The average acceptance rate at Northwestern over the past 10 years is 75.82%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 80.36%. Compared to the previous year, it became much more competitive to gain admission to Northwestern in 2025. The acceptance rate at Northwestern is relatively high, giving applicants a greater chance of admission.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 27.60%, and the 2025 yield is 27.18%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 6.95% from 2015 to 2025.
The number of Northwestern applicants increased by 29.61% (342 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 21.31% overall.
Key Takeaways: Northwestern Admission Metrics
Acceptance Rate Overview
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 80.36%, showing a decreasing selectivity trend. This suggests that Northwestern is admitting a higher proportion of applicants, which may indicate either an increase in application quality or a strategic enrollment decision by the institution.
Yield Rate & Enrollment Patterns
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 27.18%. The declining yield trend suggests that a lower percentage of admitted students are choosing to enroll at Northwestern. This pattern may reflect increased competition from peer institutions, changing student demographics, or shifts in institutional enrollment strategy.
Application Volume & Admission Trends
For the 2025 admission cycle, Northwestern received approximately 1,497 applications, admitted 1,203 students, and enrolled 327 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.
Acceptance Rate Changes
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 75.82%, while the most recent rate stands at 80.36%. 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 80.36%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 73.89% and for women is 78.95%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at Northwestern have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
Admission Yield (Enrollment Rate) Changes
Northwestern has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 29.21% in 2015 to 27.18% in 2025, representing a 6.95% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 27.60%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at Northwestern from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 6.95% over this period.
Applicants, Admitted, and Enrolled Headcount Changes
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 1,411, the average number of admitted is 1,052, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 283.
The number of Northwestern applicants increased by 29.61% (342 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 21.31% overall.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at Northwestern College from 2015 to 2025.
Compare Acceptance Rate Change to Similar Colleges
The following table compares Northwestern College' acceptance rate to similar schools.