Northwestern University

Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois, on the shore of Lake Michigan a few miles north of Chicago. It is joint 45th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, joint 29th in the THE World University Rankings 2027 and 31st in ARWU 2026. For fall 2027 entry, binding Early Decision closes on November 1, 2026 and Regular Decision on January 4, 2027. The SAT and ACT are optional, but applicants who are not native English speakers must send official English test results. The 2026–27 cost of attendance is $99,375, and the university health plan adds $5,996. International students can receive need-based aid, but only a small group of first-year students is funded and the review is need-aware.

Is Northwestern a good fit?

Northwestern suits students who want an academic program alongside media, theatre, music or engineering and who like being near a major city. If you cannot attend without substantial aid, keep need-blind options such as Harvard on your list. The University of Chicago is the obvious local comparison, and our sister profile of the University of Michigan shows a large public alternative that does not offer need-based aid to international students.

The six undergraduate schools

You apply to a specific school, which sets your core requirements:

• Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences: humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.
• McCormick School of Engineering: engineering and applied science.
• Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications: journalism and integrated marketing communications.
• School of Communication: theatre, dance, radio/television/film, communication studies and performance studies.
• School of Education and Social Policy: social policy, human development and teacher preparation.
• Bienen School of Music: performance and music programs, with a separate supplement and audition.

Northwestern runs on quarters, so students take more courses per year than at semester schools and the pace is quick. You must declare a major by the end of sophomore year. A double major usually fits within four years. Students in the specialized schools can add a second major in Weinberg, but the reverse is rarely possible. Dual bachelor's degrees across two specialized schools exist and typically take five years.

Some programs need extra materials: the Integrated Science Program (a separate application; calculus, chemistry and physics expected), Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences and the Musical Theatre program in the School of Communication. Admission to Northwestern does not mean admission to these programs.

Applying as a first-year student

International applicants follow the same process as everyone else. Pay close attention to two things: the English test and the translation of your records.

Application checklist

1. Common App or Coalition with Scoir, plus the non-refundable $75 fee or a waiver.
2. A required essay of up to 300 words on how your background — identity, school, community or household — shapes the way you will engage with Northwestern's community.
3. One or two short answers of under 200 words, chosen from five prompts: what you would paint on The Rock, an interdisciplinary class or project you would create, the communities you would join, what draws you to the lakeside and Chicago location, and how your background would add to the diversity of perspectives on campus.
4. Two recommendations: one from your counselor and one from a core-subject teacher, ideally from junior or senior year. An extra letter is welcome, but Northwestern suggests no more than three in total.
5. Transcripts with certified English translations.
6. Official English test results if English is not your first language or your schooling was not in English.

For the 2026–27 cycle Northwestern no longer requires the Common App personal essay. You can still include it if it tells your story better than the short answers.

Alumni interviews have been discontinued. Students at international high schools may submit an optional InitialView interview, which is evaluated by the admissions committee; applicants without one are not disadvantaged. Check the current submission dates on the application materials page.

Testing is optional

Northwestern does not require the SAT or ACT from first-year or transfer applicants and states that applying without scores does not affect your chances. If you choose to report scores, you may self-report them. Northwestern superscores the SAT; for the ACT, report your official superscore from MyACT. Early Decision applicants can add October or November scores until November 30, 2026, and Regular Decision applicants can add December scores until February 15, 2027.

Enrolled students who submitted scores in fall 2025 had a middle 50% SAT range of 1520–1560 and ACT of 34–35. Use these figures to decide whether your scores strengthen your file. Our guide to the SAT or ACT compares the tests.

English: required, with no minimum score

Non-native speakers must submit TOEFL iBT, IELTS (including IELTS Indicator) or the Duolingo English Test. Only official results sent by the testing agency count; English scores cannot be self-reported. There is no minimum, but competitive applicants typically score in the high range on every section. Northwestern does not superscore English tests and does not accept TOEFL MyBest scores.

Fall 2027 deadlines

All students start in the fall. Early Decision is binding: if admitted, you enroll and withdraw other applications. Northwestern says about half of each entering class comes through Early Decision and that its admit rate is usually higher than in Regular Decision. The Common Data Set bears this out: in fall 2025, 1,212 of 5,939 Early Decision applicants were admitted (about 20%), against 7.5% overall. Your aid package is the same in either round.

Preparation timeline

• August–September 2026: take your English test early enough for official scores to arrive; decide whether to report SAT or ACT scores.
• September–October: draft the 300-word essay and one or two short answers; line up two recommenders and translated transcripts.
• By November 1 or January 4: submit the application and tick the financial aid box if you need aid.
• By December 1 or February 1: CSS Profile or ISAFA, then your family's tax documents.
• December or March: admission decision and aid award.
• After admission: proof of funding, Form I-20 and the F-1 visa.

Admission statistics for fall 2025

According to the Common Data Set 2025–26, Northwestern received 52,676 first-year applications, admitted 3,933 students (7.5%) and enrolled 2,139. Of those enrolled, 253 were international students, about 12% of the class. The university does not publish a separate admit rate for international applicants. These figures describe the applicant pool, not anyone's individual chances.

Cost of attendance 2026–27

Transportation is not included because it varies by home location, and international students should add visa costs. Northwestern budgets off-campus housing at the same level as on-campus housing, so moving into an apartment does not lower the estimate. For long-term planning, see our guide to the cost of studying in the USA.

