Northwest University Acceptance Rate
Kirkland, Washington · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 586
- Admitted
- 516
- Yield
- 29.5%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Small sample: this rate is based on 586 applicants, so year-to-year swings can be large. Read it as approximate.
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Northwest University's acceptance rate has fallen from 96.1% in 2014–15 to 88.1% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 464 to 586 (+26%) over that period.
Its 88.1% rate makes Northwest University more selective than about 25% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 19 tracked Washington schools, it is more selective than about 32%.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (90.5% for women vs 84.3% for men, a 6.2-point gap). Northwest University has been test-optional since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 29.5% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 464 | 446 | 96.1% | 193 |
| 2015–16 | 766 | 488 | 63.7% | 203 |
| 2016–17 | 560 | 523 | 93.4% | 206 |
| 2017–18 | 469 | 457 | 97.4% | 197 |
| 2018–19 | 501 | 477 | 95.2% | 250 |
| 2019–20 | 556 | 518 | 93.2% | 190 |
| 2020–21 | 498 | 462 | 92.8% | 159 |
| 2021–22 | 473 | 454 | 96% | 165 |
| 2022–23 | 383 | 361 | 94.3% | 156 |
| 2023–24 | 586 | 516 | 88.1% | 152 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 368 | 333 | 90.5% |
| Men | 217 | 183 | 84.3% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 520–660 | 19% |
| SAT Math | 520–665 | |
| ACT Composite | 24–29 | 5% |
How Northwest University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Northwest University's acceptance rate?
Northwest University's acceptance rate is 88.1% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (516 admitted of 586 applicants).
Is Northwest University test optional?
Northwest University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Northwest University?
Northwest University received 586 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 516.
What SAT score do you need for Northwest University?
Admitted students at Northwest University typically scored 520–660 on SAT Reading/Writing and 520–665 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Northwest University getting harder to get into?
Northwest University has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 96.1% in 2014–15 to 88.1% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.northwestu.edu/.