Northwestern University

Evanston, IL · Private · 9,201 undergrads

Admit rate: 7.7% (51,769 applicants)
SAT middle 50%: 1510–1570 (ACT 33–35)
Undergraduates: 9,201 (11.6% international)
Average net price: $29,167 (per year after aid)
Graduation rate: 95% (within 6 years)

Deadlines

Early Decision: Nov. 1, 2026
Regular Decision: Jan. 4, 2027

Essays

Required short answer (300 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: The Rock (Under 200 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: Dream class or project (Under 200 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: Community and belonging (Under 200 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: Location (Under 200 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: Diversity of perspectives (Under 200 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?

Editor's notes

The required 300-word short answer is the center of your Northwestern file. The personal essay is optional this year, and the CDS rates essays very important. Write the short answer fresh, even if you borrow lines from elsewhere, as Northwestern allows.
Answer one optional prompt. Northwestern says zero, one or two get equal consideration, but it encourages at least one, and a single sharp 200-word answer about a specific class idea or campus group shows what the required essay can't.
Early Decision matters here. More than half of the Class of 2030 was admitted in December, and Northwestern says its ED rate is typically higher than RD with the same aid offer.
Applying to ISP, MMSS or Bienen means a separate application with its own deadlines and math or audition requirements. Check those pages before November, not after.