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• Requirements
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• Cluster Initiative
• Financial Aid
• Funding Sources
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Admission FAQs

I'm interested in getting a Master's …
We do not offer a terminal Master’s Degree program.

What is the average GRE score of your applicants and of those admitted to the program?
Average GRE scores of all applicants in 2011 were: Verbal 710; Quantitative 620; and Analytical 5.5 for tests taken after October 2010. The average scores for those admitted on the University Fellowship were: Verbal 680; Quantitative 720; and Analytical 5.0 for tests taken after June 2010.

What is the average GPA?
The average undergraduate GPA of all applicants in 2011 was 3.7. The average of those admitted was 3.8.

What is the cut-off point for GRE scores and GPA?
There is no cut-off point. Along with test scores and GPA, the admissions committee will look closely at your statement of purpose, writing sample, transcript, and your letters of recommendation. Before making its admission recommendations to the Dean of the Graduate School, the committee considers carefully all pieces of each applicant’s file. For international students whose native language is not English, the TOEFL is required. You must score at least 600 or higher on the paper-based test, 250 or higher on the computer-based test, 100 or higher on the internet based test.  For the IELTS, you must receive a score of 7.0 or higher.

How many are admitted to your program each year?
We usually admit about twenty-five people each year. Our goal is to have a cohort size of thirteen.

How many apply?
For Fall 2011 admission we had 295 applicants.

Can I apply to start in the winter or spring?
No. All applications must be for fall admission. The application deadline is December 15 of the preceding year.

I was an econ (English, French, biology, et. al.) major. Can I apply?
Yes, although it helps if you have had sociology courses. Our cohorts traditionally have diverse academic backgrounds. What they share is a current passion for sociology.

I am interested in (fill in the blank) Are any faculty studying that?
Please review the list of faculty interests in our brochure and on our Web site. If you find someone who seems to have a similar interest, feel free to contact them for more information. In general, the Department’s strengths include sociology of culture, social organization, social inequality, and comparative-historical sociology, as explained in the brochure and on the Web site.

I have interdisciplinary interests. Can I pursue those interests while obtaining my Sociology PhD?
We encourage interdisciplinary work through the Graduate School's graduate cluster program. You may want to apply to one of the clusters at the same time as you apply to Sociology PhD program. This can be done on the Sociology application. For more information, see The Graduate School Cluster and Certificate Program.

I will need financial aid. How does that work?
The Graduate School offers full tuition and a stipend to all students accepted to the PhD program for five years of study. Please see Graduate School Financial Aid or contact the Graduate School (847-491-5279) for the most current information.

Some of our entering students have received fellowships from the National Science Foundation, the Diversifying Faculty in Higher Education Fellowship, the Jacob K. Javits Program, the American Sociological Association, or the Ford Foundation, to name a few. In such an event, the Department will take steps to ensure that the student receives any supplemental support from Northwestern necessary to make the outside award comparable to Northwestern’s fellowship. The Department strongly encourages prospective and current students to seek opportunities for outside funding.

Minority students should either contact or peruse the Web site of The Graduate School's office of Multicultural Affairs for funding opportunities.

How long does the program typically take?
The Graduate School requires doctoral students to be admitted to candidacy prior to the beginning of the student's fourth year, and to complete the PhD in eight years. Typically, our students have taken seven to nine years to complete the program. In an effort to shorten the time to degree, in 2001 the Graduate School introduced summer funding for graduate students. With that, we are hoping that students will typically finish their degrees in five to six years.