Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois, United States · Established 1851
Official website ↗Total Students
23,856
Intl. Students
22%
Student:Faculty
6:1
Setting
Suburban
Overview
Northwestern University is a private research university founded in 1851, with its main campus in Evanston, Illinois, on the shore of Lake Michigan just north of Chicago, plus a downtown Chicago campus that houses the Feinberg School of Medicine, Pritzker School of Law, and Kellogg's executive programs. The university comprises twelve schools, including Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications, the Kellogg School of Management, Bienen School of Music, and Feinberg School of Medicine, giving undergraduates unusually easy access to cross-disciplinary study alongside a major research enterprise and a nationally ranked Big Ten athletics program. For international applicants preparing IELTS or TOEFL scores, Northwestern does not publish a hard minimum score for either test, but its holistic and highly selective review process means competitive applicants typically post scores well above the passing floor most universities set. Northwestern is need-aware for international undergraduate applicants who apply for financial aid, though it commits to meeting 100% of demonstrated need for admitted international students without loans, which is a meaningfully stronger commitment than many peer private universities offer non-citizens. Admission to Northwestern has become extremely competitive in recent cycles, with acceptance rates falling to roughly 7% as application volume has climbed past 53,000 for a single class. Prospective international students should expect rigorous evaluation of academic transcripts, essays, and demonstrated English communication ability, since nearly all instruction, discussion sections, and research collaboration at Northwestern happen in English with limited scaffolding for developing proficiency after enrollment. Graduate study at Northwestern is organized very differently from the undergraduate college: The Graduate School (TGS) oversees roughly 70 PhD and academic master's disciplines, while professional schools such as Kellogg (MBA), Pritzker (JD), and Feinberg (MD) run entirely separate admissions processes, acceptance rates, deadlines, and English-proficiency policies. This means a single blended 'Northwestern graduate acceptance rate' does not really exist in official reporting; applicants should look at the specific school and program they are targeting rather than a university-wide figure.
Rankings
US News National Universities
#7 (2026)
US News Best Undergraduate Journalism/Communication Programs · Journalism & Communication
#1 (2026)
US News Best Business Schools (Kellogg) · Business (Graduate)
#4 (2026)
US News Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs · Engineering
#19 (2026)
Admissions, Requirements & Costs
Requirements, deadlines, and test-score cutoffs differ significantly between undergraduate and graduate/Master's programs — shown separately below.
Undergraduate
Acceptance Rate
7%
Application Fee
$75
Min. GPA
3.85
Documents required: Common Application or Coalition Application, Northwestern-specific supplemental essays, Official high school transcript with certified English translation if applicable, One counselor/administrator recommendation, One academic teacher recommendation, Midyear grade report, Optional standardized test scores (SAT/ACT), English proficiency test scores (IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo) for non-native English speakers
| Term | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | November 1 | Early Decision |
| Fall | January 1 | Regular Decision |
Test Scores
SAT Range
1430–1540
ACT Range
33–35
Accepted tests: IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo
Waiver: Northwestern does not publish a formal automatic waiver policy on the undergraduate international applicant FAQ; the English test requirement applies to applicants whose first/primary language is not English or whose secondary schooling was not conducted in English, and admissions review is used to judge sufficiency of English preparation on a case-by-case basis.
Tuition (Intl.)
$71,802
Tuition (Domestic)
$71,802
Living Expenses/yr
$22,941
Total Cost of Attendance
$96,003
Scholarships
Need-Based Grant Aid
Varies based on demonstrated need, up to full cost of attendance
Northwestern's primary form of undergraduate financial assistance; the university meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted students with grants and scholarships rather than loans.
Eligibility: Demonstrated financial need shown via CSS Profile and required financial documentation; available to first-year international applicants
Good Neighbor, Great University Scholarship
Varies
A scholarship for students from Evanston or Chicago's Evanston-adjacent communities, not applicable to most international applicants but notable as a Northwestern-specific award.
