The average acceptance rate at Northwestern over the past 10 years is 8.88%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 7.69%. Northwestern maintains an extremely selective admissions process, making it very difficult for applicants to be admitted.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 55.00%, and the 2025 yield is 55.31%. Overall, the yield has increased by 14.84% from 2015 to 2025.
The number of Northwestern applicants decreased by 4.43% (2,295 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 54.02% overall.
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 7.69%, representing an increasingly selective admissions process. This indicates that Northwestern has become more competitive over the past decade, as the institution receives a growing number of applications while maintaining or reducing the number of admitted students.
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 55.31%. This rising yield trend demonstrates that Northwestern is increasingly successful at converting admitted students into enrolled students. An increasing yield rate suggests stronger student preference for Northwestern and indicates that the institution's admitted class quality and perceived value continue to improve.
For the 2025 admission cycle, Northwestern received approximately 49,474 applications, admitted 3,806 students, and enrolled 2,105 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that Northwestern is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.
Northwestern 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at Northwestern over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 8.88%, while the most recent rate stands at 7.69%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.
For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 7.69%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 8.83% and for women is 8.93%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at Northwestern have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 13.04% | 13.40% | 12.71% |
| 2016-17 | 10.66% -2.38% |
10.81% -2.59% |
10.53% -2.18% |
| 2017-18 | 9.24% -1.43% |
9.34% -1.47% |
9.15% -1.38% |
| 2018-19 | 8.47% -0.77% |
8.48% -0.86% |
8.46% -0.69% |
| 2019-20 | 9.05% 0.59% |
9.20% 0.73% |
8.91% 0.45% |
| 2020-21 | 9.31% 0.26% |
8.79% -0.41% |
9.79% 0.88% |
| 2021-22 | 7.00% -2.31% |
7.00% -1.79% |
7.00% -2.79% |
| 2022-23 | 7.21% 0.21% |
7.02% 0.02% |
7.37% 0.37% |
| 2023-24 | 7.15% -0.06% |
6.96% -0.06% |
7.33% -0.04% |
| 2024-25 | 7.69% 0.54% |
7.30% 0.34% |
8.06% 0.73% |
| Average | 8.88% | 8.83% | 8.93% |
Northwestern has demonstrated an improvement in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has increased from 48.16% in 2015 to 55.31% in 2025, representing a 14.84% increase. The 10-year average yield stands at 55.00%, reflecting strengthening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at Northwestern from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has increased by 14.84% over this period.
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 48.16% | 49.06% | 47.28% |
| 2016-17 | 53.03% 4.87% |
53.61% 4.55% |
52.49% 5.21% |
| 2017-18 | 55.29% 2.26% |
55.01% 1.40% |
55.55% 3.06% |
| 2018-19 | 56.43% 1.14% |
54.07% -0.94% |
58.64% 3.09% |
| 2019-20 | 54.61% -1.81% |
55.23% 1.16% |
54.02% -4.62% |
| 2020-21 | 52.03% -2.59% |
51.92% -3.32% |
52.12% -1.91% |
| 2021-22 | 63.00% 10.97% |
64.00% 12.08% |
61.99% 9.87% |
| 2022-23 | 55.16% -7.84% |
55.63% -8.37% |
54.77% -7.22% |
| 2023-24 | 57.01% 1.85% |
56.60% 0.97% |
57.36% 2.59% |
| 2024-25 | 55.31% -1.70% |
56.31% -0.29% |
54.44% -2.91% |
| Average | 55.00% | 55.14% | 54.87% |
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 42,489, the average number of admitted is 3,666, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 2,010.
The number of Northwestern applicants decreased by 4.43% (2,295 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 54.02% overall.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at Northwestern University from 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 32,122 | 4,190 | 2,018 |
| 2016-17 | 35,100 9.27% |
3,743 -10.67% |
1,985 -1.64% |
| 2017-18 | 37,259 6.15% |
3,442 -8.04% |
1,903 -4.13% |
| 2018-19 | 40,425 8.50% |
3,422 -0.58% |
1,931 1.47% |
| 2019-20 | 40,585 0.40% |
3,673 7.33% |
2,006 3.88% |
| 2020-21 | 39,263 -3.26% |
3,654 -0.52% |
1,901 -5.23% |
| 2021-22 | 47,636 21.33% |
3,335 -8.73% |
2,101 10.52% |
| 2022-23 | 51,261 7.61% |
3,695 10.79% |
2,038 -3.00% |
| 2023-24 | 51,769 0.99% |
3,703 0.22% |
2,111 3.58% |
| 2024-25 | 49,474 -4.43% |
3,806 2.78% |
2,105 -0.28% |
| Average | 42,489 | 3,666 | 2,010 |
The following table compares Northwestern University' acceptance rate to similar schools.
| 2024 | 2025 | Change % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern University | 7.15% | 7.69% | 7.55% |
| Indiana University-Bloomington | 78.21% | 80.37% | -2.69% |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus | 60.57% | 50.82% | 19.19% |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | 45.20% | 43.35% | 4.27% |
| Michigan State University | 84.80% | 83.92% | 1.05% |
| University of Iowa | 83.62% | 84.67% | -1.24% |
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