Northwestern acceptance rate
Northwestern's acceptance rate has held near 7%. Five-year history, what conference realignment did (and didn't) change, and the markets we track.
Evanston, IL
At a glance
Northwestern admitted 7.0% of applicants for the Class of 2029 — down from 7.30% for the Class of 2025. Prediction markets on next cycle's rate settle on the No exchange currently lists a market onNorthwestern's acceptance rate — this page is reported data, not odds.At a glance
Northwestern's acceptance rate is 7.0% for the Class of 2029 — the most recent officially reported figure.
Northwestern's admit rate has quietly slipped into Ivy territory while no one was looking.
What is Northwestern's acceptance rate?
Northwestern's most recently reported overall acceptance rate is approximately 7.0% for the Class of 2029. The rate has held tightly in the 7% neighborhood for five cycles — one of the most stable headline numbers in the top tier.
Five-year history (estimated)
| Class | Acceptance rate |
|---|---|
| 2025 | ~7.3% |
| 2026 | ~7.0% |
| 2027 | ~7.0% |
| 2028 | ~7.2% |
| 2029 | ~7.0% |
What's driving the trend
Northwestern has grown undergraduate enrollment slightly over five years, allowing it to absorb modest application growth without compressing the admit rate. The much-discussed decision to stay in the Big Ten through the conference realignment has had limited measurable effect on admissions.
Prediction markets on Northwestern
Watchlist: does Northwestern's rate finally crack below 7%, which would draw rare national admissions coverage given its stability.
Sources & further reading
- IPEDS — Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (opens in a new tab)National Center for Education Statistics
- Common Data Set Initiative (opens in a new tab)Common Data Set Initiative
- U.S. News Best Colleges rankings methodology (opens in a new tab)U.S. News & World Report
Frequently asked questions
What is Northwestern's acceptance rate?
Northwestern's most recently reported acceptance rate is 7.0% for the Class of 2029.
Has Northwestern's acceptance rate been falling?
Over the last five reported cycles, Northwestern's rate has moved from 7.30% (Class of 2025) to 7.0% (Class of 2029).
Can you bet on Northwestern's acceptance rate on a prediction market?
No. As of 2026-09-18, neither Kalshi nor Polymarket lists a market on Northwestern's acceptance rate. The listed college markets today are football and basketball boards plus Kalshi contracts on US News rankings, UC tuition and student debt.
