The Northwestern QuestBridge Supplement will be available through the Applicant Portal. After activating your Applicant Portal, you may select an undergraduate school, indicate your proposed academic program(s), and complete Northwestern's First-Year Writing Supplements.

Submit along with official transcripts, School Report, and one teacher recommendation (additional teacher recommendations are allowed but not required).

Official transcripts and QuestBridge mid-year reports (including mid-year grades when available) can be submitted online or mailed to the Admissions Office. See Contact Information below.

Official transcripts and QuestBridge mid-year reports (including mid-year grades when available) can be submitted online or mailed to the Admissions Office. See Contact Information below.

Northwestern follows a test-optional policy and will not require ACT or SAT scores from first-year or transfer candidates. If students choose to take an SAT or ACT, there is no preference for either exam.

SAT

For students who take the SAT more than once, Northwestern will combine the highest section scores across multiple test dates and calculate a “superscore” that will override the high score from a single sitting in our database. Applicants are not obligated to report scores from all test dates, though are welcome to do so.

ACT

Due to the ACT’s staggered roll-out of its enhanced format and revised formula for calculating score composites, Northwestern will not independently calculate a superscore for students reporting ACT scores in the 2025–26 application cycle but will still consider official ACT superscores. Applicants who wish to submit ACT scores from multiple test dates should report the highest section scores from individual test dates, as well as the official ACT superscore, which is available via the MyACT account. Please be sure to report this official ACT superscore and do not self-calculate an ACT superscore. (Northwestern will ask a specific MyACT ‘superscore’ question in our Northwestern supplemental questions). ACT testers who sat for multiple tests prior to the rollout of the enhanced test may report composite scores or official superscores inclusive of their Science section, whereas ACT testers who sit for multiple tests after the new rollout will report composite scores or superscores reflective of ACT’s new approach, i.e. a composite based on English, Math, and Reading scores only.

QuestBridge applicants interested in majoring in music are required to submit the Bienen School Supplement with any applicable prescreening/program requirements by October 15. Auditions take place in early November. Visit the Bienen School of Music website to learn more.

Required for all applicants. Please select "Regular Decision" as your admission application type.

If your parents are divorced or separated:

• Each parent must complete a CSS Profile application. It is recommended that the student and custodial parent start the CSS Profile application first. The non-custodial parent will need to create a College Board account before providing their information. 
• If you do not have any contact with your non-custodial parent, then you may submit a request to waive the requirement of their financial information. Download the Non-Custodial Parent Waiver Petition.

Signed, with all schedules, attachments, W-2 forms and other earning statements. Include personal and corporate partnership tax returns. 

Upload your documents to the College Board IDOC service by Nov. 10. To do this, follow the link containing the IDOC ID you received after completing the CSS Profile. The link will become active when the College Board begins accepting uploads on Nov. 1. 

Your non-custodial parent must also submit copies of their 2024 federal tax returns with all schedules. 

Submit as soon as available

The FAFSA will open this fall. Please complete the FAFSA as soon as it is available and submit it directly to Northwestern.

U.S. Citizens and Eligible Noncitizens.

Finalists who ranked Northwestern for the Match (excluding School of Music applicants) and did not match to a binding college partner may be considered for Early Decision. Interested applicants must indicate in their Northwestern Portal that they wish to be considered for Early Decision no later than two days after the release of Match decisions. You are also required to return an ED Agreement form as soon as possible, otherwise we cannot consider you for Early Decision. Be aware that Early Decision is binding; if you choose to apply via Early Decision and Northwestern admits you, you must attend. Historically, Northwestern ED applicants enjoy a higher admit rate than Regular Decision applicants.

Finalists who did not rank any colleges may also apply Early Decision to Northwestern by November 1. 

All Finalists who rank Northwestern for the Match, but did not match to a binding college will automatically have their applications moved to the Regular Decision process. Please submit any relevant updates to [email protected].

If you no longer wish to be considered, you must contact the Admissions Office to withdraw your application at: [email protected].

Finalists who ranked Northwestern and submitted all materials (but did not match to a binding college)

Finalists who did not rank Northwestern

You may select an undergraduate school, indicate your proposed academic program, and respond to our supplemental essay questions.

Submit along with official transcripts, School Report, and one teacher recommendation (additional teacher recommendations are allowed but not required).

Update including recent grades

Only if new scores to report, and only if scores do not appear on high school transcript

Only if scores do not appear on high school transcript

Finalists who ranked Northwestern and submitted all materials (but did not match to a binding college)

Finalists who did not rank Northwestern

U.S. Citizens and Eligible Noncitizens