More selective than 46% of Iowa colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
Share of students sending scores not reported.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose Northwestern College over other offers.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Applicants, admits and enrollment
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.
We don't have Northwestern College's Common Data Set yet, the college's own report of what it weighs in admissions, early decision and waitlist numbers. Work at Northwestern College or have its file? Send it to us.
Northwestern College admissions year over year
| Entering class | Acceptance | SAT reading | SAT math | ACT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 80% | — | — | — | College Scorecard |
| Fall 2023 | 87% | — | — | — | IPEDS |
Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.
How selective is Northwestern College compared with other Iowa colleges?
Northwestern College has the 16th-lowest acceptance rate of 29 Iowa colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Acceptance | Graduation | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Saint Ambrose University | 77% | 61% | $24,691 |
| 13 | Buena Vista University | 78% | 62% | $18,846 |
| 14 | Cornell College | 80% | 62% | $23,634 |
| 15 | St Luke's College | 80% | 100% | $19,820 |
| 16 | Northwestern College | 80% | 66% | $25,907 |
| 17 | Graceland University-Lamoni | 81% | 42% | $18,504 |
| 18 | Mount Mercy University | 83% | 58% | $20,168 |
| 19 | University of Iowa | 84% | 75% | $22,531 |
| 20 | Central College | 86% | 66% | $23,377 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All Iowa colleges →
Who enrolls at Northwestern College
College Scorecard; IPEDS
Northwestern College admissions questions
What is the Northwestern College acceptance rate?
Northwestern College accepts 80% of applicants, most. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 1,005 of 1,155 applicants were admitted.
Does Northwestern College require the SAT or ACT?
Northwestern College does not consider SAT or ACT scores (test-blind), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023.
How many admitted students enroll at Northwestern College?
28% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (283 of 1,005).
Is Northwestern College getting harder to get into?
Northwestern College accepted 80% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 87% for Fall 2023.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to Northwestern College overview