Northwestern College

Northwestern College is moderately difficult to get into. The acceptance rate at Northwestern College is 88%. Out of 1,094 applications received in 2023, 958 students were offered admission.

If you are thinking about applying to Northwestern College, there is no application fee, which means it is free to apply.

Northwestern College Admissions Stats at a Glance

The following is an overiew of some of Northwestern College's admissions stats.

Northwestern College 2023	Admissions Statistics
Mean Unweighted GPA	3.6
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class	21%
Mean SAT Score	1180
Admissions Test Policy	Not optional
Applicants Who Submit SATs	10%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs	76%
Waitlist	No

Northwestern College Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for Northwestern College.

Application Type	Offered	Application Deadline	Notification Deadline
Early Decision I	No	–	–
Early Decision II	–	–	–
Early Action	No	–	–

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Applying Early to Northwestern College?

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Northwestern College does not offer early decision or early action.

➡️ See a list of some top colleges that accept significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.

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More on Northwestern College Admissions

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How To Get Into Northwestern College

Getting into Northwestern College is moderately difficult. Northwestern College evaluates applicants carefully based on multiple criteria to decide who to admit, and who to deny.

In 2022, Northwestern College accepted 88% of students, about 958 from the 1,094 applicants.

Schools that are moderately difficult to get into, like Northwestern College, accept fewer than 85% of all applicants. At least 75% of all admitted students have GPAs in the top 50% of their high school class and scored over 1010 on the SAT or over 18 on the ACT.

Transferring to Northwestern College

For more information on transferring to Northwestern College, contact the school directly.

For Students Waitlisted to Northwestern College

Northwestern College has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.

What Does Northwestern College Look For in an Applicant?

Colleges consider a range of factors when deciding who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college determines which factors are given the most weight in the admissions process. When creating your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and apply to colleges that prioritize the areas where you're strong.

Admissions Factors at Northwestern College

What does Northwestern College consider during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor	Level
Class Rank	Very Important
Standardized Test Scores	Very Important
Academic GPA	Very Important
Recommendation(s)	Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Important
Character/Personal Qualities	Considered
Application Essay	Considered
Extracurricular Activities	Considered
Interview	Considered
Religious Affiliation/Commitment	Considered
Talent/Ability	Considered

Make sure to check with Northwestern College for more information on admission factors.

Northwestern College Application Requirements

To apply to Northwestern College, all applicants must submit the following items. Make sure to check in with Northwestern College's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area	Required	Recommended	Required for Some	Details (If Any)
Interview	–	√	–	–
Letter(s) of Recommendation	–	1	–	–
Minimum High School GPA (On 4.0 Scale)	2.02.5	–	–
Written Essay or Personal Statement	√	–	–	–
Transcript of High School Record	√	–	–	–

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GPA and Testing

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What GPA Do I Need To Get Into Northwestern College?

Students admitted to Northwestern College have an average unweighted GPA of 3.6. Northwestern College considers weighted GPA scores from incomging students.

Out of all students that were admitted, 61% submitted a class rank. At Northwestern College 21% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 43% were in the top 25% and 78% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At Northwestern College, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA	Percent of Students
4.0 GPA	15%
3.75 and 3.99	36%
3.50 and 3.74	21%
3.25 and 3.49	12%
3.00 and 3.24	7%
2.50 and 2.9	7%
2.00 and 2.49	2%

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to Northwestern College directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that highlights your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

Northwestern College does not have a test optional admissions policy. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 10% of Northwestern College's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 76% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for Northwestern College?

To be competitive with other Northwestern College applicants, you should aim to score between 1020 and 1300 (or higher!) on the SAT. At Northwestern College 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1300 and 25% of scored lower than 1020, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.The mean composite SAT score for a Northwestern College student is 1180.

To be most competitive at Northwestern College, you should strive to earn between 20 and 25 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 25 means you fall in the 75th percentile for Northwestern College's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 25, and three out of four students scored lower than 25 on the ACT.

A 20 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for Northwestern College students. Only one out of every four students scored below 20.

More Information on Transferring to Northwestern College

Transfer applications are processed on a on a rolling basis as they are received.

Transfer students can enroll in Northwestern College during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Winter Term

• Spring Term

• Winter Term

• Summer Term

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Northwestern College Admissions FAQs

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Can I defer my acceptance to Northwestern College?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to Northwestern College.

Does Northwestern College accept transfer credits?

✅ Northwestern College accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions. Northwestern College accepts:

• CLEP subject tests • DSST/DANTES

Does Northwestern College accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ Northwestern College accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to Northwestern College?

✅ Northwestern College is not test optional.

What is Northwestern College's acceptance rate?

✅ Northwestern College's acceptance rate is 88%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at Northwestern College?

❌ Northwestern College does not offer early decision.

Want To Learn More About Northwestern College?

To learn more about Northwestern College, choose from the options below:

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Tuition & Aid

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