Eligibility: Residency in Evanston or designated Chicago-area communities
External and Departmental Scholarships
Varies by source
Northwestern encourages admitted international students to pursue external funding sources such as Fulbright, home-country government scholarships, and private foundations to supplement need-based aid, since the university does not offer dedicated merit scholarships for incoming undergraduates.
Eligibility: Varies by scholarship provider
Popular Programs
Gabble Prep Insights
Where applicants lose points: Writing is typically the section where applicants lose the most ground, since Northwestern's supplemental essays and eventual coursework demand tightly argued, source-based academic writing that differs substantially from narrative or descriptive writing styles taught in many secondary curricula.
Applicants from strong STEM-focused schooling often submit Reading and Listening scores near-perfect but Speaking scores that lag by a full band or more, reflecting limited spoken-English practice relative to reading comprehension drilling.
Because Northwestern states no official minimum IELTS/TOEFL score for undergraduates, applicants sometimes underestimate how competitive the implicit bar actually is. Given the sub-10% acceptance rate, a score that merely clears a generic 'passing' threshold will read as unremarkable next to peers submitting IELTS 7.5+ or TOEFL 105+; treat the test score as one more differentiator in a holistic file rather than a simple pass/fail gate.
Recommended prep timeline: 10 weeks
Graduate (Master's & PhD)
Application Fee
$95
Documents required: Online application via The Graduate School (TGS) portal, or the relevant professional school's own portal for Kellogg/Pritzker Law/Feinberg Medicine, Statement of purpose, Two to three letters of recommendation (varies by program), Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended, Resume/CV, GRE or GMAT scores where required by the specific program, English proficiency test scores (TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, or Michigan English Test) for non-native English speakers, Writing sample (required by some humanities and journalism programs), Non-refundable application fee
| Term | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | December 1 (typical for many PhD programs; varies significantly by department) | Regular Decision |
| Fall | September 9 (Kellogg Full-Time MBA Round 1) | Priority |
| Fall | January 6 (Kellogg Full-Time MBA Round 2) | Regular Decision |
Test Scores
GMAT Range
680–770
IELTS Minimum
7 (Gabble rec. 7.5)
TOEFL Minimum
80 (4 new scale) · Gabble rec. 100 (5 new scale)
TOEFL scores shown as: legacy 0–120 scale (new 1.0–6.0 CEFR-aligned scale, effective Jan 2026).
Accepted tests: TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, Michigan English Test (MET)
Waiver: Applicants who earned an undergraduate or graduate degree from an institution that instructs primarily in English may request a waiver directly with their program after submitting the application; approval is at the discretion of both the program and The Graduate School, and supporting documentation may be requested.
Tuition (Intl.)
$86,370
Tuition (Domestic)
$86,370
Living Expenses/yr
$26,442
Total Cost of Attendance
$128,852
Scholarships
Kellogg Merit-Based Scholarships (F.C. Austin Scholars, Kellogg Scholarship, Finance Fellows, and other named awards)
Partial to full tuition, varies by award
A set of merit scholarships awarded to incoming Kellogg full-time MBA students, ranging from partial to full tuition; most are considered automatically upon admission, though the Finance Fellows award requires a supplemental essay.
Eligibility: Admitted Kellogg Full-Time MBA students; automatically considered unless otherwise noted
The Graduate School (TGS) Doctoral Funding
Full tuition plus stipend and health insurance for a minimum of 5 years
Doctoral students admitted to TGS-administered PhD programs are typically fully funded for four quarters per year for a minimum of five years, covering tuition, a stipend, and subsidized health insurance through fellowships and assistantships.
Eligibility: Admitted PhD students in TGS-administered programs; merit-based, no separate application required
External Fellowships and Grants
Varies by source
Because The Graduate School does not centrally fund standalone MA/MS/MPH students, master's applicants are strongly encouraged to pursue external funding sources such as Fulbright, home-country government scholarships, and private foundations, with Northwestern's Office of Fellowships assisting with the search and application process.
