Admissions · United States
Northwestern Acceptance Rate: Admissions Statistics and English Requirements
Northwestern admitted 7.5% of first-year applicants for fall 2025: 3,933 of 52,676, according to its Common Data Set.
Northwestern publishes its admissions figures in the Common Data Set; the newest covers fall 2025. Below are the last three cycles, the Early Decision, transfer and yield figures, what Northwestern does not publish (international rates and the number of applicants offered a wait-list place), and its English proficiency rules.
Figures read from official sources on · LingoLeap Admissions Research
Northwestern University acceptance rate by year
Northwestern acceptance rate by round and applicant group
| Group | Cycle | Rate | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision | Fall 2025 entering class | 20.4% | 1,212 admitted of 5,939 ED applicants source |
| Early Decision | Fall 2024 entering class | 23.0% | 1,186 admitted of 5,154 ED applicants source |
| Early Decision | Fall 2023 entering class | 22.5% | 1,174 admitted of 5,207 ED applicants source |
| Yield (admits who enrolled) | Fall 2025 entering class | 54.4% | 2,139 enrolled of 3,933 admitted source |
| Yield (admits who enrolled) | Fall 2024 entering class | 55.3% | 2,105 enrolled of 3,806 admitted source |
| Yield (admits who enrolled) | Fall 2023 entering class | 56.5% | 2,111 enrolled of 3,739 admitted source |
| Transfer | Fall 2025 | 10.9% | 498 admitted of 4,562 source |
| Transfer | Fall 2024 | 12.0% | 484 admitted of 4,045 source |
| Transfer | Fall 2023 | 12.7% | 447 admitted of 3,507 source |
What the numbers mean
Northwestern's acceptance rate has stayed between 7.2% and 7.7% over three cycles while applications held at roughly 50,000 to 53,000. Because the Common Data Set reports applicants and admits by gender, the totals above are the sums of those lines. The admitted class has been steady at about 3,700 to 3,900, and about 54% to 57% of admits enroll.
Early Decision is binding and accounts for a large share of the class. For fall 2025 Northwestern admitted 20.4% of ED applicants (1,212 of 5,939), more than two and a half times the overall rate, and ED admits were 30.8% of all admits. The early pool differs from the regular pool, so the gap is not a pure advantage from applying early.
Northwestern does not publish an international acceptance rate: the residency table in its Common Data Set is marked "C or t" instead of showing in-state, out-of-state and international counts, so this page does not give one. Wait-list numbers are also partly withheld: the number of applicants offered a place is not shown, but the Common Data Set reports 167 wait-listed students admitted for fall 2025, 59 for fall 2024 and 55 for fall 2023.
An English proficiency score is required for applicants whose first or primary language is not English or whose secondary schooling was not in English. Northwestern accepts the Duolingo English Test, IELTS (including IELTS Indicator) and TOEFL iBT, sets no minimum score, requires official score reports, does not superscore and does not review TOEFL MyBest scores. SAT and ACT scores are optional.
Northwestern University TOEFL and IELTS requirements
Minimums for international applicants from the university's own pages. Since 21 January 2026 TOEFL iBT reports a 1–6 band score; the notes give the older 0–120 equivalent where the university states one. Convert TOEFL and IELTS scores.
Undergraduate (first-year)
TOEFL iBT: No minimum score published. Northwestern says competitive applicants typically score in the high range on all sections.
IELTS Academic: No minimum score published
Required if your first or primary language is not English or your secondary schooling was not in English. Accepted: TOEFL iBT (institution code 1565), IELTS (including IELTS Indicator) and the Duolingo English Test; not TOEFL ITP Plus for China. Scores must be sent officially (no self-reporting), are not superscored, and TOEFL MyBest scores are not reviewed.
Northwestern Undergraduate Admissions: International applicants (English proficiency) · checked 9 October 2026
Check your score against Northwestern University
Take a free 2026-format TOEFL mock test for a 1–6 band estimate, then compare it with the minimum above and with other universities' requirements.
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What is Northwestern's acceptance rate?
Northwestern admitted 3,933 of 52,676 first-year applicants for fall 2025, an acceptance rate of 7.5%, according to its Common Data Set. The rate was 7.7% for fall 2024 and 7.2% for fall 2023.
What is Northwestern's early decision acceptance rate?
For fall 2025 Northwestern admitted 1,212 of 5,939 Early Decision applicants, 20.4%. The rate was 23.0% for fall 2024 (1,186 of 5,154) and 22.5% for fall 2023 (1,174 of 5,207).
What is Northwestern's transfer acceptance rate?
Northwestern admitted 498 of 4,562 transfer applicants for fall 2025 (10.9%), 484 of 4,045 for fall 2024 (12.0%) and 447 of 3,507 for fall 2023 (12.7%).
What is Northwestern's international acceptance rate?
Northwestern does not publish one. The residency breakdown in its Common Data Set is marked "C or t" rather than giving in-state, out-of-state and international figures, so any international rate you see elsewhere is not from Northwestern's published data.
What is Northwestern's waitlist acceptance rate?
Northwestern does not show how many applicants were offered a place on the wait list, so a rate cannot be computed. It reports that 167 wait-listed students were admitted for fall 2025, 59 for fall 2024 and 55 for fall 2023.
What is Northwestern's yield?
For fall 2025, 2,139 of 3,933 admitted students enrolled, a yield of 54.4%. It was 55.3% for fall 2024 and 56.5% for fall 2023.
What TOEFL score does Northwestern require?
Northwestern requires an English proficiency score from applicants whose first or primary language is not English or whose secondary schooling was not in English, but sets no minimum score; it says competitive applicants typically score in the high range on all sections. It accepts TOEFL iBT (code 1565), IELTS and the Duolingo English Test, and does not review MyBest scores.