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Northwestern University

Private · Illinois
acceptance 7%SAT middle 50% 1490–1560ACT middle 50% 33–35type Private
Northwestern University is a most selective private school in Illinois — it admits about 7% of applicants. admitted students typically score around 1525 on the SAT (1490–1560, middle 50%). These are facts about who enrolls — admission depends on many factors beyond test scores.

The middle-50% SAT band

Half of admitted students scored inside this range. A quarter scored below the left edge; a quarter scored above the right.

How selective it is vs nearby schools

Acceptance rate compared with other Illinois schools at a similar selectivity — this school is in amber.

Majors offered here — and what they pay

A sample of programs at this school, sorted by reported early-career earnings. Click any to see its full outcomes, or see the school + major combined.
Computer Science
grads earn $156k/yr
major →
Computer Engineering
grads earn $139k/yr
major →
Industrial Engineering
grads earn $137k/yr
major →
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
grads earn $130k/yr
major →
Economics
grads earn $126k/yr
major →
Chemical Engineering
grads earn $120k/yr
major →
Mathematics
grads earn $120k/yr
major →
Mechanical Engineering
grads earn $104k/yr
major →
Information Science/Studies
grads earn $103k/yr
major →
Applied Mathematics
grads earn $95k/yr
major →
Communication And Media Studies
grads earn $90k/yr
major →
Community Organization And Advocacy
grads earn $88k/yr
major →
Where this comes from. Acceptance rate and the middle-50% SAT/ACT bands are from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS admissions survey (the same data colleges report to the government). Test scores are only one input — admission also weighs essays, grades, recommendations, activities and institutional priorities, which no single number can capture. These figures describe the group of students who enrolled, not any one applicant's chances.