Eligibility: Varies by scholarship provider; generally open to enrolled master's and PhD students
Popular Programs
Gabble Prep Insights
Where applicants lose points: Speaking and Writing tend to be the tightest constraints for graduate applicants, since TGS's published minimums (IELTS 7.0, TOEFL 80) sit noticeably higher than what undergraduate admissions ever states outright, and several McCormick engineering programs push the bar to TOEFL 90/IELTS 7.0 specifically for research and TA-eligibility purposes.
Applicants with strong technical/reading backgrounds frequently clear the Reading and Listening sections comfortably but land right at or just under the Speaking sub-score threshold implied by teaching-assistant certification requirements in STEM departments, which can affect funding eligibility even when overall admission is not in question.
Three things make Northwestern's graduate English requirements genuinely different from undergraduate: (1) TGS publishes explicit numeric minimums (IELTS 7.0; TOEFL 80 for master's applicants under the pre-2026 scoring policy, 90 for PhD applicants), unlike undergraduate admissions which states no floor at all; (2) TGS does not accept the Duolingo English Test, while undergraduate admissions does; (3) requirements are not actually uniform even within 'graduate' — Medill's MS Journalism program has dropped IELTS entirely (TOEFL or Duolingo only, no published minimum) while McCormick engineering programs commonly require TOEFL 90/IELTS 7.0. Similarly, tuition and acceptance figures shown here reflect the Kellogg Full-Time MBA as a flagship representative program; McCormick master's programs run closer to $65,000-$69,000/year and Medill's MS Journalism runs roughly $53,000-$71,000/year depending on the source and cohort, so applicants should confirm figures with their specific school rather than assuming a single university-wide number.
Recommended prep timeline: 12 weeks
Programs Offered
Computer Science (BA/BS)
Undergraduate · 4 yr · $71,802/yr
Journalism (BSJ)
Undergraduate · 4 yr · $71,802/yr
Economics (BA)
Undergraduate · 4 yr · $71,802/yr
Biomedical Engineering (BSE)
Undergraduate · 4 yr · $71,802/yr
Radio/Television/Film (BA)
Undergraduate · 4 yr · $71,802/yr
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Masters · 2 yr · $86,370/yr
Master of Science in Computer Science
Masters · 1 yr · $68,919/yr
Master of Science in Journalism
Masters · 1 yr · $71,019/yr
Juris Doctor (JD)
Masters · 3 yr
Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Masters · 4 yr
PhD in Materials Science and Engineering
PhD · 5 yr
Campus Life
Campus life at Northwestern blends the energy of a Big Ten athletics program, with Wildcats football and basketball drawing strong student turnout, alongside a dense network of roughly 500 registered student organizations covering pre-professional, cultural, arts, and service interests. The lakefront Evanston campus is a short train ride from downtown Chicago, giving students easy access to internships, cultural venues, and a large professional job market, while the Chicago campus houses law, medicine, and executive business programs. International students are supported through the Northwestern International Office and student-led groups such as the Northwestern International Student Association, which run orientation, cultural programming, and peer-mentorship throughout the year.
Notable clubs: Northwestern International Student Association, Associated Student Government, Mock Trial Society, Northwestern Entrepreneurship Club, WNUR Student Radio
Outcomes
Undergraduate
Graduation Rate
96%
Employed within 6mo
70%
Avg. Starting Salary
$73,478
Graduate
Employed within 6mo
90%
Avg. Starting Salary
$175,000
Notable Alumni
Barack Obama — 44th President of the United States (visiting lecturer/speaker affiliations with Northwestern)
Stephen Colbert — Emmy-winning television host and comedian
Warren Buffett — Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway
Julia Louis-Dreyfus — Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actress
David Schwimmer — Actor and director, known for Friends
Visa Interview Prep
Northwestern's International Office issues I-20s once the enrollment deposit and financial documentation are confirmed; admitted students should apply for the F-1 visa promptly after receiving the I-20 given typical embassy appointment backlogs, especially for a September start.
