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Colleges / University of Northwestern-St. Paul

University of Northwestern-St. Paul

St. Paul, MN 4-Year Private
Acceptance Rate82%
Acceptance Rate82%

Northwestern Admissions

If you are planning on applying to Northwestern, the regular decision application deadline is August 1 and the application fee is $25.

Northwestern Admissions Stats at a Glance

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

University of Northwestern-St. Paul Application Deadlines

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 ––

Applying Early to Northwestern?


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.


More on University of Northwestern-St. Paul Admissions


Transferring to University of Northwestern-St. Paul

It is moderately difficult to be admitted as a transfer student.

For Students Waitlisted to Northwestern

Northwestern has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.

What's Most Important for Getting Into Northwestern?

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.

Admissions Factors at Northwestern

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.

Northwestern Application Requirements

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

GPA and Testing


What GPA Do I Need To Get Into Northwestern?

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%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

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.

Standardized Test Scores

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.

What is a Good SAT Score for Northwestern?

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.

What is a Good ACT Score for Northwestern?

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.

More Information on Transferring to University of Northwestern-St. Paul

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


Northwestern Admissions FAQs


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.

Want To Learn More About Northwestern?

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

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Tuition & Aid

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.

Northwestern Admissions Requirements

Admission Difficulty

Somewhat Selective

82%

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.

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Northwestern Application Deadline

First-Year Applications are Due

Aug 1

Transfer Applications are Due

Aug 1

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

Northwestern ACT Scores

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ACT Range

21 - 28

Estimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score

ACT Score

Estimated Chance

28 and Above

Good

21 to 28

Avg

21 and Less

Low

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ACT Scores Needed to Get Accepted

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.

Northwestern SAT Scores

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Composite SAT Range

1150 - 1340

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Math SAT Range

570 - 670

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Reading SAT Range

570 - 670

Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

SAT Score

Estimated Chance

1340 and Above

Good

1150 to 1340

Avg

1150 and Less

Low

SAT Scores Needed to Get Accepted

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.

Northwestern GPA

Avg. High School GPA (non-weighted)

3.58

GPA Needed to Get Accepted

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

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

3,398

Campus Setting

Suburban

Acceptance Rate

82%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$33,200

Out-of-State

$33,200

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Aug 1
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