How to Get Into Case Western: Admissions Data and Strategies
Case Western Reserve University, often referred to as simply Case Western or CWRU, is a mid-sized private research institution located in Cleveland, Ohio. With an emphasis on the STEM disciplines, Case Western has some of the top ranked engineering programs in the country, but they also excel in areas such as nursing and business. With so many stellar academic programs, it’s no wonder the university received a record 33,000+ applications for the Class of 2025. Sporting a 30% acceptance rate and an average SAT score well above 1400, Case Western is an extremely selective university in 2022.
With so many high quality applicants to CWRU each year, it’s important for aspiring Spartans to possess a full understanding of what they are up against. To help, the College Transitions team will present:
- Case Western’s Class of 2025 acceptance rate
- CWRU’s Early Decision acceptance rate.
- SAT, ACT, class rank, and GPAs of Case Western applicants
- Admissions trends from the Class of 2025
- The demographics of current Case Western Reserve University undergraduates
- Case Western’s yield rate
- How Case Western’s admissions officers evaluate candidates
- Tips for applying to Case Western
- How to assess whether applying to CWRU is even worth the $70 application fee (for you)
Let’s begin with an examination of the most recent admissions data.
Case Western: Acceptance Rate – Class of 2025
The 33,232 applicants to the Class of 2025 set an all-time record. The acceptance rate was 30% which was identical to the figure for the Class of 2024.
Case Western: Early Decision Acceptance Rate – Class of 2025
Out of 888 total Early Decision applicants, Case Western accepted 318 individuals. This acceptance rate of 36% shows that ED applicants receive a slight boost to their admissions prospects.
Case Western Reserve University Admissions – SAT, ACT, GPA, and Class Rank
Those enrolled in the Class of 2025 had truly exceptional academic credentials, boasting a mid-50% SAT range of 1420-1520 and an ACT range of 32-35. Sixty-two percent of incoming freshmen placed in the top decile of their high school class; 95% were in the top quartile. Looking at unweighted GPA, 17% of students earned a perfect 4.0, while 62% possessed better than a 3.75.
Admissions Trends & Notes – Class of 2025
- Case Western is continuing a test-optional pilot program through the fall of 2024. Last year, 39% of accepted students submitted an SAT score and 27% included an ACT result with their application.
- 10% of the Class of 2025 had a family member who previously graduated from Case Western.
- 13% of the Class of 2025 are first-generation students.
- Entering members of the 2021-22 freshmen cohort hail from 1,150 different high schools around the world.
- 4,992 applicants accepted a place on the waitlist and 364 were ultimately accepted.
Who Gets Into Case Western?
Let’s look at the demographics of CWRU undergraduates:
Case Western Class of 2025 members came from the following geographic regions:
- Middle Atlantic: 24%
- New England: 7%
- Midwest: 13%
- South: 9%
- Southwest: 4%
- West: 11%
- Outside of the U.S.: 15%
- Ohio: 17%
Looking at ethnic identity among the current Spartan undergraduate student body, the breakdown is as follows:
- Asian American: 23%
- Hispanic: 10%
- African American: 4%
- International: 14%
- White: 42%
- Two or more races: 5%
International students entering the Class of 2025 hail from 76 countries with the greatest representation from the following nations:
- South Korea
The breakdown by gender for the entire undergraduate student body shows a heavier concentration of male students:
- Male: 54%
- Female: 46%
Large numbers of entering 2021-22 freshmen were involved in the following activities in high school:
- Volunteering: 80%
- Sports: 68%
- Arts: 54%
- Part-time job or caring for a family member at home: 47%
- Student government: 22%
Case Western’s Yield Rate
Case Western’s yield rate—the percentage of accepted students who elect to enroll, divided by the total number of students who are admitted was only 16% for the Class of 2025. This is lower than many other schools that CWRU applicants are also considering such as: Purdue (23%), Georgia Tech (38%), and Ohio State (30%).
How Case Western Reserve University Rates Applicants
Four factors are classified by CWRU as being “very important” to their admissions process and those are: an applicant’s GPA, extracurricular activities, and the rigor of one’s secondary school record. Seven factors are designated as “important” to the Case Western evaluation process. Those are: recommendations, essays, an interview, talent/ability, character/personal qualities, race/ethnicity, and volunteer work.
In the CWRU admissions office’s own words:
- “Our admission counselors review each application carefully, taking into consideration your academic background, life experiences and interests.”
- “We superscore our students’ test results, which means we take your best scores on each section of the SAT and ACT. If you took a test more than once, you will be evaluated on the highest score you received in each individual section of the exam.”
- “If you’re interested in engineering or the sciences, we recommend an additional year of math and laboratory science (4 years versus 3). Leaning more toward the liberal arts? We’d suggest another year of social studies and foreign language.”
Tips for Applying to Case Western
If you plan on joining the 33,000+ Case Western hopefuls for the next admissions cycle, you should know the following:
- Even with such a high number of applicants, Case Western still offers online one-on-one interviews with a member of the admissions staff. Visit our blog entitled Virtual College Admissions Interview Tips for advice on how to make a positive impression.
- Case Western considers “demonstrated interest” in the admissions process. This means you may gain an advantage by visiting campus, connecting through social media, emailing an admissions officer, etc.
- You can apply by November 1 to meet the Early Action Deadline. There are two Early Decision deadlines: ED I is November 1 and ED II is January 15. The Regular Decision deadline is also January 15.
- There are no supplemental essays that are part of the CWRU application. Therefore, you will want to dedicate all of your energy in that area to the main Common App Essay Prompts.
Should I Apply to Case Western?
Successful Case Western applicants typically sport A/A- averages in a rigorous high school program and possess average standardized test scores above the 95th percentile of all test-takers. Applying ED can aid your chances if you are a borderline applicant.
All college-bound high school students should formulate an appropriate college list, containing a complement of “target” and “safety” schools. This can be done in collaboration with an admissions professional who is aware of the latest trends and strategies associated with your prospective colleges.