Bradley vs. Northwestern College

Should I go to Bradley University or Northwestern College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bradley or Northwestern College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Bradley University vs. Northwestern College comparison
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Bradley University
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Overview

Bradley Northwestern College
Location Peoria, IL Saint Paul, MN
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 5,552 3,253
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #231 #554
Religious Affiliation - Other Protestant - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bradley.edu nwc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bradley Northwestern College
Tuition (In State) $37,380 $34,490
Tuition (Out of State) $37,380 $34,490
Room & Board $12,196 $10,644
Avg Net Price $24,053 $25,704
Avg Grant Aid $26,693 $20,487
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Bradley Northwestern College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,352 1,349
Admitted 8,530 1,248
Acceptance Rate 75.1% 92.5%
Enrolled % 12.1% 31.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.83 3.58
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 24/30 21/28
SAT Range 1050/1280 1015/1311
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Bradley Northwestern College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Engineering (13%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (22%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (10%)

Outcomes

Bradley Northwestern College
Graduation Rate 75% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $56,800 $41,100
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $22,070
Median Loan Payment $279 $228

Diversity

Bradley Northwestern College
% Men 45% 39%
% Women 55% 61%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 64% 84%
% Black 5% 3%
% Hispanic 6% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 20% 1%

Students

Bradley Northwestern College
% In-State 87% 77%
% Out-of-State 12% 22%

Campus

Bradley Northwestern College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Bradley University is larger than than Northwestern College based on total student enrollment (5,552 students vs. 3,253 students)

Bradley vs. Northwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bradley or Northwestern College?

  • Bradley University is 8.4% more expensive to attend than Northwestern College for in-state tuition ($37,380.00 vs. $34,490.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 8.4% higher at Bradley than Northwestern College ($37,380.00 vs. $34,490.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bradley University than Northwestern College ($24,053 vs. $25,704)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern College are 14.6% lower than costs at Bradley University ($10,644 vs. $12,196)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Bradley University as Northwestern College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bradley University students is 30.3% larger than aid received Northwestern College ($26,693 vs. $20,487)

Bradley vs. Northwestern College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bradley or Northwestern College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Northwestern College or Bradley .

  • The average SAT score at Bradley University (1163) is 61 points higher than at Northwestern College (1102)
  • Incoming Bradley students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Northwestern College (24)
  • Accepted freshman Bradley students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Northwestern College (3.58)
  • Northwestern College has a higher acceptance rate (92.5%) than Bradley (75.1%)

Bradley vs. Northwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bradley or Northwestern College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Northwestern College and Bradley.

  • The graduation rate at Bradley is higher than Northwestern College (75% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from Bradley University earn on average $15,700 more per year than Northwestern College graduates after ten years. ($56,800 vs. $41,100)
  • Northwestern College students graduate with a $4,930 lower median federal student loan debt than Bradley graduates. ($22,070 vs. $27,000)
  • Northwestern College graduates are paying $51 less per month on federal student loans than Bradley graduates. ($228 vs. $279)
  • More Northwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bradley students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 75%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/