College Admissions Data
Northwestern University Admissions Data
In 2025-26, Northwestern reported 52,676 first-year applicants and 3,933 admitted students, an acceptance rate of 7.5%. See where you stand, how the rate has changed since 2005-06, and unlock the full year-by-year history free.
Where do I stand?
Compares with Northwestern's latest reported figures: SAT 1520 to 1560 (2025-26), ACT 34 to 35 (2025-26). It shows where you fall. It does not estimate your chances.
Your result
Enter a score, a GPA, or both.
Middle 50% means the range from the 25th to the 75th percentile of enrolled first-year students who submitted that test.
The latest year
- Applicants
- 52,676CDS 2025-26
- Admitted
- 3,933CDS 2025-26
- Acceptance rate
- 7.5%CDS 2025-26
- Early decision vs overall
- 20.4% vs 7.5%CDS 2025-26
- SAT middle 50%
- 1520–1560; 48% submittedCDS 2025-26
- ACT middle 50%
- 34–35; 25% submittedCDS 2025-26
More on Northwestern: campus context, review criteria and admissions contacts
Northwestern over 21 years
Down from 30% in 2005-06 to 7% in 2025-26. Applications grew from 16,221 to 52,676 over the same years, about 3.2 times as many.
| CDS year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-06 | 16,221 | 4,819 | 29.7% |
| 2006-07 | 18,385 | 5,434 | 29.6% |
| 2007-08 | 21,930 | 5,872 | 26.8% |
| 2008-09 | 25,013 | 6,552 | 26.2% |
| 2009-10 | 25,369 | 6,887 | 27.1% |
| 2010-11 | 27,528 | 6,367 | 23.1% |
| 2011-12 | 30,926 | 5,575 | 18.0% |
| 2012-13 | 32,060 | 4,912 | 15.3% |
| 2013-14 | 32,796 | 4,598 | 14.0% |
| 2014-15 | 32,096 | 4,219 | 13.1% |
| 2015-16 | 32,122 | 4,248 | 13.2% |
| 2016-17 | 35,100 | 3,743 | 10.7% |
| 2017-18 | 37,259 | 3,442 | 9.2% |
| 2018-19 | 40,425 | 3,422 | 8.5% |
| 2019-20 | 40,585 | 3,673 | 9.1% |
| 2020-21 | 39,263 | 3,654 | 9.3% |
| 2021-22 | 47,636 | 3,321 | 7.0% |
| 2022-23 | 51,261 | 3,695 | 7.2% |
| 2023-24 | 51,769 | 3,739 | 7.2% |
| 2024-25 | 49,474 | 3,806 | 7.7% |
| 2025-26 | 52,676 | 3,933 | 7.5% |
Unlock the full 21-year history (free)
One email unlocks the full year-by-year history for every college here, for 30 days: acceptance rate, early decision, SAT and ACT ranges, yield and GPA where each college reports them, with each year linked to the college's own Common Data Set file.
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- Northwestern University Common Data Set 2025-26
- Northwestern University Common Data Set 2024-25
- Northwestern University Common Data Set 2023-24
Links to every year's file are in the full history above.
Common Questions
What is Northwestern's acceptance rate?
In 2025-26, Northwestern reported 52,676 first-year applicants and 3,933 admitted students, an acceptance rate of 7.5%. Down from 30% in 2005-06 to 7% in 2025-26.
What is the Common Data Set?
The Common Data Set is a standard survey that colleges fill out and publish each year. Section C covers first-year admission: applicants and admits (C1), test scores (C9), GPA (C11 and C12) and early decision (C21).
Does being within the middle 50% mean I will get in?
No. The ranges describe students who enrolled, and admission decisions weigh much more than scores and grades. The checker shows where your numbers fall. It does not predict a decision.
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