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Being one of the most prestigious and selective universities in the United States, the Northwestern University acceptance rate is about 7% for the year 2024. But what are the chances of getting admitted as an international student? How does Northwestern evaluate applicants from different countries and educational systems? In this blog, we will explore the acceptance rate of Northwestern University for international students, and provide some tips on how to improve your application. Let’s get started!
| Founded | 1851 |
| Acceptance Rate | 7% |
| International Students | 5500 (23%) |
| Application fee | USD 75 (for UG programs) USD 95 (for PG programs) |
| English Proficiency Tests accepted | IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo |
| Standardized Tests accepted | GMAT, GRE |
| Admission Deadlines | To Be Announced |
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Northwestern University Acceptance Rate for International Students 2024
Northwestern University, a private research institution with campuses in Evanston, Chicago, Illinois, and Doha, Qatar, has an acceptance rate of 7% for international students, making it highly selective. The university is renowned for its excellence in academics, research, innovation, and athletics. With a diverse student body of over 23,000 individuals from more than 80 countries, Northwestern offers a rich and inclusive educational environment. It features 11 schools and colleges providing a wide array of undergraduate and graduate programs across various fields.
The university operates on a quarter-based academic calendar and maintains a favourable 10:1 student-faculty ratio, ensuring personalized attention and a strong support system for students. Northwestern’s commitment to fostering intellectual growth and its emphasis on interdisciplinary learning and cutting-edge research make it a top choice for students worldwide. Its robust academic programs, combined with a vibrant campus life, provide a holistic and enriching experience for its students.
Must Read: Northwestern University Scholarships for International Students
Top Courses Offered By Northwestern University
With Northwestern University being highly competitive, the institute provides high-quality education to its students through the 9 schools and colleges under it, which in turn offer 150+ UG and PG courses. Given below are some of the most popular courses offered by Northwestern University with their annual tuition fee:
| Course | Tuition Fee |
| MBA (Kellogg School of Management) | $77,100 per year |
| JD (Pritzker School of Law) | $69,089 per year |
| MD (Feinberg School of Medicine) | $64,980 per year |
| MS in Computer Science (McCormick School of Engineering) | $58,512 per year |
| MA in Journalism (Medill School of Journalism) | $56,550 per year |
| BA in Economics (Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences) | $64,887 per year |
| BA in Communication Studies (School of Communication) | $64,887 per year |
| BA in Biological Sciences (Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences) | $64,887 per year |
| BFA in Theatre (School of Communication) | $64,887 per year |
| BSM in Music (Bienen School of Music) | $64,887 per year |
Northwestern University World Ranking 2024
For 2024, Northwestern University has been globally ranked =47 by the QS World University Rankings. Meanwhile, the institute is ranked 9 among national universities by U.S. News & World Report. Here are some other world ranks of the university:
| Framework | World Rank |
| Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings 2024 | 28 |
| U.S. News & World Report (Best Value Schools) 2024 | =47 |
Northwestern University Acceptance Rate: Important Deadlines
Despite the Northwestern University acceptance rate being low, the institute accepts students all year round in 3 intakes: Fall, Spring, and Winter. But as an international student, you need to keep these deadlines in mind to secure a seat at this renowned institute:
| Event | Deadline |
| Early Decision Application | 1 November |
| Regular Decision Application | 1 January |
Entry Requirements
The entry requirements for each course at Northwestern University differ depending on the type and level of the course. However, here are some general entry requirements that applicants need to fulfil to get admitted to this prestigious institute:
For UG Programs
- A GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale (75% approx)
- English Proficiency test scores – IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL iBT: 79
- Standardized test scores – SAT: 1460-1560, ACT: 33-35 (optional)
- Additional Requirements – Mid-year transcript, recommendation letters from a teacher and a counsellor each.
For PG Programs
- A GPA of 3.9 on a 4.0 scale (nearly 97-99%).
- English Proficiency test scores – IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL iBT: 79-100
- Standardized test scores – GMAT: 620-780, GRE: 160+ (both Quant and Verbal sections)
- Additional Requirements – Statement of Purpose, 2-3 Letters of Recommendation.
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Admission Process
The admission process for Northwestern University depends on whether you are applying as an undergraduate or a graduate student. Here are the general steps for both types of applicants:
Undergraduate Applicants:
- Choose your application type: QuestBridge, Early Decision, Regular Decision, or Transfer.
- Complete and submit the Common Application or the Apply Coalition with Scoir application, along with the Northwestern supplement and a non-refundable $75 application fee or fee waiver.
- Submit your official secondary school transcript and school report, along with certified English translations if they are not in English.
- Provide at least one teacher recommendation and one counsellor recommendation.
- If you are applying for Early Decision, sign and submit the Early Decision Agreement.
- Further, submit your English proficiency test score from one of the accepted exams: Duolingo English Test, IELTS/IELTS Indicator, or TOEFL/TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition.
- Submit your SAT or ACT scores.
- You can also request an interview with an alumni volunteer or through InitialView.
- You may also submit program-specific applications or materials if you apply to certain programs such as Bienen School of Music, Integrated Science Program, Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences, School of Communication Musical Theatre Certificate Program, etc.
- Check your application status and decision online.
Graduate Applicants
- Choose your program of interest from one of the 10 graduate and professional schools at Northwestern.
- Review the specific admission requirements and deadlines for your program.
- Submit your online application and pay the application fee (via credit or debit card only).
- Submit any additional materials required by your program, such as transcripts, test scores, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, writing samples, etc.
- If your program requires mailed materials, send those to your program directly.
- Lastly, check your application status and decision online.
FAQs
Ans. If you want to increase your chances of getting accepted into Northwestern University, you should aim for the top 25% of the applicants, with a SAT score of 1540 or an ACT score of 35. It would be best if you also had a GPA of 4.1 or higher. If your GPA is not that high, you need a higher SAT/ACT score to balance it out.
Ans. Northwestern is not part of the Ivy League, but it is often considered as a similar school because of its high quality of education, competitiveness, and prestige as one of the best universities in the United States.
Ans. Yes, Northwestern University has a highly competitive acceptance rate of 7%.
Relevant Reads
We hope that this blog helped you discover the Northwestern University acceptance rate and other relevant information. For more content on universities to study abroad, keep following Leverage Edu. Thank you for reading!
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