Financial aid for international students

• Request aid on the application. Answer "yes" to the financial aid question. You can change your designation by emailing the admissions office before the aid deadline, but not afterwards.
• Need-aware review. International applicants who request aid are evaluated with that request in mind, and the process is more competitive.
• A small group is funded. Northwestern describes its international aid program as serving a small group of first-year students. In 2025–26, 297 international undergraduates received institutional aid, averaging $74,186 a year (Common Data Set).
• Demonstrated need met. For students admitted with aid, Northwestern commits to meeting the gap between the cost of attendance and the expected family contribution.
• Documents. Submit the CSS Profile (code 1565) or, if you cannot file it from your country, the ISAFA form, followed by your parents' national tax forms. If your country has no annual tax return, an official earnings letter from each parent's employer, signed and stamped, is accepted. All documents need official English translations, and any conversion to US dollars must show the exchange rate.
• Four-year awards. International students receive an aid award covering all four years, so families know the total commitment from the start.
• No later applications. Current international students who did not receive aid at admission cannot apply later.

International students are not eligible for US federal loans, and private lenders usually require a US citizen or permanent resident co-signer. Northwestern decides on admission and aid. Our guide to financial aid for international students in the USA explains the wider landscape.

Housing

Students live in residence halls, residential colleges or special-interest housing, including fraternity and sorority houses, during their first two years. Buildings are grouped into residential areas with shared dining, staff and programming. These options stay open to older students, though many move into apartments in Evanston. The 2026–27 housing and meals estimate is $22,941 for a double room with an unlimited plan. Our guide to student housing in the USA covers renting.

Graduate and professional schools

Beyond the undergraduate schools, Northwestern includes the Kellogg School of Management, the Feinberg School of Medicine, the Pritzker School of Law and graduate programs in Medill and McCormick. Each runs its own admissions and pricing, so do not use the undergraduate budget as a guide. For business school, read our guide to the MBA in the USA.

Visa and work

To receive Form I-20 you must show funding for the full cost of attendance. You then pay the SEVIS fee ($350) and the visa fee ($185); these are the amounts as of September 30, 2026, so check them and any new fees on the embassy site before paying. Russian citizens book their F-1 interviews at the US embassies in Warsaw or Astana, since the embassy in Moscow no longer issues visas to ordinary applicants, and social media profiles must be public. The consulate makes the final decision. Our F-1 visa guide covers the steps, and our guide to working while studying and OPT explains employment rules.

Tips for applicants from Russia and Kazakhstan

• Finish school first. Northwestern encourages applicants to complete a program that qualifies them for university in their home country; incomplete programs put applicants at a disadvantage.
• Activities matter. The university accepts that some school systems leave little free time but still expects involvement outside class, organized or not.
• Translations. Any translation service is acceptable, including one in your home country; the NACES list and EducationUSA advisers can help.
• Payments. Money can leave Russia only through legal channels; our guide on how to pay for studies abroad from Russia lists the options.
• Study abroad. International students on aid generally cannot use it for a term in their home country; exceptions require a written academic appeal.

University selection, essay strategy, CSS Profile and tax-document preparation and visa support are provided under an agreement with StudyU. Northwestern decides on admission and aid, and the US consulate decides on the visa.

Costly mistakes

• Self-reporting English scores. Only official scores from the testing agency are accepted.
• Forgetting the aid box. Without it, international students cannot receive aid now or later.
• Overloading the file. Answer no more than two of the five short prompts and keep recommendations to three at most.
• Applying to Bienen without the supplement. Music applicants need the Bienen School Supplement and audition, with earlier deadlines.
• Planning a double major across two professional schools. It is usually possible only with Weinberg.
• Treating Early Decision as non-binding. Northwestern has one early round, and it is binding.

Rankings

THE and ARWU place Northwestern higher than QS because they weight research and citations more heavily.

FAQ

Where is Northwestern University located?

The main campus is in Evanston, Illinois, on Lake Michigan a few miles north of Chicago. Undergraduates study and live on the Evanston campus.

Does Northwestern require the SAT or ACT?

No. Northwestern is test-optional for first-year and transfer applicants. You may self-report strong scores, and official reports are needed only if you enroll.

What English test score does Northwestern require?

There is no minimum score, but non-native speakers must submit official TOEFL iBT, IELTS or Duolingo results. Competitive applicants typically score in the high range on every section.

How much does Northwestern cost per year?

The 2026–27 cost of attendance is $99,375, including $71,802 tuition, $1,260 fees and $22,941 for housing and meals. The student health plan costs $5,996 if you have no other qualifying coverage.

Does Northwestern give financial aid to international students?

Yes, to a small group of first-year students, with need-aware admission review. In 2025–26, 297 international undergraduates received aid averaging $74,186 a year, and awards are made for all four years.

Does Northwestern interview applicants?

It no longer offers alumni interviews. Students at international high schools may submit an optional InitialView interview, which the admissions committee reviews itself.

How many essays does Northwestern require?

One required essay of up to 300 words and one or two short answers of under 200 words. The Common App personal essay is no longer required but can still be submitted.

Sources

• Northwestern Admissions: Application Dates and Deadlines
• Northwestern Admissions: Application Materials
• Northwestern Admissions: FAQ — International Applicants
• Northwestern Admissions: FAQ — Standardized Testing Policy
• Northwestern Admissions: Degree Options
• Northwestern Admissions: Housing and Dining
• Undergraduate Financial Aid: Cost of Attendance
• Undergraduate Financial Aid: Prospective International Students
• Undergraduate Financial Aid: FAQ for International Students
• Student Finance: 2026–27 Undergraduate Tuition and Fees
• Northwestern Common Data Set 2025–2026
• US Embassy in Russia: Visas
• ICE: I-901 SEVIS Fee
• US Department of State: Visa Fees
• QS World University Rankings 2027
• THE World University Rankings 2027
• ShanghaiRanking ARWU 2026

Amounts are in US dollars as published by Northwestern; checked on September 30, 2026. See more universities on our study in the USA page. If you are weighing Early Decision with an aid request, send us a request.

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