Elmhurst College vs. Northwestern College

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

Elmhurst College Northwestern College
Location Elmhurst, IL Saint Paul, MN
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 3,731 3,253
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #380 #554
Religious Affiliation United Church of Christ Other Protestant - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website elmhurst.edu nwc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Elmhurst College Northwestern College
Tuition (In State) $39,862 $34,490
Tuition (Out of State) $39,862 $34,490
Room & Board $11,250 $10,644
Avg Net Price $24,108 $25,704
Avg Grant Aid $27,835 $20,487
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Elmhurst College Northwestern College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,731 1,349
Admitted 4,356 1,248
Acceptance Rate 76% 92.5%
Enrolled % 14.2% 31.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.59 3.58
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/27 21/28
SAT Range 980/1240 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

Elmhurst College Northwestern College
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (22%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (10%)

Outcomes

Elmhurst College Northwestern College
Graduation Rate 70% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,200 $41,100
Making Student Loan Payments 72% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $22,070
Median Loan Payment $222 $228

Diversity

Elmhurst College Northwestern College
% Men 38% 39%
% Women 62% 61%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 84%
% Black 5% 3%
% Hispanic 17% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Elmhurst College Northwestern College
% In-State 78% 77%
% Out-of-State 13% 22%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Elmhurst College is larger than than Northwestern College based on total student enrollment (3,731 students vs. 3,253 students)

Elmhurst College vs. Northwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elmhurst College or Northwestern College?

  • Elmhurst College is 15.6% more expensive to attend than Northwestern College for in-state tuition ($39,862.00 vs. $34,490.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 15.6% higher at Elmhurst College than Northwestern College ($39,862.00 vs. $34,490.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Elmhurst College than Northwestern College ($24,108 vs. $25,704)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern College are 5.7% lower than costs at Elmhurst College ($10,644 vs. $11,250)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northwestern College than Elmhurst College (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Elmhurst College students is 35.9% larger than aid received Northwestern College ($27,835 vs. $20,487)

Elmhurst College vs. Northwestern College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northwestern College (1102) is 12 points higher than at Elmhurst College (1090)
  • Incoming Elmhurst College students have at the same average ACT score (24) as students at Northwestern College (24)
  • Accepted freshman Elmhurst College students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at Northwestern College (3.58)
  • Northwestern College has a higher acceptance rate (92.5%) than Elmhurst College (76%)

Elmhurst College vs. Northwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Elmhurst College 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 Elmhurst College.

  • The graduation rate at Elmhurst College is higher than Northwestern College (70% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from Elmhurst College earn on average $9,100 more per year than Northwestern College graduates after ten years. ($50,200 vs. $41,100)
  • Elmhurst College students graduate with a $570 lower median federal student loan debt than Northwestern College graduates. ($21,500 vs. $22,070)
  • Elmhurst College graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans than Northwestern College graduates. ($222 vs. $228)
  • More Northwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Elmhurst College students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 72%)

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