Northwestern University
Evanston, IL · Private · Big Ten
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See the full analysis — freeAdmission rate
Northwestern University admitted 7.7% of applicants university-wide (3,806 of 49,474).
| Cohort | Admit rate | Admitted | Applicants |
|---|---|---|---|
| University-wide | 7.7% | 3,806 | 49,474 |
| Early Decision (binding) | 23.0% | 1,186 | 5,154 |
| Men | 7.3% | 1,735 | 23,774 |
| Women | 8.1% | 2,070 | 25,686 |
Early Decision applicants were admitted at 23%, vs 7.7% overall — ED is a binding commitment.
Of 3,806 admitted students, 2,105 enrolled (55.3% yield).
Northwestern University Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Sections C1–C2 · 2024 — Published cohort admit rates — context, not an applicant-specific probability.
Test scores and GPA of admitted students
- SAT (mid-50%)
- 1510–1560
- ACT (mid-50%)
- 34–35
Testing policy: Test-optional (considered if submitted)
Northwestern University Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Sections C9–C12 · 2024 — Published admit stats reflect the entire incoming class unless explicitly labeled international-only.
Cost and financial aid
Published cost of attendance: $96,182/yr.
| Out-of-state tuition | $69,375 |
| Fees, housing, food, books & other | $26,807 |
| Sticker cost of attendance | $96,182/yr |
Average net price by family income (US, federal aid data)
| Under $30k | $1,764 |
| $30k–48k | $6,099 |
| $48k–75k | $7,898 |
| $75k–110k | $18,282 |
| Over $110k | $48,777 |
US applicants
Need- and merit-based aid available.
- Good Neighbor Scholarship — Full tuition (Full Tuition)
- Northwestern University Grant — Varies (meets full demonstrated need) (Need Based)
- Northwestern University Presidential Scholarship — Full tuition plus $4,000 enrichment stipend (Full Tuition)
- Northwestern University Scholarship (Need-Based Financial Aid) — Varies (Need Based)
- QuestBridge Scholarship — Full tuition, fees, room, and board (Full Tuition)
- Ryan Scholarship — Full tuition (Full Tuition)
International applicants
Some aid available for internationals.
- Northwestern University Presidential Scholarship — Full tuition plus $4,000 enrichment stipend (Full Tuition)
- Northwestern University Scholarship (Need-Based Financial Aid) — Varies (Need Based)
- QuestBridge Scholarship — Full tuition, fees, room, and board (Full Tuition)
- Ryan Scholarship — Full tuition (Full Tuition)
Northwestern University Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Sections G–H · 2024
Application requirements
US applicants
- Common Application, Apply Coalition with Scoir, or QuestBridge application
- Northwestern writing supplement (includes required and optional essays)
- Common Application or Coalition with Scoir personal essay (optional)
- Official secondary school transcript(s) from all schools attended
- School report from most recently attended school (includes counselor recommendation)
- Counselor recommendation
- Teacher recommendation
- SAT or ACT scores (optional)
- Early Decision Agreement
- Glimpse video submission (60-90 seconds) (optional)
- Supplemental letter(s) of recommendation (optional)
- Application fee
International applicants
- Common Application, Apply Coalition with Scoir, or QuestBridge application
- Northwestern writing supplement (includes required and optional essays)
- Common Application or Coalition with Scoir personal essay (optional)
- Official secondary school transcript(s) from all schools attended
- School report from most recently attended school (includes counselor recommendation)
- Counselor recommendation
- Teacher recommendation
- SAT or ACT scores (optional)
- Early Decision Agreement
- Glimpse video submission (60-90 seconds) (optional)
- Supplemental letter(s) of recommendation (optional)
- Application fee
- English proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL)
- GPA credential conversion
- Predicted Class XII marksheet
- Financial documentation (I-20)
Northwestern University · Application requirements (official admissions pages) · 2025
Essay prompts
- We want to be sure we’re considering your application in the context of your personal experiences. What aspects of your background, accomplishments, or values are most important to you? Please explain how they have shaped your perspective and contributed to your engagement with Northwestern’s community.300 words · Required
Draft these in the free Essay Coach
Prompts from the Common App member feed · verified Jul 3, 2026
Graduate outcomes
- Median earnings
- $89,363
- Median earnings · 10 years after entry
- Graduation rate
- 95.1%
- Within 150% of normal time
- First-year retention
- 98%
- Return for year two · CDS Section B
- Median debt
- $15,000
- At graduation
Northwestern University · U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (2023 release) · 2023 — Earnings and debt figures are federal data for aid-receiving graduates — cohort outcomes, not a guarantee for any individual student.
Published rankings
- U.S. News National: #7
- WSJ: #50
- Forbes: #16
- Niche: #22
- QS: #42
Deadlines
- 2026-11-01Early Decision — Binding early round
- 2027-01-01Regular Decision — Standard deadline
Northwestern University Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Sections C21–C22 · 2024
Academics and campus
Student–faculty ratio: 6:1 · 76% of class sections have under 20 students.
Northwestern University Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Sections E, F, I · 2024 — Published institutional figures for the reporting year — descriptive of the current student body, not a prediction about your experience.