First-year admissions

Northwestern University acceptance rate

Northwestern University admitted 7.7% of first-year applicants for fall 2024 (3,806 of 49,474), up from 7.2% for fall 2023 and fall 2022, the lowest in the six years with figures. Early decision admitted 23.0% for fall 2024 (1,186 of 5,154). The high was 9.3%, for fall 2020. It was 8.5% for fall 2018. Usable figures for fall 2021 are not in our archive.

Northwestern University’s acceptance rate, fall 2018–2024

Dark bars show first-year admission. Olive bars show early decision. — = not reported or not usable.

Northwestern University first-year acceptance rate, applicants, admits, enrolled, and yield by entering class, newest first. Early-decision rate is shown under the first-year rate when the report includes C21 counts.
Year	Acceptance rate	Applied	Admitted	Enrolled	Yield	Source
Fall 20242024–25 report	7.7%23.0% ED	49,474	3,806	2,105	55.3%	PDF
Fall 20232023–24 report	7.2%22.5% ED	51,769	3,739	2,111	56.5%	PDF
Fall 20222022–23 report	7.2%22.1% ED	51,261	3,695	2,038	55.2%	PDF
Fall 20212021–22 report	—	Report on file; counts not usable
Fall 20202020–21 report	9.3%—	39,263	3,654	1,901	52.0%	PDF
Fall 20192019–20 report	9.1%—	40,585	3,673	2,006	54.6%	PDF
Fall 20182018–19 report	8.5%26.5% ED	40,425	3,422	1,931	56.4%	PDF

Source: Common Data Set reports published by Northwestern University, section C1 (first-time, first-year, degree-seeking students). Note: Acceptance rate is admitted ÷ applied; yield is enrolled ÷ admitted. Early-decision figures are section C21 (applications received and admitted under the early decision plan). Each year is the class entering that fall; the 2024–25 report covers fall 2024. — = not reported or not usable.

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