If you are planning on applying to Northwestern, the regular decision application deadline is August 1 and the application fee is $25.
Here is an overiew of some of Northwestern's admissions stats.
Northwestern 2022 | Admissions Statistics |
---|---|
Mean Unweighted GPA | 3.6 |
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class | 17% |
Mean SAT Score | 1236 |
Admissions Test Policy | Test Optional |
Applicants Who Submit SATs | 6% |
Applicants Who Submit ACTs | 54% |
Waitlist | No |
These are the application deadlines for University of Northwestern-St. Paul.
Application Type | Offered | Application Deadline | Notification Deadline |
---|---|---|---|
Early Decision I | No | –– | –– |
Early Decision II | –– | –– | –– |
Early Action | Yes | November 15 | December 1 |
Regular Decision | Yes | August 1 | –– |
Northwestern does not offer early decision but does offer early action.
🗓️ The Early Action deadline is November 15. Northwestern will release EA admissions decisions no later than December 1.
➡️ Find a list of some competetive colleges that admit significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.
It is moderately difficult to be admitted as a transfer student.
Northwestern has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.
Colleges consider a range of factors when deciding who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college has a different way of determining which factors are they consider most important in the admissions process. When assembling your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and choose schools that prioritize the admissions factors where you shine.
Wondering what factors are considered by Northwestern 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 |
---|---|
Academic GPA | Very Important |
Character/Personal Qualities | Very Important |
Application Essay | Very Important |
Recommendation(s) | Very Important |
Religious Affiliation/Commitment | Very Important |
Rigor of Secondary School Record | Very Important |
Extracurricular Activities | Important |
Level of Applicant's Interest | Important |
Standardized Test Scores | Important |
Volunteer Work | Important |
Alumni/ae Relations | Considered |
Geographical Residence | Considered |
Class Rank | Considered |
Work Experience | Considered |
First Generation | Considered |
Interview | Considered |
Racial/Ethnic Status | Considered |
Talent/Ability | Considered |
Make sure to check with Northwestern for more information on admission factors.
To apply to Northwestern, all applicants must submit the following items. Check in with Northwestern's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.
Area | Required | Recommended | Required for Some | Details (If Any) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Interview | √ | |||
Minimum High School GPA (On 4.0 Scale) | 2.03 | |||
Letter(s) of Recommendation | 2 | |||
Written Essay or Personal Statement | √ | |||
Other Requirements | √ | lifestyle agreement, statement of Christian faith | ||
Transcript of High School Record | √ |
Students admitted to Northwestern have an average unweighted GPA of 3.6.
Out of all students that were admitted, 2% submitted a class rank. At Northwestern 17% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 50% were in the top 25% and 83% were in the top 50%.
At University of Northwestern-St. Paul, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.
GPA | Percent of Students |
---|---|
4.0 GPA | 4% |
3.75 and 3.99 | 46% |
3.50 and 3.74 | 16% |
3.25 and 3.49 | 14% |
3.00 and 3.24 | 10% |
2.50 and 2.9 | 8% |
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 directly.
About GPAs
Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that reflects 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.
Northwestern considers standardized tests scores during the admissions process.
Northwestern is a test optional school. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.
In 2022, 6% of Northwestern's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 54% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.
To be competitive with other Northwestern applicants, you should strive to earn between 1150 and 1340 (or higher!) on the SAT. At Northwestern 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1340 and 25% of scored lower than 1150, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.The mean composite SAT score for a Northwestern student is 1236.
On the SAT Math Section, 25% of Northwestern students scored 670 or higher and 75% of students scored 570 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of Northwestern students scored 670 or higher, and 75% scored a 570 or higher.
To be most competitive at Northwestern, you should strive to earn between 21 and 28 on the ACT.
An ACT score of 28 means you fall in the 75th percentile for Northwestern's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 28, and three out of four students scored lower than 28 on the ACT.
A 21 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for Northwestern students. Only one out of every four students scored below 21.
Want To Bring Up Your ACT Score? Access ACT practice tests and study tips and see upcoming ACT test dates.
For transfer students, it is moderately difficult to get admitted to Northwestern.
For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is August 1.
Transfer students can enroll in Northwestern during the following terms:
• Fall Term
• Spring Term
• Summer Term
Can I defer my acceptance to Northwestern?
✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to Northwestern.
Does Northwestern accept transfer credits?
✅ Northwestern accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions. Northwestern accepts:
• CLEP subject tests • DSST/DANTES
Does Northwestern accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?
✅ Northwestern accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits and Advanced Placement (AP) credits.
Do I have to submit test scores to Northwestern?
❌ No, Northwestern is test optional, so it's up to you if you want to submit test scores or not. If you have higher than average scores, you may want to send them. If you scored lower than a school's average, you may want not want to include them in your application.
What is Northwestern's acceptance rate?
✅ Northwestern has an acceptance rate of 82%.
What is the early decision acceptance rate at Northwestern?
❌ Northwestern does not offer early decision.
To learn more about Northwestern, choose from the options below:
Join the conversation about about Northwestern in the College Confidential forums
Explore other colleges in Minnesota or use the college admissions predictor to calculate your chances of getting into some of the top colleges and universities in the U.S.
Admission Difficulty
How hard is it to get into Northwestern? Northwestern is a somewhat selective institution. The Northwestern acceptance rate is 82%. This means that the institution accepts 82 out of every 100 applicants.
First-Year Applications are Due
Transfer Applications are Due
The deadline for Fall first-year applications to Northwestern is Aug 1.
The deadline for Fall transfer applications to Northwestern is Aug 1.
Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs
ACT Range
ACT Score
Estimated Chance
28 and Above
21 to 28
21 and Less
The median ACT score of an admitted student to Northwestern is 25. Students with an ACT score of 28 and above have a good chance of getting into Northwestern. Students with an ACT score that falls between 21 and 28 have an average chance of getting admitted, and students with an ACT score of 21 or below have a low chance of being offered admission.
Composite SAT Range
Math SAT Range
Reading SAT Range
SAT Score
Estimated Chance
1340 and Above
1150 to 1340
1150 and Less
The median SAT score for Northwestern students is 1236. Applicants with SAT scores of 1340 and above have a good chance of being admitted to Northwestern, while applicants with SAT scores between 1150 to 1340 have an average chance of admittance, and prospective students with an SAT score below 1150 have a low chance of being offered a spot at Northwestern.
Avg. High School GPA (non-weighted)
At Northwestern, the average unweighted high-school GPA for admitted students is 3.58. This is the average, which means that some applicants submit GPAs lower than this and some applicants submit GPAs above this level. If your GPA falls below the average, strong test scores or other qualifications may help you make you a more competitive applicant.
Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved
Total Enrollment
Campus Setting
Acceptance Rate
Tuition and Fees
In State
Out-of-State
Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline
Claim your page to customize your profile and connect with students!
Want to find money for school that doesn’t need to be paid back? Access insights and advice on how to search and apply for scholarships!
Connect with the world's largest college forum for candid, authentic discussion.