Key differences on Getting in
- 1
Stanford's yield is 27 pts higher than Northwestern's
Yield rate - 2
Stanford is 2.1× more selective than Northwestern
Acceptance rate - 3
Stanford's SAT midpoint is 10 points higher than Northwestern's
SAT midpoint
Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Acceptance and yield, test score ranges, test policy, and what each college weighs.
The funnel
Quad's selectivity
- StanfordUltra selective
- NorthwesternUltra selective
Men and women
Acceptance rate for men and women who applied, where a college reports admissions by sex.
Test scores
SAT total,
Axis runs 1400–1600. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
ACT composite,
Axis runs 29–36. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
Test policy
- StanfordTest scores required
- NorthwesternTest-optional
How they read a record
Stanford
, GPA, class rank, and tests are all very important. 89% of first-years who sent test scores had a 3.75 or higher, so and rarely sets an applicant apart; the courses behind it carry more of the weight.
Northwestern
The high school record and a college-prep program are required; GPA and class rank are considered.
What they look at
| Factor | Stanford | Northwestern |
|---|---|---|
| High school GPA | Very important | Considered |
| High school record | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Very important | Considered |
| College-prep program | Considered | Required |
| Recommendations | Very important | Required |
| Essay | Very important | Required |
| Legacy status | Considered | Considered |
| Work experience | Considered | Considered |
| Demonstration of competencies | Considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Considered | Required |
| Other tests | Not considered | Not considered |
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;Stanford University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Stanford University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Stanford University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;Stanford University (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why