Northwestern University
Evanston, IL
Northwestern University admitted 3,806 of 49,474 applicants for the fall 2024 entering class (7.7%).
Every figure on this page is published by the college or a federal survey, and carries the source it came from. They describe the fall 2024 entering class, a read on the school, not a prediction about any one applicant.
What stands out at Northwestern University
Three things Northwestern University published, ranked by how much each could change what you actually do, not by how impressive it looks. Every one describes a class that has already enrolled.
Early Decision admitted 23%. The regular round admitted 5.9%.
3.9×
the regular-round rate
A ratio between two rates the school published. Not a change in anyone’s odds.
1,186 of 5,154 early applicants were admitted, against 2,620 of 44,320 in the regular round. Early Decision is binding, and you can only use it at one school, which is exactly why the gap is worth knowing before you choose where to spend it.
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2024
3.9×
the regular-round rate
A ratio between two rates the school published. Not a change in anyone’s odds.
46% of the enrolled class sent an SAT.
The SAT band on this page describes that share of the class, not all of it. Another 23% sent an ACT. Northwestern University files test scores under “considered”.
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2024
Families paid $29,167 on average after aid.
Averaged across students who received federal aid: the price after grants and scholarships, not the sticker price.
Source: the College Scorecard
Every figure, in full
The same measured fields on every one of these pages. Nothing is filled in where the school published nothing.
Acceptance rate
7.7%
3,806 admitted of 49,474 applicants
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2024
SAT, middle 50%
1510–1560
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2024
ACT, middle 50%
34–35
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2024
Enrolled students who sent an SAT
46%
Counted per test: a student may send both.
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2024
Enrolled students who sent an ACT
23%
Counted per test: a student may send both.
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2024
Where do you actually stand at Northwestern University?
The figures above describe a class that already enrolled. GoodGoblin reads them against your own transcript, scores and activities, then builds the balanced list, the essay plan and the deadline calendar around what it finds.
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What Northwestern University says it weighs
The school's own words, from the form it fills in every year. Ranked as it ranks them.
- Essayrequired
Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023
- Course rigorrequired
Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023
- Recommendationsrequired
Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023
- GPAconsidered
Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023
- Test scoresconsidered
Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023
- Class rankconsidered
Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023
The early round, in counts
Two published rates side by side. Early applicants are a different group of students, so the gap is a fact about those pools, not a lever anyone can pull.
Early Decision
3.9× the rateEarly Decision admitted 23% (1,186 of 5,154), against 5.9% in the regular round.
2,620 of 44,320 in the comparison pool.
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2024
The waitlist, as the school reported it
Published counts, including the ones schools rarely lead with.
- Admitted from the waitlist
- 59
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2024
What students actually pay
Net price after grants and scholarships: not the sticker price.
Average net price: $29,167 a year.
- Family income under $30k
- $1,764
- $30k–$48k
- $6,099
- $48k–$75k
- $7,898
- $75k–$110k
- $18,282
- Over $110k
- $48,777
Source: the College Scorecard
Essays on this application
6 essay prompts on the application: 1 you would write, 5 optional.
Published deadlines
Each date is read from the college's own materials and re-checked on a schedule.
Guides for Northwestern University applicants
More colleges on the record
Every one of these carries the same measured figures, with the same sources.
Other colleges in Illinois
The pages nearest this one on acceptance rate, in the same state.
Colleges with a nearby acceptance rate
Anywhere in the country, ordered by how close the published rate is to this one. A selection rule, not a ranking.
Build the list this school belongs on.
The figures above describe a class that already enrolled. GoodGoblin reads them against your own transcript, scores and activities, then builds the balanced list, the essay plan and the deadline calendar around what it finds.
See where I stand ›3 days free · $0 today · cancel anytime
