Northwestern University

If you are thinking about applying to Northwestern, the deadline for Fall 2023 admissions is January 1 and the fee for the application costs $75.

Students who submit their applications to Northwestern for fall should receive an admissions decision no later than April 1.

Northwestern Admissions Stats at a Glance

The following is an overiew of some of Northwestern's admissions stats.

Northwestern 2022	Admissions Statistics
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class	95%
Admissions Test Policy	Test Optional
Applicants Who Submit SATs	43%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs	39%
Waitlist	Yes

Northwestern University Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for Northwestern University.

Application Type	Offered	Application Deadline	Notification Deadline
Early Decision I	Yes		––
Early Decision II	––	––	––
Early Action	No	––	––
Regular Decision	Yes	January 15	April 1

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Want to Apply Early to Northwestern?

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Northwestern offers early decision but not early action. Early decision is binding, meaning you must attend if you are admitted, while early action allows you to apply early without committing.

The early decision acceptance rate at Northwestern is 24%, compared to an overall acceptance rate of 7%. In 2022, Northwestern admitted 1105 of the 4545 students who applied early decision.

Some students apply early to college in hopes that it will help their chances of getting in. When you apply early, your application is considered before all the regular decision applicants apply. Applying early may increase your chance of being admitted, since it shows your interest in a school.

➡️ Explore a list of some competetive colleges that accept significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.

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More on Northwestern University Admissions

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Transferring to Northwestern University

It is extremely difficult to be admitted as a transfer student.

For Students Waitlisted to Northwestern

Northwestern has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.

What Does Northwestern Look For in an Applicant?

Colleges consider a range of factors when choosing who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college has a different way of determining which factors are given the most weight when choose which applicants to admit, and which to deny. When assembling your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and choose schools that prioritize the admissions factors where you're strong.

Admissions Factors at Northwestern

Curious about the factors that are considered by Northwestern during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor	Level
Academic GPA	Very Important
Character/Personal Qualities	Very Important
Class Rank	Very Important
Extracurricular Activities	Very Important
Application Essay	Very Important
Recommendation(s)	Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Very Important
Talent/Ability	Very Important
Alumni/ae Relations	Considered
Work Experience	Considered
Level of Applicant's Interest	Considered
First Generation	Considered
Interview	Considered
Racial/Ethnic Status	Considered
Standardized Test Scores	Considered
Volunteer Work	Considered

Make sure to check with Northwestern for more information on admission factors.

Northwestern 2022-2023 Application Requirements

To apply to Northwestern, all applicants must submit the following items. Make sure to check in with Northwestern's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area	Required	Recommended	Required for Some	Details (If Any)
Interview
Other Requirements			√	audition for music program
Transcript(S) of College Record
Standardized Test Scores
Statement of Good Standing From Prior Institution(S)
Letter(s) of Recommendation	1
Written Essay or Personal Statement	√
Transcript of High School Record	√

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GPA and Testing

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What GPA Do I Need To Get Into Northwestern?

Northwestern has not provided an information about GPAs of accepted students. Any questions regarding applicant expectations should be addressed directly with the school. At Northwestern 95% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that highlights your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

Northwestern looks at standardized tests scores during the admissions process.

Northwestern has a test optional admissions policy. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 43% of Northwestern's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 39% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for Northwestern?

To be competitive with other Northwestern applicants, you should aim to score between 1490 and 1550 (or higher!) on the SAT. At Northwestern 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1550 and 25% of scored lower than 1490, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of Northwestern students scored 790 or higher and 75% of students scored 720 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of Northwestern students scored 770 or higher, and 75% scored a 720 or higher.

What is a Good ACT Score for Northwestern?

To be most competitive at Northwestern, you should strive to earn between 33 and 35 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 35 means you fall in the 75th percentile for Northwestern's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 35, and three out of four students scored lower than 35 on the ACT.

A 33 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for Northwestern students. Only one out of every four students scored below 33.

Want To Bring Up Your ACT Score? Access ACT practice tests and study tips and see upcoming ACT test dates.

More Information on Transferring to Northwestern University

For transfer students, it is extremely difficult to get admitted to Northwestern.

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is March 15. Transfer applications are processed on a on a rolling basis as they are received.

Transfer students can enroll in Northwestern during the following terms:

• Fall Term

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Northwestern Admissions FAQs

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Can I defer my acceptance to Northwestern?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to Northwestern.

Does Northwestern accept transfer credits?

✅ Northwestern accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions.

Do I have to submit test scores to Northwestern?

❌ No, Northwestern is test optional, so you can make the call if you want to to send your test scores. If your scores are higher than the school's average, you probably want to include them. If your scores are average or below average, you may want not want to include them in your application.

What is Northwestern's acceptance rate?

✅ Northwestern's acceptance rate is 7%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at Northwestern?

✅ Northwestern's early decision acceptance rate was 24% in 2021.

Want To Learn More About Northwestern?

Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

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