Is Northwestern test optional?

Yes. You can apply without a score. A common rule is to send it if it's at or above 1540 and hold it if it's under.

What is Northwestern's acceptance rate?

7.7% of applicants were admitted in 2024–25, according to the college's Common Data Set or, where that's missing, IPEDS, the federal college survey. In fall 2024, 3,806 of 49,474 applicants were admitted. Applications rose 54%, from 32,122 in 2015 to 49,474 in 2024, and Northwestern's admit rate went from 13% to 7.7%.

What ACT score do you need for Northwestern?

23% of first-year students sent an ACT, and they scored 34–35, with a median of 34. On the official ACT–SAT concordance, their SAT range of 1510–1560 works out to about 34–35.

Why might Northwestern's SAT range look high?

Only 46% of enrolled students sent an SAT. The range counts only those who did, and students with lower scores tend to hold theirs back.

Does applying early decision help at Northwestern?

23% of early decision applicants were admitted (1,186 of 5,154), against 7.7% of all applicants. Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the real edge is smaller than the gap.

All colleges

What SAT score do you need for Northwestern? (Middle 50%: 1510–1560)

First-year students at Northwestern who sent an SAT scored 1510–1560, with a median of 1540 (Common Data Set 2024–25). Northwestern admits 7.7% of applicants and is test optional.

Northwestern University · Evanston, IL

Where your score lands at Northwestern

First-year students who sent an SAT: 1510–1560, median 1540

Your score

Middle 50% of admitted students Median Fewer than half sent a score, so the range runs high

Enter your SAT or ACT to see which tier Northwestern is for you and whether to send your score.

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Northwestern by the numbers

Admit rate: 7.7%
Middle 50% SAT: 1510–1560
Median SAT: 1540
About on the ACT: 34–35
Sent an SAT: 46%

Test optional · checked Nov 9, 2026 · Northwestern admissions · SAT range from the Common Data Set, 2024–25; admit rate from it or IPEDS

Northwestern admit rate over 10 years

Applications rose 54%, from 32,122 in 2015 to 49,474 in 2024, and Northwestern's admit rate went from 13% to 7.7%.

13%
7.7%

Show the numbers

Fall	Applied	Admitted	Admit rate
2024	49,474	3,806	7.7%
2023	51,769	3,703	7.2%
2022	51,261	3,695	7.2%
2021	47,636	3,321	7.0%
2020	39,263	3,654	9.3%
2019	40,585	3,673	9.1%
2018	40,425	3,422	8.5%
2017	37,259	3,442	9.2%
2016	35,100	3,743	11%
2015	32,122	4,190	13%

In fall 2024, 2,105 of the 3,806 admitted students enrolled. Applicants and admits from IPEDS, the federal college survey, by fall of entry.

What each SAT score means at Northwestern

Which tier your score puts them in, and whether it's worth sending.

Your SATTierSend it?

Under 1540Far reachHold
1540–1550Far reachSend
1560 and upReachSend

135014001450150015501600

Tiers here use only your SAT and their admit rate. Essays, activities and recommendations still decide most admissions at selective colleges.

Northwestern SAT sections and ACT

Scores of enrolled first-year students who sent one, by percentile.

Test	25th	Median	75th
SAT Math	770	780	800
SAT Reading and Writing	740	760	770
SAT total	1510	1540	1560
ACT composite	34	34	35

Of enrolled first-year students, 46% sent an SAT and 23% sent an ACT. Common Data Set 2024–25.

Northwestern early decision

Early decision

1,186 of 5,154 early decision applicants were admitted.

Early decision23%
All applicants7.7%

Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the gap overstates how much applying early helps on its own.

Common Data Set 2024–25.

Northwestern cost and outcomes

What students pay after grants, how many finish, and what they earn.

Average net price: $29,167; per year, after grants
Graduate in 6 years: 95%
Median earnings: $89,363; 10 years after starting
Undergraduates: 10,890

College Scorecard, 2022–23, from the US Department of Education. Net price averages federal-aid students across family incomes.

Sources

Northwestern Common Data Set 2024–25
SAT and ACT ranges, early decision, waitlist, GPA and class rank, as the college reported them.
College Navigator (IPEDS)
Applications, admissions and enrollment by year, from the federal college survey.
College Scorecard
Net price, graduation rate and earnings, from the US Department of Education.
Northwestern admissions
Test policy for 2026–27, checked Nov 9, 2026.
Northwestern website
Northwestern University

Updated Nov 9, 2026. Spot a number that's off? Email support@tryashore.com and we'll check it against the source.

Questions

Still have a question? support@tryashore.com

There's no cutoff. The middle 50% of first-year students who sent an SAT scored 1510–1560, and the median was 1540. At 1540 or higher you're above half of them. Northwestern admits 7.7% of applicants, so a top score keeps you in the running but doesn't decide it.

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SAT Math · 1 of 5

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A jacket's price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. The final price is what percent of the original price?

A $96\%$
B $100\%$
C $104\%$
D $80\%$