Located in the 3rd largest city in the United States, Chicago's Northwestern University increasingly attracts competitive applicants from across the country—and the world. In the latest admissions cycle for the Class of 2028, Northwestern accepted only 7.5% of applicants. And although this shows an increase from last year’s acceptance rate, it remains below the University’s pre-pandemic levels. This trend underscores the importance of fully understanding and being able to demonstrate Northwestern’s admissions criteria when preparing to apply to this competitive school. 

Northwestern hasn’t released the exact number of Early and Regular Decision applications it received, saying only that it received around 50,000 in total. Using that figure, we can estimate that Northwestern sent admissions letters to approximately 3,750 students offering acceptance to the Class of 2028. The stubbornness of Northwestern’s admissions rate (it has not returned to pre-pandemic levels) should signal how seriously applicants need to take the process if they are hoping to study in its halls. 

Total Applicants: ~ 50,000

Admitted Students: ~ 3,750

Acceptance Rate: 7.5%

This year's slight uptick from the previous 7% rate shouldn’t lull applicants into complacency. Northwestern’s admissions rate remains below its pre-pandemic rates, which ranged from 10.7 to 8.5% in the immediately preceding years, indicating a lower rate might be permanent for now. Although Northwestern did not release specific numbers on the numbers of Early and Regular Decision applications received and accepted, it did state that nearly half of all admissions letters went to Early Decision applicants for the Class of 2028.

It’s challenging to get a pinpoint accurate look at Northwestern’s acceptance trends, as the university often doesn’t release exact numbers. That said, we are able to see an overall acceptance rate, including how it has changed over the course of the past decade. Admissions to Northwestern dropped from 9.3% for the class of 2024 to just 7% for the class of 2025, and have not gone above 7.5% since. With an albeit small increase in admissions for the Class of 2028 over the Class of 2027 (7%), it will be interesting to see if this represents an exception or a trend back to pre-pandemic admissions levels. 

The geographic and demographic statistics released by Northwestern show a campus that is largely reflective of the makeup of the country as a whole. Notably, 14.2% of the Class of 2027 identifies as Black or African American, 47.8% identify as White, and 17.2% identify as Hispanic or Latinx.  Additionally, 14.6% of Northwestern’s Class of 2027 consists of first-generation college students.  

The undergraduate class at Northwestern includes students from 75 foreign countries. While this number is significant, it remains lower than other nationally-ranked universities, which often report 100+ countries or more represented on their campuses. 

Empowerly recognizes the complexities and competitive nature of gaining admission to Northwestern. Our tailored guidance and strategic planning can demystify the process, enhancing your application's strength and aligning your achievements with Northwestern's particular admissions criteria.

Northwestern has been a cornerstone of higher education in the Midwest since its founding in 1851. Located along the scenic shores of Lake Michigan, the university’s more than 23,000 graduate and undergraduate students have access to 11 prestigious schools and additional campuses in Coral Gables, San Francisco, Doha, and Washington, D.C. Student-athletes compete at the NCAA Division I level in the storied Big Ten Conference. Gaining entrance to this legacy American institution has long been a goal of top students in the Great Lakes region and around the world. 

Prospective students encountered a new set of supplemental essay questions during the 2023-24 admissions cycle at Northwestern, as well as a required question for Common Application and Coalition with Scoir. Neither the SAT nor the ACT is required for entry to Northwestern, and there are no statistics available to demonstrate if taking the optional test(s) has an impact on a student’s admissions prospects. Undergraduate deadlines for application are in September, November, and December.  An application interview with a Northwestern alumni is available, but it remains optional. 

Following the Supreme Court’s ruling that race-based admissions criteria are unconstitutional, it’s important for prospective students to note that universities can still consider how race or ethnicity affected an applicant’s life if it’s disclosed in an essay. Applicants should pay close attention to the new supplemental essay questions, and determine whether race or ethnicity is something they’d like to express through their responses. Northwestern also considers what it calls the “Fit Factor” when reviewing applications, which they define as “a story you tell us about how you see yourself thriving on campus.”