University

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois, United States

Verified · last verified 2026-09-02

University details

Northwestern University is a private research university located in Evanston, Illinois. It was established in 1853, when its founders purchased a 379-acre tract of land on the shore of Lake Michigan about 12 miles north of Chicago. The university comprises 12 schools and colleges offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs, and maintains additional campuses in Chicago, Illinois, and Doha, Qatar. It enrolls approximately 21,000 students.

Institution type: Private, nonprofit
Campus setting: Urban
Application platforms: Common App, Coalition App
Testing policy: Test optional (2025–2026)
In-state tuition: $68,322
Out-of-state tuition: $68,322
Cost of attendance: Not available (2024–2025)
Undergraduate enrollment: 9,201

Website Admissions Financial aid

Common Data Set

Institution-reported facts by reporting cycle. Missing and withheld values are shown explicitly.

2024–2025 · most recent available

First-year admission rate

7.7%

Calculated from applications and admissions reported in CDS C1. This is a factual calculation, not a CollegePath rating.

Enrollment

Undergraduate enrollment (B1): 9,060 students
Full-time undergraduate enrollment (B1): 8,914 students
Part-time undergraduate enrollment (B1): 146 students

First-year admission

Majors

Anthropology
Social Sciences
Applied Mathematics
Mathematics and Statistics
Architecture and Related Services, Other
Architecture and Related Services
Area Studies
Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies
Biological and Physical Sciences
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
Biology, General
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
Engineering
Business/Commerce, General
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Chemical Engineering
Engineering

Deadlines

Early decision · 2026–2027
2026-11-01 — First-year deadline listed in the Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-14.
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Regular decision · 2026–2027
2027-01-04 — First-year deadline listed in the Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-14.
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf

Supplemental essays

How many responses?

1 required short answer; 3 optional short answers

Northwestern requires one short answer and offers three optional short answers for first-year applicants.

2026–2027

Required · Common Application and Coalition with Scoir first-year applicants
Within this setting, if you could dream up an undergraduate class, research project, or creative effort (a start-up, a design prototype, a performance, etc.), what would it be? Who might be some ideal classmates or collaborators?
Limit: 300 words — Northwestern required writing supplement.
https://admissions.northwestern.edu/apply/requirements.html
Optional · First-year applicants
Community and belonging matter at Northwestern. Tell us about one or more communities, networks, or student groups you see yourself connecting with on campus.
Limit: 200 words — Northwestern optional short answer.
https://admissions.northwestern.edu/apply/requirements.html

Application requirements

2026–2027

Application fee · Required
Value: $75
First-year U.S. application fee listed in the Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-28.
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Fee waiver · Optional
Value: Accepted
Common App fee-waiver availability listed in the 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-28.
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Supplemental essays · Required
Value: 1 required short answer; 3 optional short answers
Northwestern requires one short answer and offers three optional short answers for first-year applicants.
https://admissions.northwestern.edu/apply/requirements.html

Sources

Direct sources supporting this university’s facts, with retrieval dates.

Official source · supports supplemental_essays:2026–2027
https://admissions.northwestern.edu/apply/requirements.html
Retrieved 2026-09-03 — Official Northwestern 2026–27 first-year writing supplements.
Secondary source · supports requirements:2026–2027
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Retrieved 2026-09-02 — Common App member-reported first-year fee, waiver, and personal-essay fields; grid updated 2026-08-28.
Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid · supports deadlines:2026–2027
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Retrieved 2026-08-20 — Common App member-reported first-year deadlines; grid updated 2026-08-14.
Official source · supports financial_aid_url
https://undergradaid.northwestern.edu/

First-year applications (C1)

First-year students admitted (C1)

3,806 students

First-year students enrolled (C1)

2,105 students

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 4.0 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.75-3.99 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.50-3.74 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.25-3.49 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.00-3.24 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 2.50-2.99 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 2.00-2.49 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 1.00-1.99 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA below 1.0 (C11)

Not reported by institution

Average high-school GPA (C12)

Not reported by institution

The CDS leaves C11/C12 as form placeholders and does not report GPA percentiles.

