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The Select Few: Northwestern Acceptance Rate Drops to 7%
06/04/2023•10 minute read
Northwestern University has released its acceptance rate statistics for the incoming class of 2027, receiving a record-breaking 52,225 applications. With approximately 3,655 students admitted, the acceptance rate is at 7%. Regular decision acceptance rate is around 3.5%, while early decision acceptance rate is around 40%. Northwestern is widely recognized as one of the top universities in the United States, consistently ranking among the best in university lists.
Northwestern University Acceptance Rate (Class of 2027)
The admission results and acceptance rate of Northwestern University were announced in an article by The Daily Northwestern on March 28th 2023. According to the article, Northwestern experienced a record number of undergraduate applications for the class of 2027, with 52,225 students applying to the university.
Of these applicants, only about 3,655 were granted admission, resulting in an acceptance rate of just 7%, a slight dip compared to the previous year's rate of 7.2%.
Northwestern Acceptance Rate for Class 2027
| Number of Applications | Accepted Students | Acceptance Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Applications | 47,005 | ~2,655 | ~5.6% |
| Early Applications | 5,220 | ~1,000 | ~20% |
| Total Applications | 52,225 | ~3,655 | 7% |
Northwestern’s Regular Decision Acceptance Rate
Northwestern's regular decision admission numbers for the Class of 2027 indicate a significant level of competitiveness. The institution received around 47,005 applications, with approximately 1,655 students gaining acceptance, resulting in an estimated regular-decision acceptance rate of around 3.5%.
Comparing these figures to previous years, the number of applications this year is the highest yet, a 667 increase from last year's number of applications.
Notably, the acceptance rate for the classes of 2025 and 2026 were higher, at 5.3% and 5.7% respectively, even though more applications were submitted during those years. This trend suggests that Northwestern University has experienced increased selectivity in recent years, making admission into Northwestern more competitive.
Northwestern's Regular Decision Statistics
| Class of | Total Applications | Accepted Applicants | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 47,005 | ~2,656 | ~5.6% |
| 2026 | 47,013 | ~2,692 | ~5.7% |
| 2025 | 47,636 | ~2,292 | ~5.3% |
Note: Please be aware that Northwestern University does not officially disclose the number of students accepted through their regular decision application process. Consequently, the figures presented in this table are based on estimates and should be treated with caution.
Northwestern's Early Decision Acceptance Rate
Northwestern's early decision admission numbers for the Class of 2027 reveal an early acceptance rate of about 20%, with approximately 1,000 students being admitted out of 5,220 applications.
This aligns with Northwestern University's trend in recent years, as they have typically accepted half of their incoming class through early decision applications.
Northwestern University's early decision cycle has a noticeably higher acceptance rate than its regular decision cycle, which is evident from the data. To improve your likelihood of being admitted to Northwestern University, it's advised that you apply early.
A Close Look at Northwestern's Admission History
In recent years, Northwestern University's acceptance rate has been hovering around 7-9%, making it one of the most selective universities in the United States.
Northwestern Acceptance Rate Throughout the Years
| Class of | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|
| 2027 | 7% |
| 2026 | 7.2% |
| 2025 | 7% |
| 2024 | 9.3% |
| 2023 | 9.1% |
| 2022 | 8.5% |
| 2021 | 9.2% |
| 2020 | 10.7% |
Northwestern University has adopted a test-optional policy for the admissions cycle of 2022-2023, due to the COVID-19 pandemic's disruptions. Under this policy, applicants can choose whether to submit their SAT or ACT scores as part of their application. This policy aims to provide more equitable access to higher education by removing standardized test scores as a barrier for underrepresented students who may not have access to test preparation resources or who face other obstacles due to the pandemic.
However, applicants should keep in mind that the test-optional policy does not mean that standardized test scores are not considered in the admission process. Other factors, such as academic performance, extracurricular activities, and personal essays, will be given more weight to evaluate an applicant's potential for success at Northwestern University. Prospective students should carefully consider whether submitting their test scores would enhance their application before deciding whether to do so.
A Day in the Life: Northwestern Student
All About Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university located in Evanston, Illinois, United States. It was founded in 1851 and has since become one of the top universities in the country. The university is known for its commitment to academic excellence and interdisciplinary learning, offering more than 150 undergraduate and graduate programs across 12 schools and colleges.
Northwestern's faculty includes Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and MacArthur "genius" grant recipients, among other accomplished scholars and educators. With a focus on innovation and impact, Northwestern encourages its students to explore diverse perspectives and pursue their passions through a dynamic and collaborative learning environment.
Want To Get Into A Top University?
With the top universities in the US lowering their acceptance rates, it’s becoming increasingly more difficult to get into the best colleges of the United States. If you want to increase your chances of getting into an Ivy League, students should consider applying for early admission.
Students should consider working with a Crimson academic advisor to increase your chances of getting into a top university.
What Makes Crimson Different
Crimson’s Class of 2027 Regular Round Decision Results
Our students have smashed early and regular round records for the Class of 2027!
More than 600 Crimson students have been admitted to the Ivy League! Here is a breakdown of Crimson’s Class of 2027 top university admit numbers.
- 95+ Crimson Ivy League offers, including 66 offers to the most competitive Ivies — Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Columbia and UPenn.
- UPenn offers included several to Penn’s Wharton School of Business and the prestigious Huntsman Program.
- 65+ offers to US Top 10 universities, including Stanford, MIT, UChicago, Duke, Northwestern, Johns Hopkins and Caltech.
- 20+ UC Berkeley offers
Despite the decrease in acceptance rates, the number of Crimson students who have received offers to schools like Harvard, Stanford, Princeton and Yale has increased. We attribute this unprecedented success to our teamwork mentality. Students, their families and Crimson tutors and mentors work together to create stellar admissions-worthy applications.
We are so excited for Crimson’s Class of 2027 and can’t wait to share their success stories with you! Keep an eye on our blog and website for more regular round admission results.
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