Frequently asked questions:
Applying as a transfer or returning adult student

What is a transfer applicant?

If you have

  • graduated from secondary school and
  • completed one year (24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours) of academic study at a college or university at the time that you apply to Northwestern

you are considered a transfer student and should apply as such. Once you have enrolled full time at another postsecondary institution, you can no longer be considered for freshman admission.

Can I reapply to Northwestern if I was not accepted earlier?

If you applied for admission during the last academic year, you may request in writing to have your application reactivated for transfer consideration. Applicants who were previously denied admission to Northwestern must wait one academic year before being reconsidered and are strongly encouraged to enroll full time at another college or university for that period.

Should I apply as a transfer student if I am a foreign national living outside the United States?

International transfer applicants must apply for fall quarter entrance and should follow directions specifically for international students.

What is a returning adult applicant?

If you have

  • graduated from secondary school at least seven years ago and
  • decided to pursue or complete an undergraduate degree on a full-time basis

you are considered a returning adult student and should apply as such.

If you are interested in part-time study, you should contact our School of Continuing Studies (847-491-5611).

Can I apply to any school and department at Northwestern as a transfer or returning adult applicant?

Transfer and returning adult applicants may apply to most departments in Northwestern's undergraduate schools for any quarter. Exceptions include the following:

  • Medill School of Journalism and the theater and radio/television/film departments in the School of Communication
    You must apply for fall quarter. Admission into these departments is highly competitive. Applicants preparing to begin their sophomore year will receive preference over applicants who have completed more than one year of college study. It is also possible that, in a given year, space may not be available.
  • McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
    Because of the sequence of engineering courses, the McCormick School prefers that you apply for fall quarter.
  • The Bienen School of Music
    You must apply for the fall or winter quarter. Contact the Bienen School of Music to inquire if a vacancy exists in your performance area and to schedule an audition.

Who is admitted to Northwestern?

Admission to Northwestern is competitive. Typically, 15 to 20 percent of the transfer applicants for fall quarter are admitted each year. Therefore, only students with strong academic credentials are encouraged to apply. Successful applicants generally have maintained a B average or better in rigorous academic courses and have submitted materials in strong support of their candidacy.

You must have completed a full year of university study to be considered for admission to Northwestern as a transfer student. You must also be in good standing at your most recent postsecondary institution. You should have completed course work across the full range of the liberal arts and sciences (not just in selected disciplines) prior to applying.

Because of our residency requirement, applicants who have completed substantially more than two years of undergraduate work elsewhere are discouraged from applying.

When should I apply to Northwestern?

You should apply by the deadlines noted below.

Application deadlines

Quarter of entrance Application deadline
Fall (September)* May 1
Winter (January) November 1
Spring (March/April) February 1
Summer (June) May 1
*International applicants must apply for the fall quarter and the deadline is May 1.

How do I apply?

The following items are required to complete your application. If Northwestern does not receive the required items by your deadline, your application for admission will be canceled.

  1. A completed application for admission. See our applying page for more details.
  2. Nonrefundable application fee ($65)
  3. Official secondary school transcripts
  4. Official university transcripts Request that official transcripts from all universities or colleges attended be sent to Northwestern.
  5. College Official Report from the college or university you most recently attended stating that you are in good academic standing and have not been subject to disciplinary action.
  6. Standardized testing The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT Reasoning Test) or American College Test (ACT) is required of all applicants. The TOEFL is also required for foreign applicants where English is their second language.

In addition, we recommend you include the following with your application:

  1. Evaluations from a secondary school or college counselor or teacher who can attest to your probable success at Northwestern.
  2. Additional test scores SAT Subject Test results, for example.

These materials should be submitted to Northwestern's Office of Undergraduate Admission according to the instructions in the application for admission.

In addition, Bienen School of Music applicants are required to audition.

Am I eligible for financial aid?

There is no financial aid available for international transfer applicants.

When will I be notified of Northwestern's decision?

Northwestern will not review your application for admission until we have received all required admission items. Decisions are made on a rolling basis after your application deadline. Upon your acceptance to Northwestern, it is important to pay the tuition deposit by your enrollment deadline. This will secure your place in the class.

Does Northwestern have residency requirements?

For a bachelor's degree, Northwestern requires that you complete your last 23 units (six quarters of full-time study) while enrolled as an undergraduate at Northwestern, regardless of the amount of college work you have completed elsewhere.

Northwestern uses a course definition in which each course equals one unit of credit. The full-time course load consists of four units per quarter or 12 units per academic year. Between 45 and 48 units are required for graduation, depending on the Northwestern undergraduate school.

Will credits earned at other institutions transfer to Northwestern?

The official evaluation of your credits will be made by our Registrar's Office. Once a transfer applicant has been accepted, the Office of Undergraduate Admission will initiate the process of credit evaluation. Since this evaluation may not be mailed to you before your tuition deposit is due, you should review the following guidelines to better understand how your previous courses will be appraised.

  • When college or university degree requirements are expressed in hours, Northwestern transfer credit will be determined by multiplying the ratio of acceptable hours completed to the total number of hours required for graduation at your previous college or university by 45 (number of courses required for Northwestern graduation).
    ( Acceptable credit hours for transfer ÷ Total hours required to graduate ) x 45 = Northwestern units of credit
  • Courses acceptable for credit must be comparable to courses at Northwestern and in comparable University departments (as listed in our course catalog).
  • The following courses do not transfer:
    • Courses completed at an unaccredited college or university
    • Physical education or hygiene courses
    • No more than three applied music courses (except for applicants to the Bienen School of Music)
    • Courses for which credit was granted by institutional examination rather than course attendance
    • Mathematics courses below the level of calculus (with the exception of a combined course in college algebra and trigonometry or modern mathematics)
    • Courses worth less than three quarter hours or two semester hours
    • Credit granted through CLEP examinations
    • Courses that an applicant has audited, repeated, or failed
    • English as a second language courses
    • Journalism courses (Medill students only)
  • In nearly all areas, credit will be given for CEEB Advanced Placement Examination scores of 4 or 5 or higher-level International Baccalaureate results of 5 or higher. You must arrange to have your scores sent to Northwestern.
  • Students in a foreign university degree program receive credit only for examinations administered by that university (for example, the Vordiplom awarded by German universities at the end of two years/four semesters).
  • If you are transferring to the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences with sophomore standing or higher, your foreign language proficiency requirement will be satisfied if you have earned a score of 4 or 5 on an Advanced Placement Examination in a foreign language, or a grade of C or better in the final term of a second-year language course at a previous college.
  • Grades and cumulative grade point averages do not transfer to Northwestern.

Is housing available for transfer and returning adult students?

University housing is limited for transfer students. Rooms in residence halls are provided based on availability. If admitted without housing, you must pay your tuition deposit before the Undergraduate Housing Office can place your name on Northwestern's housing waiting list or before our off-campus housing office can act as a resource for additional housing options.

Do I have to submit scores from the writing portion of the SAT or ACT?

Writing scores from either the SAT or ACT are optional. All transfer applicants are required to submit scores from the SAT or ACT (versions without writing samples) as part of their transfer application, however.

Applying FAQ