Dort vs. Northwestern College

Should I go to Dordt College or Northwestern College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Dort 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

Bethel University Northwestern College University of Sioux Falls Minnesota Hamline University
Dordt College vs. Northwestern College comparison
Dordt College Northwestern College College 3 College 4
Dordt College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Dort Northwestern College
Location Sioux Center, IA Saint Paul, MN
Setting Remote Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,929 3,262
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #456 #551
Religious Affiliation Christian Reformed Church Other Protestant - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website dordt.edu nwc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Dort Northwestern College
Tuition (In State) $35,360 $35,970
Tuition (Out of State) $35,360 $35,970
Room & Board $11,430 $11,148
Avg Net Price $27,925 $26,779
Avg Grant Aid $21,944 $21,360
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Dort Northwestern College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,595 1,194
Admitted 1,135 1,097
Acceptance Rate 71.2% 91.9%
Enrolled % 40.6% 33.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.65 3.58
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/27 22/29
SAT Range 1030/1230 981/1293
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, 2026

Academics

Dort Northwestern College
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (23%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Agriculture (6%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (22%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (10%)

Outcomes

Dort Northwestern College
Graduation Rate 60% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,300 $41,100
Making Student Loan Payments 90% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,000 $22,070
Median Loan Payment $237 $228

Diversity

Dort Northwestern College
% Men 3% 1%
% Women 9% 1%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 73% 84%
% Black 2% 3%
% Hispanic 0% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 7% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 9% 1%
% Unknown Race 8% 1%

Students

Dort Northwestern College
% In-State 32% 74%
% Out-of-State 60% 26%

Campus

Dort 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

  • Northwestern College is larger than than Dort based on total student enrollment (3,262 students vs. 1,929 students)

Dort vs. Northwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dort or Northwestern College?

  • Northwestern College is 1.7% more expensive to attend than Dort for in-state tuition ($35,970.00 vs. $35,360.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 1.7% higher at Northwestern College than Dordt College ($35,970.00 vs. $35,360.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwestern College than Dort ($26,779 vs. $27,925)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern College are 2.5% lower than costs at Dordt College ($11,148 vs. $11,430)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northwestern College than Dordt College (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Dordt College students is 2.7% larger than aid received Northwestern College ($21,944 vs. $21,360)

Dort vs. Northwestern College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Dordt College (1159) is 57 points higher than at Northwestern College (1102)
  • Incoming Dort students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Northwestern College (24)
  • Accepted freshman Dort students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at Northwestern College (3.58)
  • Northwestern College has a higher acceptance rate (91.9%) than Dort (71.2%)

Dort vs. Northwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Dort 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 Dort.

  • The graduation rate at Northwestern College is higher than Dordt College (64% vs. 60%)
  • Graduates from Dordt College earn on average $2,200 more per year than Northwestern College graduates after ten years. ($43,300 vs. $41,100)
  • Northwestern College students graduate with a $930 lower median federal student loan debt than Dort graduates. ($22,070 vs. $23,000)
  • Northwestern College graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans than Dort graduates. ($228 vs. $237)
  • More Dort graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northwestern College students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 78%)

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