Testing

Enrolled students submitting scores · SAT (C9): 46%
Enrolled students submitting scores · ACT (C9): 23%
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing · 25th percentile (C9): 740 score
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing · 75th percentile (C9): 770 score
SAT Math · 25th percentile (C9): 770 score
SAT Math · 75th percentile (C9): 800 score
ACT Composite · 25th percentile (C9): 34 score
ACT Composite · 75th percentile (C9): 35 score

Academics and class size

Student-to-faculty ratio (I2): 6:1

Source: Northwestern University Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Retrieved 2026-08-31

Open the official institutional source

Document ID: sha256:1df8bd3690db39a918b068ad40391386284df4eaad8c32f11546fac63d89759d · Import: cds-2026-08-v8

Civil Engineering

Engineering

Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology

Psychology

Communication and Media Studies

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

Communication Disorders Sciences and Services

Health Professions and Related Programs

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

Community Organization and Advocacy

Public Administration and Social Service Professions

Computer and Information Sciences, General

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

Computer Engineering

Engineering

Computer Science

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

Dance

Visual and Performing Arts

Data Science

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

Visual and Performing Arts

East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Economics

Social Sciences

Education, General

Education

Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research

Education

Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering

Engineering

Engineering Science

Engineering

Engineering, General

Engineering

Engineering, Other

Engineering

English Language and Literature, General

English Language and Literature/Letters

Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering

Engineering

Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies

Fine and Studio Arts

Visual and Performing Arts

Geography and Cartography

Social Sciences

Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences

Physical Sciences

Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Health/Medical Preparatory Programs

Health Professions and Related Programs

Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services

Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences

Human Resources Management and Services

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

Industrial Engineering

Engineering

Information Science/Studies

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

International Relations and National Security Studies

Social Sciences

Journalism

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Manufacturing Engineering

Engineering

Materials Engineering

Engineering

Materials Sciences

Physical Sciences

Mathematics

Mathematics and Statistics

Mechanical Engineering

Engineering

Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Music

Visual and Performing Arts

Natural Resources Conservation and Research

Natural Resources and Conservation

Neurobiology and Neurosciences

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Non-Professional Legal Studies

Legal Professions and Studies

Philosophy

Philosophy and Religious Studies

Physics

Physical Sciences

Political Science and Government

Social Sciences

Psychology, General

Psychology

Psychology, Other

Psychology

Public Health

Health Professions and Related Programs

Public Policy Analysis

Public Administration and Social Service Professions

Radio, Television, and Digital Communication

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

Religion/Religious Studies

Philosophy and Religious Studies

Research and Experimental Psychology

Psychology

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies

English Language and Literature/Letters

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Science, Technology and Society

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Social Sciences, General

Social Sciences

Social Sciences, Other

Social Sciences

Sociology

Social Sciences

Special Education and Teaching

Education

Statistics

Mathematics and Statistics

Sustainability Studies

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

Education

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

Education

Urban Studies/Affairs

Social Sciences

Visual and Performing Arts, General

Visual and Performing Arts

Optional · First-year applicants

Northwestern’s location is special: on the shore of Lake Michigan, steps from downtown Evanston, just a few miles from Chicago. What aspects of our location are most compelling to you, and why?

Limit: 200 words — Northwestern optional short answer.

https://admissions.northwestern.edu/apply/requirements.html

Optional · First-year applicants

Northwestern is a place where people with diverse backgrounds from all over the world can study, live, and talk with one another. This range of experiences and viewpoints immeasurably enriches learning. How might your individual background contribute to this diversity of perspectives in Northwestern’s classrooms and around our campus?

Limit: 200 words — Northwestern optional short answer.

