Steady Application Numbers for the Northwestern Class of 2028
Northwestern received more than 53,000 applications for admission to the Class of 2029. This is about 2,000 less applications than in 2022, when 55,225 students applied to NU. Northwestern University Class of 2029 acceptance rate is 7 percent.
In recent years, Early Decision applicants have comprised roughly one half of the incoming class. The number of Early Decision applicants, which rose about 15 percent for the Class of 2029, was 6,000 students. These numbers are in keeping with a wider trend across universities this year as more students choose the binding ED option to improve their odds. This shift towards ED, however, may place low-income applicants at a disadvantage who cannot compare financial aid packages from multiple colleges if they apply and are accepted in a binding early program.
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY OVERALL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Applications Accepted | Overall Applications Received | Overall Admissions Acceptance Rate | |
| 2029 | 3,710 | 53,000 | 7.00% |
| 2028 | 3,800 | 50,018 | 7.60% |
| 2027 | 3,656 | 52,225 | 7% |
| 2026 | 3,609 | 51,554 | 7% |
| 2025 | 3,239 | 47,633 | 6.8% |
| 2024 | 3,542 | 39,261 | 9.02% |
| 2023 | 3,611 | 40,577 | 8.9% |
| 2022 | 3,392 | 40,425 | 8.39% |
| 2021 | 3,371 | 37,050 | 9.1% |
| 2020 | 3,751 | 35,099 | 10.69% |
| 2019 | 4,187 | 32,124 | 13.03% |
| 2018 | 4,349 | 33,673 | 12.92% |
Rising National Profile
Northwestern, like its competitor the University of Chicago, has seen a significant drop in acceptance rates since 2006, reporting 88 percent and 75 percent decreases, respectively. According to the study, UChicago admitted 38 percent of applicants in 2006; last year it accepted just 4.5 percent. Similarly, Northwestern’s admissions rate went from 32 percent to 8 percent over the same 18-year period. While these schools used to be more regionally popular, they have now become nationally and internationally recognized as students apply to a broader swath of universities. Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences received the most applications out of any Northwestern school, while McCormick School of Engineering was the second most popular.
Pell Grant-Eligibility
Northwestern has made public efforts to demonstrate their commitment to diversity. In 2016, Northwestern announced a goal that 20 percent of an incoming class would be Pell Grant-eligible by the fall of 2020. This was achieved with the Class of 2022. With that said, roughly 20 percent of the undergraduate population still hails from Illinois.
