Carl Sandburg College vs. Northwestern College

Comparable Facts

Compare Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, IL with Northwestern College in Oak Lawn, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Carl Sandburg College is larger than Northwestern College based on total student enrollment (1,603 students vs. 464 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Carl Sandburg College is located in Galesburg, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Northwestern College is in Oak Lawn, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Carl Sandburg College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Northwestern College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Carl Sandburg College 15:1; Northwestern College 12:1.

Carl Sandburg College vs. Northwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Carl Sandburg College or Northwestern College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carl Sandburg College are 2.8% lower than at Northwestern College ($7,875 vs. $8,100).
• Northwestern College is 128.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Carl Sandburg College (about $10,280 more per year; $18,280.00 vs. $8,000.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 105.4% higher at Northwestern College than at Carl Sandburg College (about $9,380 more per year; $18,280.00 vs. $8,900.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Carl Sandburg College than at Northwestern College (94% vs. 0%).

Carl Sandburg College vs. Northwestern College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Carl Sandburg College or Northwestern College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Northwestern College and Carl Sandburg College.

• Carl Sandburg College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Carl Sandburg College - Open admission; Northwestern College - Not reported.

Carl Sandburg College vs. Northwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Carl Sandburg College and Northwestern College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Northwestern College earn a median of about $1,700 more per year than Carl Sandburg College graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,000 vs. $30,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Carl Sandburg College graduates have a $22,556 lower median loan debt than Northwestern College graduates ($4,444 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Carl Sandburg College graduates have an estimated $234 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northwestern College graduates ($45 vs. $279).
• More Carl Sandburg College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northwestern College students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 22%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.