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Northwestern offers Early Decision and is currently test-optional. Located just outside Chicago, Northwestern looks for students who demonstrate high academic rigor and collaborative potential.
Northwestern University, founded in 1851 and located just north of Chicago in Evanston, Illinois, is a private research university known for blending rigorous academics with a distinctly collaborative, cross-disciplinary culture. Home to roughly 9,000 undergraduates, Northwestern ranks #7 in U.S.
Northwestern's Early Decision pool for the Class of 2030 exceeded 5,600 applications (down ~7% from prior year), with more than half of the roughly 2,100-student class admitted on December 16.
Northwestern's Early Decision acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was 22.54% from a then-record pool of 5,207 applicants. The Class of 2027 saw a 22.09% ED rate. Overall selectivity continues to tighten each cycle.
The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), located in the heart of West Philadelphia, ranks #7 in a four-way tie between Penn, Duke University, Johns Hopkins University, and Northwestern University, according to U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Colleges.
Northwestern's Early Decision acceptance rate for recent cycles has hovered around 22%, with 5,207 ED applicants for the Class of 2028. The overall acceptance rate is approximately 7.7%. Northwestern continues to fill a significant portion of its class through binding Early Decision.
Northwestern's acceptance rate is approximately 7.7% with SAT 1430-1550 and ACT 33-35. The university continues to see strong application volume from its Evanston, Illinois campus.
Northwestern's acceptance rate dropped again in the 2026 cycle, continuing a multi-year trend of increasing selectivity. The university remains one of the most competitive in the Midwest.
Northwestern reported an estimated 7% acceptance rate for the Class of 2030 without releasing exact figures. The last confirmed rate was 7.4% for the Class of 2029, down from 7.69% for the Class of 2028.
Melissa Meltzer Warehall Director of College Counseling Daystar Academy (Beijing, China) What drew you to the world of college admission counseling? I discovered the admissions profession through my prior career in arts administration, which I did immediately following college.
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Northwestern's acceptance rate dropped again in 2026 to 7.2%. SAT middle 50% is 1430-1550, ACT is 33-35. Approximately 5,200 students applied Early Decision with about 1,000 receiving acceptances. Northwestern continues to grow more competitive each year.
Northwestern reviewed over 54,000 first-year applications for the 2025-26 cycle. Overall admissions rate remained around 7%, similar to Class of 2029. SAT 1430-1550, ACT 33-35.