College of Lake County vs. Northwestern College

Deciding between College of Lake County and Northwestern College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • College of Lake County Grayslake, IL
  • Northwestern College Oak Lawn, IL
  • Setting
  • College of Lake County Midsize Suburban
  • Northwestern College Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • College of Lake County 12,530
  • Northwestern College 464
  • Type
  • College of Lake County Public 2 Year
  • Northwestern College Private 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • College of Lake County
  • Northwestern College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • College of Lake County -
  • Northwestern College -
  • Status
  • College of Lake County Non-profit
  • Northwestern College For-profit
  • Team Colors
  • College of Lake County
  • Northwestern College
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • College of Lake County $4,788
  • Northwestern College $18,280
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • College of Lake County $14,400
  • Northwestern College $18,280
  • Room & Board
  • College of Lake County $16,800
  • Northwestern College $8,100
  • Average Net Price
  • College of Lake County $6,357
  • Northwestern College -
  • Average Grant Aid
  • College of Lake County $6,361
  • Northwestern College $0
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • College of Lake County 52%
  • Northwestern College 0%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • College of Lake County -
  • Northwestern College -
  • Admitted
  • College of Lake County -
  • Northwestern College -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • College of Lake County Open
  • Northwestern College
  • Enrolled
  • College of Lake County Open
  • Northwestern College
  • Typical SAT score
  • College of Lake County
  • Northwestern College
  • Typical ACT score
  • College of Lake County
  • Northwestern College
  • Average High School GPA
  • College of Lake County -
  • Northwestern College -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • College of Lake County -
  • Northwestern College -
  • Admissions Standards
  • College of Lake County Unavailable
  • Northwestern College Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • College of Lake County
  • Northwestern College
  • ACT Range
  • College of Lake County
  • Northwestern College
  • SAT Range
  • College of Lake County
  • Northwestern College
  • Submit Test Scores
  • College of Lake County Open admission
  • Northwestern College Not reported
  • Application Deadline
  • College of Lake County
  • Northwestern College
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • College of Lake County 16:1
  • Northwestern College 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • College of Lake County
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (31%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (18%)
    • Health Professions (18%)
    • Business (9%)
    • General Studies (5%)
  • Northwestern College
    • Health Professions (52%)
    • Business (20%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
    • Legal Professions (14%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • College of Lake County -
  • Northwestern College -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • College of Lake County $35,800
  • Northwestern College $32,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • College of Lake County 47%
  • Northwestern College 22%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • College of Lake County $5,500
  • Northwestern College $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • College of Lake County $56
  • Northwestern College $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • College of Lake County 43%
  • Northwestern College 4%
  • % Women
  • College of Lake County 57%
  • Northwestern College 96%
  • Racial Diversity
  • College of Lake County High
  • Northwestern College Very High
  • HBCU
  • College of Lake County No
  • Northwestern College No
  • % White
  • College of Lake County 45%
  • Northwestern College 21%
  • % Asian
  • College of Lake County 5%
  • Northwestern College 1%
  • % Black
  • College of Lake County 8%
  • Northwestern College 46%
  • % Hispanic
  • College of Lake County 34%
  • Northwestern College 15%
  • % Native American
  • College of Lake County 0%
  • Northwestern College 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • College of Lake County 0%
  • Northwestern College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • College of Lake County 3%
  • Northwestern College 13%
  • % International
  • College of Lake County 0%
  • Northwestern College 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • College of Lake County 5%
  • Northwestern College 3%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • College of Lake County 98%
  • Northwestern College 74%
  • % Out-of-State
  • College of Lake County 1%
  • Northwestern College 26%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Lake County in Grayslake, IL with Northwestern College in Oak Lawn, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College of Lake County is larger than Northwestern College based on total student enrollment (12,530 students vs. 464 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • College of Lake County is located in Grayslake, IL (Midsize Suburban setting); Northwestern College is in Oak Lawn, IL (Large Suburban setting).
  • College of Lake County is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Northwestern College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Lake County 16:1; Northwestern College 12:1.

College of Lake County vs. Northwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of Lake County 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 Northwestern College are 51.8% lower than at College of Lake County ($8,100 vs. $16,800).
  • Northwestern College is 68.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of Lake County (about $7,411 more per year; $18,280.00 vs. $10,869.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 26.9% higher at Northwestern College than at College of Lake County (about $3,880 more per year; $18,280.00 vs. $14,400.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of Lake County than at Northwestern College (52% vs. 0%).

College of Lake County vs. Northwestern College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of Lake County 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 College of Lake County.

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

College of Lake County vs. Northwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of Lake County 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 College of Lake County earn a median of about $3,800 more per year than Northwestern College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,800 vs. $32,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, College of Lake County graduates have a $21,500 lower median loan debt than Northwestern College graduates ($5,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, College of Lake County graduates have an estimated $223 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northwestern College graduates ($56 vs. $279).
  • More College of Lake County graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northwestern College students, three years after graduation. (47% 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.