Northwestern Acceptance Rate: Class of 2030 Admissions Statistics

Northwestern admitted approximately 3,710 students out of roughly 53,000 applicants for the Class of 2029, yielding an estimated 7% acceptance rate. The exact figures have not been officially released.

For the Class of 2030, Northwestern received more than 5,600 Early Decision applications, with more than half of the class admitted last December 2025. Regular Decision results are expected to be released in late March.

Here’s a closer look at Northwestern’s overall, early, regular, waitlist, and transfer acceptance rates across every available year and what the trends reveal about the school’s evolving selectivity.

• Northwestern Acceptance Rates
• Northwestern Early Decisions Acceptance Rate
• Northwestern Regular Decision Acceptance Rate
• Northwestern Transfer Acceptance Rate
• Northwestern Waitlist Acceptance Rate
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

Northwestern Acceptance Rates

Northwestern’s overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 was 7%, a bit lower than the 7.69% recorded for the Class of 2028. Despite a significant jump in applications from 49,474 to roughly 53,000, the admit count ticked down slightly to 3,710, which also pushed the acceptance rate down a bit.

Northwestern’s acceptance rate has trended generally downward over the past several years, falling from over 9% to the mid-7% range, with a few minor fluctuations. Here’s the complete picture:

Note: The Class of 2029 overall acceptance rate is a rough estimate provided by Northwestern’s official website. While the data from 2021 to 2028 has been compiled from Northwestern’s Common Data Set.

Applications grew from 37,259 for the Class of 2021 to a new peak of approximately 53,000 for the Class of 2029, a surge of over 42%. Test-optional policies during and after the COVID-19 pandemic drove much of the early growth, while the brief dip to 49,474 for the Class of 2028 likely reflected uncertainty following the 2023 Supreme Court ruling ending race-conscious admissions. The rebound to a record high for the Class of 2029 suggests that hesitation was short-lived.

The number of admitted students has remained constrained, ranging from roughly 3,300 to 3,800 across all years. That combination drove the acceptance rate down from 9.24% for the Class of 2021 to a record low of 6.97% for the Class of 2025, before stabilizing in the 7% to 7.7% range for the Classes of 2026 through 2029.

Northwestern Early Decisions Acceptance Rate

The most recent specific ED figures we have are from the Class of 2028, when Northwestern received 5,154 early applications and admitted 1,186 students for an acceptance rate of 23.01%, up slightly from 22.55% for the Class of 2027.

Northwestern has not released specific applicant and admitted data for the Classes of 2029 and 2030. What is known is that more than half of the Class of 2030 was admitted on December 16 from a pool of over 5,600 applicants.

Northwestern Early Decision acceptance rate trends

Northwestern’s ED acceptance rates have declined over the past decade, dropping from roughly 27% to around 22-23%. Here’s a breakdown:

Note: All data has been sourced from Northwestern’s Common Data Set.

ED applications grew steadily from 3,830 for the Class of 2021 to a peak of 5,207 for the Class of 2027, before dipping slightly to 5,154 for the Class of 2028. For the Class of 2030, the pool is estimated at over 5,600 applicants.

Admitted class size has slightly increased, from 1,030 to 1,186. However, the number of applicants is rising faster than the number of open seats, pushing the acceptance rate from a high of 26.89% for the Class of 2021 to a low of 22.09% for the Class of 2026.

Northwestern Regular Decision Acceptance Rate

The latest RD data we have is from the Class of 2028, when 44,320 students applied and 2,620 were admitted for an acceptance rate of 5.91%, up from 5.51% for the Class of 2027.

Northwestern has not yet released RD numbers for the Classes of 2029 and 2030. RD applicants, however, have historically had lower acceptance rates than ED applicants.

Northwestern Regular Decision acceptance rate trends

Northwestern’s RD acceptance rates have stayed in a narrow range over the past decade, generally falling between 5% and a little over 7%. Here is how the numbers have changed over time:

Note: RD figures are estimates calculated by subtracting ED data from Northwestern’s overall admission totals, as reported in their Common Data Set.

