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Northwestern University
With a 7.7% admission rate, no GPA makes Northwestern University a safety. The numbers below tell you what the admitted few look like.
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Northwestern University sits in Evanston proper — a private campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. International students are a visible presence here — 11.6% of undergraduates come from outside the U.S.
Its highest-earning path is Information Science/Studies, where graduates median $163,740 four years out. 18.6% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 9,201 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 98.1% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1490 and 1560 — above the IL middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Northwestern University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Northwestern University received 51,769 applications and admitted 3,703 (7.2%), with 2,111 enrolling.
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 1490–1560 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, Northwestern University's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 730 | 750 | 770 |
| SAT Math | 760 | 780 | 790 |
| ACT Composite | 33 | 34 | 35 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Northwestern University compares
| Northwestern University | Illinois median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 7.7% | 77% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $68,322 | $31,360 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $89,363 | $58,572 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors Northwestern University: $89,363 median at year ten, versus $58,572 across Illinois institutions.
Cost, size & completion
Tuition runs $68,322 regardless of where you're from. At Northwestern University, that sticker is a starting point for aid talks — not what the median family pays.
At 9,201 undergrads, Northwestern University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
95.1% of Northwestern University students finish a bachelor's within six years — 40.3 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $68,322 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at Northwestern University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Information Science/Studies | $163,740 |
| Computer Science | $155,106 |
| Applied Mathematics | $148,740 |
| Industrial Engineering | $138,720 |
| Economics | $126,006 |
| Statistics | $122,682 |
| Chemical Engineering | $111,040 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $108,498 |
| Mathematics | $107,072 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $102,994 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $98,277 |
| Manufacturing Engineering | $97,819 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $93,541 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $93,180 |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | $84,712 |
| Journalism | $80,258 |
| History | $78,966 |
| Public Policy Analysis | $78,752 |
| Sociology | $75,267 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $74,477 |
| Psychology, General | $73,646 |
| Political Science and Government | $73,231 |
| Biology, General | $71,181 |
| Psychology, Other | $62,905 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $62,147 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $59,372 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $54,279 |
| Music | $53,875 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $51,471 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $49,316 |
Median earnings for these 30 Northwestern University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $89,363 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 55 additional Northwestern University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Northwestern University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1490–1560 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 7.7% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Northwestern University's acceptance rate?
7.2% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 3,703 admitted from 51,769 applicants.
How much does Northwestern University cost?
At Northwestern University, published tuition is $68,322 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Northwestern University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Northwestern University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $89,363 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Illinois
- University of Chicago — 4.5% admitted
- Northeastern Illinois University — 74.6% admitted
- Olivet Nazarene University — 55.9% admitted
- Northern Illinois University — 69.8% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.