Seoul National University vs Northwestern University: Complete Comparison 2026
Side-by-side look at Seoul National University and Northwestern University: QS 2026 ranks 38 vs 42. Acceptance, tuition, language tests, and typical IB/A-Level…
→ Seoul National University profile → Northwestern University profile
Summary comparison
Figures come from the GlobalAdmit dataset — always confirm on each university’s official admissions site.
| Metric | Seoul National University | Northwestern University |
|---|---|---|
| QS rank 2026 | 38 | 42 |
| Location | 首爾，韓國, KR 🇰🇷 | 伊凡斯頓（Evanston, Illinois）, 美國, US 🇺🇸 |
| Tier | top30 | top30 |
| Acceptance rate | — | — |
| Tuition (intl / yr) | — | — |
| Testing policy (US HS notes) | International admissions tracks differ (early/off regular); verify current brochure for English-taught versus Korean-medium programmes. | Holistic Common Application review; test-optional policies vary by school and cycle—verify current year. |
| Standardised test (mid / range) | — | — |
| Language (summary) | — | — |
| IB typical | IB accepted where listed for international applicant pools; check faculty-specific minima. | IB Diploma with HL coursework considered; some programmes recommend subject tests or portfolios. |
| A-Level typical | Foreign-school credentials evaluated per office guidelines; subject prerequisites vary by college. | A-levels evaluated alongside English proficiency; engineering and communication programmes set prerequisite expectations |
| Notable programmes | - ★韓國語文學 · - ★政治外交學 · - ★經濟學 · - ★數學 · - ★物理學 · - ★化學 | - ★ 經濟學 · - ★ 政治學 · - ★ 心理學 · - ★ 統計學 · - ★ 電腦科學 · - ★ 生物醫學工程 |
Strengths
Seoul National University
- Strong QS World University Rankings position (31–100 band).
- Distinct academic brand and a global alumni footprint.
- Distinct academic brand and a global alumni footprint.
Northwestern University
- Strong QS World University Rankings position (31–100 band).
- Deep ties to US graduate training, recruiting, and industry hubs.
- Distinct academic brand and a global alumni footprint.
Popular majors (overlap)
Where both profiles list the same popular major label (case-insensitive).
No overlapping popular-major labels in our dataset yet — open each profile for subject-level detail.
Which is right for you?
If rankings are your north star
Seoul National University sits higher in QS 2026 (38 vs 42). That often correlates with research intensity and global name recognition — but Northwestern University can still win on programme fit, city, or cost.
If you are coming from IB / A-Levels / US high school
Compare the admission tabs on each profile: Seoul National University vs Northwestern University can invert depending on whether you are optimising for IB typical offers, A-level expectations, or US-style testing. Use the evaluator after you narrow your list.
Related comparisons
Curated high-traffic pairs — or use the picker on /compare for any two schools.