RD applications grew from 33,429 for the Class of 2021 to a peak of 46,562 for the Class of 2027, then dipped to 44,320 for the Class of 2028. The number of students admitted has stayed relatively steady, ranging from 2,216 to 2,620. As more students applied without a proportional increase in spots, the acceptance rate fell from a high of 7.31% for the Class of 2024 to a low of 5.14% for the Class of 2025, and has remained below 6% ever since.

Northwestern Transfer Acceptance Rate

The most recent available Northwestern transfer data comes from Fall 2024, with an acceptance rate of 11.97%. Here’s the breakdown:

Note: Fall 2024 transfer data is from Northwestern’s Common Data Set for 2024-2025, the same reporting year that includes Class of 2028 first-year admissions data.

Northwestern’s transfer process is notably more accessible than its first-year admissions. The 11.97% transfer acceptance rate is roughly double the 5.91% RD acceptance rate for the Class of 2028, suggesting that transfer applicants have a somewhat better chance of admission than first-year RD applicants.

Northwestern Waitlist Acceptance Rate

The most recent available Northwestern waitlist data comes from the Class of 2028, which admitted 59 students. Here’s the breakdown:

Note: Class of 2028 waitlist data is from Northwestern’s Common Data Set for 2024-2025, the same reporting year that includes Class of 2028 first-year admissions data.

Northwestern only shares how many students were admitted from the waitlist each year, so an acceptance rate cannot be calculated. The last full numbers available were for the Class of 2023, when 3,067 students were waitlisted, 1,482 chose to stay on it, and only 55 were eventually admitted. The 59 students admitted from the Class of 2028 waitlist point to a similar outcome.

Getting off Northwestern’s waitlist comes down to timing and enrollment needs, both of which are out of your control. If you find yourself on the waitlist, read our Northwestern waitlist guide for the strategic steps you can take to give yourself the best possible shot.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Northwestern’s current acceptance rate?

The most recent confirmed acceptance rate is 7.69% for the Class of 2028, when Northwestern received 49,474 total applications and admitted 3,806 students across both ED and RD rounds.

2. Is it easier to get into Northwestern through Early Decision or Regular Decision?

Early Decision. For the Class of 2028, the ED rate was 23.01% compared to 5.91% for RD, nearly four times higher. That said, ED applicants tend to be among the most committed and competitive in the pool.

3. How hard is it to transfer to Northwestern?

Difficult, but more accessible than first-year admissions. For Fall 2024, 484 out of 4,045 applicants were admitted for an 11.97% transfer rate, roughly double the first-year RD rate for the Class of 2028.

4. What are my chances of getting off Northwestern’s waitlist?

It depends on the year and Northwestern’s enrollment needs. Northwestern does not disclose full waitlist figures, but 59 students were admitted from the waitlist for the Class of 2028, similar to the 55 admitted for the Class of 2023.

5. Why is Northwestern’s acceptance rate so low?

Application volume has grown significantly over the past decade, climbing from around 37,000 for the Class of 2021 to nearly 50,000 for the Class of 2028, while class size has remained relatively stable.

Takeaways

• Northwestern’s acceptance rate has declined steadily, from 9.24% for the Class of 2021 to a record low of 7% for the Class of 2028, as application volume has grown faster than available spots.
• ED offers a significant statistical advantage. For the Class of 2028, the ED rate was 23.01% compared to 5.91% for RD, nearly four times higher, though ED applicants also tend to be among the strongest and most committed candidates.
• Northwestern has not released full admissions data for the Classes of 2029 and 2030. However, the school does reveal that they received more than 5,600 ED applicants for the Class of 2030 and accepted more than half.
• Transfer and waitlist outcomes are limited and unpredictable, with a 11.97% transfer rate for Fall 2024 and waitlist admits hovering around 55 to 59 in recent years with no full figures disclosed.
• With acceptance rates this low, working with a college admissions expert can make a meaningful difference in how you approach the process, build your profile, and put together the strongest application possible.