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Northwestern University

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL · 9.2k students

ElitePrivateCityGraduateCampus-basednorthwestern.edu
82.5/100

Trajecta score

-1.4 since '20

Ranked #23 of 2,375

5-year trend

'20'24

82.3 · #15

2020

81.2 · #25

2021

81.8 · #25

2022

81.2 · #27

2023

80.9 · #32

2024

AcademicCareersSuccessAfford.Invest.Access

Academic Profile

95/ 100

Career Outcomes

86/ 100

Student Success

96/ 100

Affordability

61/ 100

Academic Investment

99/ 100

Access & Equity

45/ 100

Academic Profile

95

Career Outcomes

86

Student Success

96

Affordability

61

Academic Investment

99

Access & Equity

45

AI Fit Analysis

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Cost / Net Price

$91k / $29k

SAT Avg

1,533

Retention

98%

Grad Rate

96%

Admissions

8%admission rate
EliteH.SelSelectiveModerateOpen

Test Scores

SAT Range1,533
4001000120014001600
25th: 1,510Average: 1,53375th: 1,570
ACT Range35
118243036
25th: 33Midpoint: 3575th: 35

Scores represent the midpoint of enrolled students, not a cutoff.

Finances

Tuition

In-State Tuition

$68,322

per year

Out-of-State Tuition

$68,322

per year

Aid & Debt

Pell Grant Share

19%

undergraduates receiving Pell

Federal Loan Share

17%

students borrowing

Median Debt

among completers

$15,000

Admissions Factors

What Northwestern University says it weighs

Self-reported by the school in its Common Data Set (section C7) — the school's own statement of which application factors matter in its admissions decisions.

Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025, what Northwestern University reports weighing in admissions.

FactorVery ImportantImportantConsideredNot Considered
Rigor of secondary school recordRigor of secondary school record: Very Important
Class rankClass rank: Very Important
Academic GPAAcademic GPA: Very Important
Standardized test scoresStandardized test scores: Considered
Application essayApplication essay: Very Important
Recommendation(s)Recommendation(s): Very Important
InterviewInterview: Considered
Extracurricular activitiesExtracurricular activities: Very Important
Talent/abilityTalent/ability: Very Important
Character/personal qualitiesCharacter/personal qualities: Very Important
First generationFirst generation: Considered
Alumni/ae relationAlumni/ae relation: Considered
Geographical residenceGeographical residence: Considered
State residencyState residency: Not Considered
Religious affiliation/commitmentReligious affiliation/commitment: Not Considered
Volunteer workVolunteer work: Considered
Work experienceWork experience: Considered
Level of applicant's interestLevel of applicant's interest: Considered

Supplemental Essays · 2026-27

school's admissions site ↗

Northwestern University essay prompts

Required Short Answer

Required300 words

We want to be sure we're considering your application in the context of your personal experiences: What aspects of your background (your identity, your school setting, your community, your household, etc.) have most shaped how you see yourself engaging in Northwestern's community, be it academically, extracurricularly, culturally, politically, socially, or otherwise?

Optional Short Answer — The Rock

RequiredChoose 1200 words

Painting "The Rock" is a tradition at Northwestern that invites all forms of expression—students promote campus events or extracurricular groups, support social or activist causes, show their Wildcat spirit (what we call "Purple Pride"), celebrate their culture, and more. What would you paint on The Rock, and why?

Optional Short Answer — Interdisciplinary Idea

RequiredChoose 1200 words

Northwestern fosters a distinctively interdisciplinary culture. We believe discovery and innovation thrive at the intersection of diverse ideas, perspectives, and academic interests. Within this setting, if you could dream up an undergraduate class, research project, or creative effort (a start-up, a design prototype, a performance, etc.), what would it be? Who might be some ideal classmates or collaborators?

Optional Short Answer — Community

RequiredChoose 1200 words

Community and belonging matter at Northwestern. Tell us about one or more communities, networks, or student groups you see yourself connecting with on campus.

Optional Short Answer — Location

RequiredChoose 1200 words

Northwestern's location is special: on the shore of Lake Michigan, steps from downtown Evanston, just a few miles from Chicago. What aspects of our location are most compelling to you, and why?

Optional Short Answer — Diversity of Perspectives

RequiredChoose 1200 words

Northwestern is a place where people with diverse backgrounds from all over the world can study, live, and talk with one another. This range of experiences and viewpoints immeasurably enriches learning. How might your individual background contribute to this diversity of perspectives in Northwestern's classrooms and around our campus?

Drafting these? Write them with AI feedback in Trajecta →

Methodology

How these rankings work

The Trajecta Score (0–100) blends six dimensions of public college data into one comparable number, then nudges it by how much data each school reports. Selectivity tiers are separate — they’re based purely on a school’s admission rate.

Read the full methodology

Selectivity tiers

EliteUnder 10% admit rate
Highly Selective10–20% admit rate
Selective20–40% admit rate
Moderate40–65% admit rate
Open65%+ admit rate

Score dimensions & weights

Career Outcomes25%

Median earnings 10 years out, earnings vs. a high-school grad, and loan repayment.

Academic Profile22%

Admission selectivity and the incoming class’s SAT / ACT scores.

Affordability15%

Average net price after aid and the typical debt of graduates.

Student Success13%

Graduation rate and first-year retention.

Academic Investment12%

Instructional spending and faculty salaries per student.

Access10%

Share of Pell-grant students and reliance on federal loans.

Data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and IPEDS. Figures are the most recent reported and may lag a year or two. This tool is read-only and not personalized — inside the Trajecta app, scores are tailored to your profile as a fit score.

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