Admissions data checked October 9, 2026 by Florida Test Prep.
Northwestern University reports a middle 50% SAT of 1520 to 1560 (enrolled, fall 2025 CDS 2025-26, C9). We use 1540 as a first planning target, then adjust it to the student's diagnostic and timeline. It is not an admission requirement or a guarantee.
| Middle 50% SAT | 1520 to 1560 (enrolled, fall 2025 CDS 2025-26, C9) |
| Middle 50% ACT | 34 to 35 |
| Acceptance rate | 7.5% (fall 2025 CDS 2025-26, 52,676 applicants) |
| Testing for 2026-27 | Test-optional |
| Type | Private university |
Source: Northwestern official admissions data. A middle 50% describes the central half of the reported group, not a cutoff.
Northwestern offers no academic-merit scholarships at all; all institutional aid is need-based.
| School | Middle 50% SAT | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|
| University of Chicago | 1500 to 1560 | 4.5% |
| Northwestern University | 1520 to 1560 | 7.5% |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | 1390 to 1520 | 36.6% |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | 1190 to 1400 | 55.4% |
| Loyola University Chicago | 1220 to 1390 | 75.1% |
| DePaul University | 1150 to 1330 | 87.8% |
| University of Illinois Chicago | 1030 to 1300 | 75.8% |
| Bradley University | 1030 to 1240 | 74.6% |
| Illinois State University | 1010 to 1210 | 88.1% |
Cohorts differ by school (admitted vs enrolled, and year). See every school with its cohort and source on SAT Scores for Illinois Colleges.
Illinois has no statewide SAT-cutoff cash scholarship; its best-known score-based distinction, the Illinois State Scholar designation, is honorary with no money attached, so real score-tied dollars come from individual universities' own competitive full-ride programs.
Stamps Scholarship (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign): Covers tuition, fees, room and board in full, selected during the general admissions review.
Illinois State Scholar designation: Honorary distinction only; no monetary award is attached.
The full rules, deadlines and class years are on our Illinois SAT prep page.
| College | State | Middle 50% SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Duke University | North Carolina | 1510 to 1570 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | Pennsylvania | 1510 to 1560 |
| Columbia College and Columbia Engineering | New York | 1510 to 1560 |
| Rice University | Texas | 1510 to 1560 |
A score that is competitive at Northwestern lands in the same part of the range at these schools. Cohorts differ by school, so read each page's notes before comparing.
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Find my teen's target scoreThere is no published minimum; the middle half of the reported group scored 1520 to 1560. A score at or above 1560 puts a student in the top quarter of that group. A score near 1520 is within the range, and grades, coursework and the rest of the application still decide the outcome.
Yes. Northwestern lists its policy as: Test-optional. A score inside or above the range can still strengthen an application, and some scholarships and programs use scores separately.
7.5% (fall 2025 CDS 2025-26, 52,676 applicants). Rates vary by program and residency, so read the overall figure as context, not a personal prediction.
No. A middle 50% is a description of last year's group, not a cutoff in either direction. It tells you where a score is competitive, which is the useful part for planning test dates.
Want to know what your teen needs for Northwestern? Their target, their gap and the weeks to close it are what we map in the free Strategy Session.
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