Northwestern College Admission Requirements
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Northwestern College Admission Overview
Northwestern College admission requirements are summarized from last year's class. Last year Northwestern College admitted 80.4% of applicants. Enrolled freshmen typically had about a 3.57 GPA (A-). Northwestern College is test-free. SAT and ACT are not used for admission. Those figures describe last year's class, not a score you must hit.
Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025
Northwestern College is test-free. SAT and ACT are not used, even if you send them.
Northwestern College Acceptance Rate
Admission Rate & Difficulty
Acceptance rate Share of applicants offered admission last year.
Admission Standards Measure of enrolled testers' SAT/ACT scores vs. other colleges.
Applicant Competition Measure of this school's acceptance rate vs. other colleges. A low acceptance rate indicates high competition.
Very Low
Admission difficulty for Northwestern College
Acceptance Rate
The Northwestern College acceptance rate is 80.4%. Last year, 1,203 of 1,497 applicants were admitted. That is the 16th lowest acceptance rate in Iowa.
Admission Selectivity
How hard is it to get into Northwestern College and can you get accepted?
Northwestern College is an easy school to get into, admitting most applicants. You have a very good chance of acceptance if you meet last year's profile.
Northwestern College typically attracts "A-" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.57. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top half of their high school class. 27% of those admitted chose to enroll.
Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025
Northwestern College GPA
GPA of enrolled freshmen
Avg. High School GPA The average high school GPA for incoming freshmen on a 4.0 scale.
3.57Typical High School Grades Letter grade on a 4.0 scale for last year's average, not a cutoff.
A-Average GPA (4.0 Scale) 3.57
Average GPA
Enrolled freshmen at Northwestern College typically have around a 3.57 GPA (A-) on a 4.0 scale. That is last year's class average, not a cutoff. Enrolled students typically have very good grades in high school. Northwestern College is test-free, so GPA is the main academic number in the file.
The school ranks #11 in Iowa for highest average GPA.
See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.6 GPA range.
Competitiveness by GPA Ranges
Share of last year's freshmen in each GPA range, compared with the rest of the class.
GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2024
Northwestern College SAT Scores
SAT scores of enrolled freshmen
SAT Range The middle 50% of enrolled testers from the last year SAT scores were reported. The maximum score is 1600.
940-1240Freshmen who sent SAT Share of enrolled freshmen who submitted SAT scores, from the last year SAT scores were reported.
8%25th Percentile Scores
- Reading 480
- Math 460
- Composite 940
75th Percentile Scores
- Reading 610
- Math 630
- Composite 1240
Average SAT
Enrolled testers at Northwestern College typically score around a 1090 SAT (middle 50% 940–1240) out of 1600. These figures are from the last year SAT scores were reported, not a cutoff. SAT is not used for admission, even if you send it. The average SAT of enrolled testers is about the 57th percentile nationally. Northwestern College ranks #13 in the state of Iowa for highest average SAT composite score.
SAT Range (25th-75th Percentile) 940 to 1240
View other colleges which accept students in the 1090 SAT score range.
SAT scores are from the last year they were reported to IPEDS. They are not used for admission.
Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025
Northwestern College ACT Scores
ACT scores among enrolled freshmen
ACT Range Mid-50 ACT composite among enrolled testers in the last year ACT scores were reported. The scale tops out at 36.
20-27Freshmen reporting ACT Percent of enrolled freshmen who reported ACT, from the last year ACT scores were reported.
82%25th Percentile Scores
- English 19
- Math 18
- Composite 20
75th Percentile Scores
- English 27
- Math 26
- Composite 27
Average ACT
Incoming testers at Northwestern College typically have around a 23 ACT (mid-50 20–27) on the 36 scale. These numbers come from the last year ACT scores were reported, not a minimum for admission. ACT is not considered, even if you submit it. That average sits near the 68th percentile of ACT takers nationwide. Northwestern College places #12 among colleges in Iowa for highest average ACT composite.
ACT Range (25th-75th Percentile) 20 to 27
See colleges with similar ACT profiles in the 23.0 ACT score range.
ACT figures reflect the last year they were reported to IPEDS. They are not used in admission.
Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025
Estimate How You Compare
Compare your GPA with last year's enrolled class and this school's acceptance rate. SAT and ACT are not used.
Open the Northwestern College chances calculatorApplying
Admission Statistics
Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed in the table below.
Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025
Application Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Northwestern College and what student information is used for admission decisions?
Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to Northwestern College is $0. The school is free to apply to.
Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025
Credits Accepted
Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025
Admission summary
Northwestern College is test-free for 2024-25. Last year it admitted 80.4% of applicants. Enrolled freshmen typically had about a 3.57 GPA (about an A- average). Mid-50 scores, where shown, are enrolled testers, not cutoffs.
Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025
Other Colleges to Apply To
Students applying to Northwestern College often consider these colleges
Data source: NCES / IPEDS https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=154101.
GPA calculator: Northwestern College GPA calculator.
Last updated: August 2026