Admission & test scores

Northwestern University SAT scores and acceptance rate

Admitted students scored 1510–1570 on the SAT, with an ACT midpoint of 35. Northwestern University admits 8% of applicants — highly selective. 98% of first-year students return for a second year.

SAT range1510–1570middle half of admits
ACT midpoint35admitted students
Acceptance rate8%highly selective
First-year retention98%return for year two

Reading the score band These are the scores admitted students had — not a cut-off.

25th percentile
1510
Average
1533
75th percentile
1570

A quarter of admitted students scored below 1510 and a quarter above 1570. Being under the lower figure does not rule you out — it means the rest of the application has to carry more weight — and being above the upper one does not secure a place at a selective university. This intake sits inside a student body of about 9,201.

Universities with similar scores Useful for building a realistic application list.

UniversityAvg SATACTAcceptanceIn-state tuition
Williams College Williamstown, Massachusetts 1533 — 8% $68,560
Amherst College Amherst, Massachusetts 1533 33 9% $70,480
Pomona College Claremont, California 1534 34 7% $65,420
Dartmouth College Hanover, New Hampshire 1534 34 5% $68,268
Yale University New Haven, Connecticut 1534 34 4% $67,250
Swarthmore College Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 1534 34 7% $65,494

Getting in is the first question, not the last

Admission data says nothing about what the degree costs or returns. Before accepting an offer, read the net price for your family's income and the earnings of previous graduates — a place at a selective university financed with heavy borrowing can be a worse outcome than a place at a less selective one that costs little.

Northwestern University admission: common questions

What SAT score do you need for Northwestern University?
The middle half of admitted students scored between 1510 and 1570 on the SAT, with an average of 1533. A score inside that band is competitive; below it you would be relying on the rest of the application.
What ACT score does Northwestern University require?
The ACT midpoint of admitted students is 35.
How hard is it to get into Northwestern University?
Northwestern University admits 8% of applicants, which is highly selective. Of those who enrol, 98% return for a second year.
Does Northwestern University require SAT or ACT scores?
This page reports what admitted students scored, not what the university requires. Many US universities went test-optional and have not returned to a requirement — always check the admissions page before deciding to skip a test.
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Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard — SAT/ACT scores of admitted students, acceptance rate and first-year retention as most recently published. Scores describe past intakes and are not an entry requirement.