- Clarity on why Northwestern and the chosen program/school
- Financial sufficiency and documentation of funding source
- Ties to home country and credible intent to return after studies
- Coherent academic and career plan consistent with the program of study
FAQs
Do I need to submit IELTS or TOEFL scores to apply to Northwestern as an undergraduate?Undergrad
Yes, if your first or primary language is not English or your secondary schooling was not conducted in English, you must submit IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo English Test scores; Northwestern does not publish a hard minimum but expects competitively high scores across all sections.
What IELTS or TOEFL score should I aim for at Northwestern?Undergrad
There is no official cutoff, but given the roughly 7% acceptance rate, applicants are best served aiming for an IELTS score around 7.0-7.5 or a TOEFL iBT score of 100-110 to be competitive alongside academically strong applicants.
Is Northwestern need-blind for international applicants?Undergrad
No, Northwestern uses need-aware admission review for international undergraduate applicants who apply for financial aid, meaning the requested aid amount can factor into the admission decision, though the university meets 100% of demonstrated need for admitted students without loans.
How selective is Northwestern for international students?Undergrad
Extremely selective; Northwestern's overall acceptance rate fell to around 7% for the Class of 2029 from a record applicant pool exceeding 53,000, and international applicants compete for a limited share of available seats within that pool.
Does Northwestern offer conditional admission if my English scores are below expectations?
No, Northwestern does not publicize a conditional or pathway admission track tied to English proficiency scores at either the undergraduate or graduate level; applicants below a competitive range should focus on retesting and strengthening the rest of their application rather than expecting a bridge program.
How many weeks should I prepare for IELTS or TOEFL before applying to Northwestern?Undergrad
A realistic timeline is 8 to 12 weeks of structured preparation, with particular focus on Writing and Speaking, since these are the sections where applicants coming from reading-heavy secondary curricula most often underperform relative to their Reading and Listening scores.
What documents do international applicants need besides English test scores?Undergrad
You need the Common Application or Coalition Application, Northwestern's supplemental essays, an official high school transcript with certified English translation if applicable, one counselor recommendation, one teacher recommendation, and optionally SAT/ACT scores, since Northwestern is currently test-optional.
Is financial aid actually available to international students at Northwestern?Undergrad
Yes. Unlike many private US universities, Northwestern commits to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted international undergraduates through grants and scholarships rather than loans, though the admission process itself is need-aware rather than need-blind for non-citizens.
What GRE or GMAT score do I need for Northwestern's graduate programs?Grad
Requirements vary widely by school: most McCormick School of Engineering PhD and master's programs, including Computer Science, Machine Learning & Data Science, and Artificial Intelligence, do not require or consider GRE scores at all, while Kellogg's Full-Time MBA program requires either the GMAT or GRE, with the Class of 2027 averaging around 733 on the GMAT (10th edition scale). Check your specific program's admissions page rather than assuming a university-wide standard applies.
Is the IELTS/TOEFL minimum score higher for graduate applicants than undergraduate applicants at Northwestern?Grad
Yes. Undergraduate admissions does not publish a hard minimum score, but The Graduate School (TGS) sets an explicit minimum IELTS score of 7.0 and a TOEFL iBT minimum of 80 for master's applicants (90 for PhD applicants under the prior scoring policy), and individual departments such as McCormick Engineering commonly require TOEFL 90/IELTS 7.0 outright. TGS also does not accept Duolingo English Test scores, unlike undergraduate admissions, which does.
Are Northwestern's master's programs fully funded like the PhD programs?Grad
No. The Graduate School fully funds PhD students for a minimum of five years, covering tuition, a stipend, and subsidized health insurance, but it does not centrally fund students in standalone MA, MS, or MPH programs. Master's applicants should budget for full tuition (roughly $54,000-$87,000/year depending on the school) and look to program-specific scholarships, assistantship openings, or external fellowships such as Fulbright.