Over the past 11 years, the average SAT score of Northwestern University is 1505, and current year SAT score is 1540
The SAT score have been increased 60 points since 2015 and it has risen steadily in recent years at Northwestern. Compared to previous year, the SAT score increased by 10 points at Northwestern. Compared to similar schools, the submitted SAT and ACT scores are extremely competitive and high at Northwestern.
You can check and compare colleges with similar SAT scores Northwestern by SAT score range 1440-1540 and 1490-1590.
The 2025 SAT score is 1540 at Northwestern. Over the past 11 years, the average SAT score is 1448 (25th percentile) and 1560 (75th percentile). Compared to similar schools, the submitted SAT scores are extremely competitive and high at Northwestern.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in SAT scores at Northwestern University since 2015.
| Year | Total | Math | Evidence-Based Reading and Writing | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | 50th | 75th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 25th | 50th | 75th | |
| 2015-16 | 1,400 | 1,480 | 1,560 | 710 | 755 | 800 | 690 | 725 | 760 |
| 2016-17 | 1,400 | 1,480 | 1,560 | 710 | 755 | 800 | 690 | 725 | 760 |
| 2017-18 | 1,420 | 1,490 | 1,560 | 720 | 755 | 790 | 700 | 735 | 770 |
| 2018-19 | 1,430 | 1,490 | 1,550 | 730 | 760 | 790 | 700 | 730 | 760 |
| 2019-20 | 1,440 | 1,495 | 1,550 | 740 | 765 | 790 | 700 | 730 | 760 |
| 2020-21 | 1,430 | 1,490 | 1,550 | 730 | 760 | 790 | 700 | 730 | 760 |
| 2021-22 | 1,470 | 1,520 | 1,570 | 750 | 775 | 800 | 720 | 745 | 770 |
| 2022-23 | 1,490 | 1,530 | 1,570 | 760 | 780 | 800 | 730 | 750 | 770 |
| 2023-24 | 1,490 | 1,530 | 1,560 | 760 | 780 | 790 | 730 | 750 | 770 |
| 2024-25 | 1,510 | 1,540 | 1,570 | 770 | 780 | 800 | 740 | 760 | 770 |
| Average | 1448 | 1505 | 1560 | 738 | 767 | 795 | 710 | 738 | 765 |
The 2025 ACT score is 34 at Northwestern. Over the past 11 years, the average ACT score of the last 11 years is 33 (25th percentile) and 35 (75th percentile). Compared to similar schools, the submitted ACT scores are extremely competitive and high at Northwestern.
The following table and chart show the changes in ACT scores at Northwestern University since 2015.
| Year | Composite | English | Math | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | 50th | 75th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 25th | 50th | 75th | |
| 2015-16 | 31 | 33 | 34 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 30 | 33 | 35 |
| 2016-17 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 32 | 33 | 34 |
| 2017-18 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 32 | 33 | 34 |
| 2018-19 | 33 | 34 | 35 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2019-20 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 31 | 33 | 35 |
| 2020-21 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 31 | 33 | 35 |
| 2021-22 | 34 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 36 | 36 | 32 | 34 | 35 |
| 2022-23 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 36 | 32 | 34 | 35 |
| 2023-24 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 31 | 34 | 35 |
| 2024-25 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 36 | 32 | 34 | 35 |
| Average | 33 | 34 | 35 | 34 | 35 | 35 | 31 | 33 | 35 |
The following table compares Northwestern University' SAT score to similar schools.
| 2024 | 2025 | Change % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern University | 1530 | 1540 | 0.65% |
| Michigan State University | 1260 | 1250 | 0.80% |
| University of Iowa | 1230 | 1220 | 0.82% |
| Purdue University-Main Campus | 1350 | 1320 | 2.27% |
| University of Maryland-College Park | 1465 | 1460 | 0.34% |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | 1440 | 1410 | 2.13% |
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