acceptance Rates
Northwestern University's overall acceptance rate for the application year 2025 stands at 7.5%, with 50,000 applicants and 3,750 accepted. The Early Action acceptance rate remains significantly higher at 20%, admitting 1,200 out of 6,000 applicants, while Regular Decision is much more competitive at 5.8% (2,550 admits from 44,000 applicants). Historical data shows a downward trend in overall acceptance rates from 9.1% in 2019, indicating increasing selectivity, particularly in Regular Decision where rates fell from 7.6% in 2019 to 5.2% in 2023 for applicants. The data suggests that applicants are becoming increasingly competitive, warranting careful consideration when applying.
Wait List Acceptance Rate
Northwestern University's wait list acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 stands at 1.8%, with 3067 applicants offered a spot and only 55 accepted. This marks a decline from previous years, as the acceptance rate was 3.5% for the Class of 2020, and 2.2% for the Class of 2018. In stark contrast, the Class of 2019 experienced an exceptionally low acceptance rate of just 0.8%. Such fluctuations highlight the increasing challenges for wait listed students at Northwestern, as the recent trend suggests a tightening of available spots over the years.
3067
Offered a Place
55
Admitted
1.8%
Acceptance Rate
Transfer Acceptance Rate
Northwestern University's transfer acceptance rate for the application year 2024 stands at a mere 1.3%, with 44 out of 3,507 applicants being admitted. This continues a trend of extreme selectivity, maintaining the same acceptance rate as in 2019. Comparatively, acceptance rates were significantly higher in previous years, notably 13.0% for both 2018 and 2017, and 15.4% in 2016. The average GPA of accepted transfer students is 3.75, indicating a high caliber of applicants, yet the fierce competition demonstrates the increasing difficulty of gaining admission through the transfer route.
Transfer Acceptance Rate
Total Applicants: 3,507
Accepted Applicants: 44
Domestic vs International Acceptance Rates
Scores
GPA
4.1
SAT
1450-1560
Math: 740-790
Reading: 700-760
ACT
33-35
Math: 32-34
English: -
Reading: -
Science: -
Acceptances by Race
| Race | Applicants |
|---|---|
| Asian American | 21% |
| White | 43% |
| Hispanic/Latino | 18% |
| Black/African American | 15% |
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