https://admissions.northwestern.edu/apply/requirements.html

View supplemental prompts from earlier years

2025–2026

Optional · First-year applicants
What aspects of Northwestern's location (Lake Michigan shore, downtown Evanston, proximity to Chicago) are most compelling to you, and why?
Limit: 200 words — Optional prompt. Applicants answer at least one and no more than two of the five optional prompts (200-word maximum each).
https://admissions.northwestern.edu/apply/requirements.html
Required · All first-year applicants
What aspects of your background (your identity, your school setting, your community, your household, etc.) have most shaped how you see yourself engaging in Northwestern's community, be it academically, extracurricularly, culturally, politically, socially, or otherwise?
Limit: 300 words — Required Northwestern writing supplement short answer.
https://admissions.northwestern.edu/apply/requirements.html
Optional · First-year applicants
How might your individual background contribute to the diversity of perspectives in Northwestern's classrooms and around campus?
Limit: 200 words — Optional prompt. Applicants answer at least one and no more than two of the five optional prompts (200-word maximum each).
https://admissions.northwestern.edu/apply/requirements.html
Optional · First-year applicants
What would you paint on The Rock, and why?
Limit: 200 words — Optional prompt. Applicants answer at least one and no more than two of the five optional prompts (200-word maximum each).
https://admissions.northwestern.edu/apply/requirements.html
Optional · First-year applicants
Within Northwestern's interdisciplinary setting, if you could dream up an undergraduate class, research project, or creative effort (a start-up, a design prototype, a performance, etc.), what would it be? Who might be some ideal classmates or collaborators?
Limit: 200 words — Optional prompt. Applicants answer at least one and no more than two of the five optional prompts (200-word maximum each).
https://admissions.northwestern.edu/apply/requirements.html
Optional · First-year applicants
Tell us about one or more communities, networks, or student groups you see yourself connecting with on campus.
Limit: 200 words — Optional prompt. Applicants answer at least one and no more than two of the five optional prompts (200-word maximum each).
https://admissions.northwestern.edu/apply/requirements.html

2025–2026

Application fee · Required
Value: 75
$75 application fee or an approved fee waiver.
https://admissions.northwestern.edu/apply/
Fee waiver · Optional
Fee waiver available for eligible applicants in place of the $75 application fee.
https://admissions.northwestern.edu/apply/
Teacher evaluations · Required
Value: 1
At least one teacher recommendation, preferably from a core-subject teacher in junior or senior year. Supplemental letters are accepted.
https://admissions.northwestern.edu/apply/requirements.html
Counselor recommendation · Required
One letter of recommendation from the applicant's high school counselor.
https://admissions.northwestern.edu/apply/requirements.html
Personal essay · Optional
Because Northwestern requires its own writing supplement, the Common Application / Coalition personal essay is optional.
https://admissions.northwestern.edu/faqs/writing-supplements/
Supplemental essays · Required
One required 300-word short answer plus at least one and no more than two of five optional 200-word short answers.
https://admissions.northwestern.edu/apply/requirements.html
Interview · Not offered
Northwestern no longer offers alumni interviews as part of the application process. Domestic applicants may submit an optional Glimpse video (60-90 seconds); international applicants may complete an optional InitialView interview. Neither is required and neither disadvantages an applicant.
https://admissions.northwestern.edu/apply/requirements.html
Secondary school report · Required
Official secondary school transcript(s) and school report from the most recent school; a final transcript noting graduation is also required.
https://admissions.northwestern.edu/apply/
English proficiency · Required
Required only if the applicant's first language is not English or their secondary schooling was not in English. Accepted: Duolingo English Test, IELTS/IELTS Indicator, or TOEFL/TOEFL iBT.
https://admissions.northwestern.edu/apply/
CSS Profile · Required
CSS Profile required for need-based financial aid consideration. Northwestern's CSS Profile code is 1565.
https://admissions.northwestern.edu/tuition-aid/application-instructions.html
FAFSA · Required
FAFSA required for need-based and federal financial aid consideration. Northwestern's FAFSA school code is 001739.
https://admissions.northwestern.edu/tuition-aid/application-instructions.html

Retrieved 2026-07-21

Official source · supports application_platforms

https://admissions.northwestern.edu/apply/

Retrieved 2026-07-21

Official source · supports testing_policy

https://admissions.northwestern.edu/apply/requirements.html

Retrieved 2026-07-21

Official source · supports essay_prompts

https://admissions.northwestern.edu/apply/requirements.html

Retrieved 2026-07-21

Official source · supports requirements

https://admissions.northwestern.edu/apply/requirements.html

Retrieved 2026-07-21

Official source · supports requirements

https://admissions.northwestern.edu/faqs/writing-supplements/

Retrieved 2026-07-21

Official source · supports requirements

https://admissions.northwestern.edu/tuition-aid/application-instructions.html

Retrieved 2026-07-21

Official source · supports requirements

https://admissions.northwestern.edu/apply/

Retrieved 2026-07-21

Official source · supports description

https://www.northwestern.edu/about/

Retrieved 2026-07-21

Official source · supports admissions_url

https://admissions.northwestern.edu/

Retrieved 2026-07-21

Official source

https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?147767

Retrieved 2026-06-10