Northwestern University

Evanston, IL · Private nonprofit · Small city · Website

Admission rate: 7.7%; Extremely selective
Average net price: $34,420; per year, after aid
Graduation rate: 96%
Median earnings: $104,255; 10 years after enrolling

Northwestern University is a private nonprofit college in Evanston, IL with 9,201 undergraduates. It admits 7.7% of applicants, and admitted students average 1533 on the SAT. The average net price after aid is $34,420 per year ($1,427 for families earning under $30,000). 96% of students graduate, and graduates earn a median of $104,255 ten years after enrolling.

private nonprofit college

Admissions

Admission rate: 7.7%; Fall 2024
Testing policy: Test optional; Fall 2024
Applicants: 51,769; Fall 2023
Admitted: 3,703; Fall 2023
Yield: 57%; of admitted students enrolled

Middle 50% of admitted students (Fall 2024). A quarter scored below the band and a quarter above.

SAT Reading & Writing740–770

200800

SAT Math770–800

200800

ACT Composite33–35

136

What Northwestern University looks at

As reported by the college to IPEDS (Fall 2023).

High school recordRequired
High school GPAConsidered
College-prep courseworkRequired
Class rankConsidered
Essay or personal statementRequired
RecommendationsRequired
Demonstrated competenciesNot considered
Legacy statusConsidered
Work experienceConsidered
English proficiency testRequired

Cost

Cost of attendance: $94,854; sticker price, per year
Tuition & fees: $70,589

Net price by family income

Average yearly cost after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid.

$0–30k$1,427
$30–48k$7,536
$48–75k$8,811
$75–110k$18,954
$110k+$56,074

Get a personal estimate with Northwestern University's net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation rate: 96%
Freshman retention: 98%
Median earnings: $104,255; 10 yrs after enrolling
Median debt: $17,017; at graduation

Students

Undergraduates: 9,201
Student–faculty ratio: 6:1
Receive Pell grants: 21%

White31%
Hispanic16%
Black8%
Asian21%

Northwestern University FAQ

What is Northwestern University's acceptance rate?+

Northwestern University admits 7.7% of applicants, which makes it extremely selective.

What SAT score do you need for Northwestern University?+

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 740–770 on SAT Reading and Writing and 770–800 on SAT Math; the average total is 1533.

What ACT score do you need for Northwestern University?+

The middle 50% ACT composite range for admitted students is 33–35.

Is Northwestern University test optional?+

Test optional (considered if submitted).

How many students apply to Northwestern University?+

In Fall 2023, 51,769 students applied to Northwestern University and 3,703 were admitted; 2,111 enrolled.

Does Northwestern University consider legacy status?+

Yes. Northwestern University reported that legacy status is considered in admissions (Fall 2023).

Does Northwestern University require an essay?+

Northwestern University reported that an essay or personal statement is required for admission (Fall 2023).

How much does Northwestern University cost?+

The sticker cost of attendance is $94,854 per year, but the average net price after grants and scholarships is $34,420.

What is Northwestern University's graduation rate?+

96% of full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.

Sources

Admission rate, test scores, cost, students, and outcomes: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (Most Recent Institution-Level Data), released 2026-10-15. Admissions figures are for Fall 2024, costs for 2024-25, and earnings are measured in 2023.
Applicants, admitted, yield, and admission factors: IPEDS Admissions survey (ADM2023), Fall 2023.
IPEDS unit ID 147767 · How we use this data