Drake vs. Northwestern College

Should I go to Drake University or Northwestern College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Drake 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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Drake University vs. Northwestern College comparison
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Drake University
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Overview

Drake Northwestern College
Location Des Moines, IA Saint Paul, MN
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 4,685 3,253
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #149 #554
Religious Affiliation - Other Protestant - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website drake.edu nwc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Drake Northwestern College
Tuition (In State) $47,564 $34,490
Tuition (Out of State) $47,564 $34,490
Room & Board $11,570 $10,644
Avg Net Price $30,333 $25,704
Avg Grant Aid $31,274 $20,487
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Drake Northwestern College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,621 1,349
Admitted 5,796 1,248
Acceptance Rate 67.2% 92.5%
Enrolled % 12.6% 31.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.58
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 25/30 21/28
SAT Range 1110/1340 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

Drake Northwestern College
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (39%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (22%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (10%)

Outcomes

Drake Northwestern College
Graduation Rate 75% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $68,500 $41,100
Making Student Loan Payments 84% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $22,070
Median Loan Payment $268 $228

Diversity

Drake Northwestern College
% Men 37% 39%
% Women 63% 61%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 79% 84%
% Black 4% 3%
% Hispanic 4% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 7% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Drake Northwestern College
% In-State 35% 77%
% Out-of-State 63% 22%

Campus

Drake 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

  • Drake University is larger than than Northwestern College based on total student enrollment (4,685 students vs. 3,253 students)

Drake vs. Northwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Drake or Northwestern College?

  • Drake University is 37.9% more expensive to attend than Northwestern College for in-state tuition ($47,564.00 vs. $34,490.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 37.9% higher at Drake than Northwestern College ($47,564.00 vs. $34,490.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwestern College than Drake ($25,704 vs. $30,333)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern College are 8.7% lower than costs at Drake University ($10,644 vs. $11,570)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Drake University as Northwestern College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Drake University students is 52.7% larger than aid received Northwestern College ($31,274 vs. $20,487)

Drake vs. Northwestern College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Drake University (1224) is 122 points higher than at Northwestern College (1102)
  • Incoming Drake students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Northwestern College (24)
  • Accepted freshman Drake students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Northwestern College (3.58)
  • Northwestern College has a higher acceptance rate (92.5%) than Drake (67.2%)

Drake vs. Northwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Drake 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 Drake.

  • The graduation rate at Drake is higher than Northwestern College (75% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from Drake University earn on average $27,400 more per year than Northwestern College graduates after ten years. ($68,500 vs. $41,100)
  • Northwestern College students graduate with a $3,930 lower median federal student loan debt than Drake graduates. ($22,070 vs. $26,000)
  • Northwestern College graduates are paying $40 less per month on federal student loans than Drake graduates. ($228 vs. $268)
  • More Drake graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northwestern College students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 78%)

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