Holy Cross College vs. Northwest University

Should I go to Holy Cross College or Northwest University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Holy Cross College or Northwest University 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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Holy Cross College vs. Northwest University comparison
Holy Cross College Northwest University College 3 College 4
Northwest University
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Overview

Holy Cross College Northwest University
Location Notre Dame, IN Kirkland, WA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 547 999
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic Assemblies of God Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hcc-nd.edu northwestu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Holy Cross College Northwest University
Tuition (In State) $34,100 $35,535
Tuition (Out of State) $34,100 $35,535
Room & Board $12,300 $10,648
Avg Net Price $24,214 $25,917
Avg Grant Aid $24,582 $21,864
% Receiving Grant Aid 69% 99%

Admission

Holy Cross College Northwest University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,670 586
Admitted 1,231 516
Acceptance Rate 73.7% 88.1%
Enrolled % 20.3% 29.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.2 3.41
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/31 24/29
SAT Range 980/1300 1040/1325
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 Jul 28, 2026 Aug 1, 2026

Academics

Holy Cross College Northwest University
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (39%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • History (13%)
  • Communication (13%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (23%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Communication (10%)

Outcomes

Holy Cross College Northwest University
Graduation Rate 13% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,800 $41,400
Making Student Loan Payments 64% 62%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,125 $21,532
Median Loan Payment $239 $222

Diversity

Holy Cross College Northwest University
% Men 0% 12%
% Women 2% 21%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 65% 69%
% Black 11% 5%
% Hispanic 10% 8%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 4% 4%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

Holy Cross College Northwest University
% In-State 35% 79%
% Out-of-State 61% 18%

Campus

Holy Cross College Northwest University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Northwest University is larger than than Holy Cross College based on total student enrollment (999 students vs. 547 students)

Holy Cross College vs. Northwest University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Holy Cross College or Northwest University?

  • Northwest University is 4.2% more expensive to attend than Holy Cross College for in-state tuition ($35,535.00 vs. $34,100.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.2% higher at Northwest University than Holy Cross College ($35,535.00 vs. $34,100.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Holy Cross College than Northwest University ($24,214 vs. $25,917)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwest University are 15.5% lower than costs at Holy Cross College ($10,648 vs. $12,300)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northwest University than Holy Cross College (99% vs. 69%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Holy Cross College students is 12.4% larger than aid received Northwest University ($24,582 vs. $21,864)

Holy Cross College vs. Northwest University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northwest University (996) is 12 points higher than at Holy Cross College (984)
  • Incoming Holy Cross College students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at Northwest University (22)
  • Accepted freshman Northwest University students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Holy Cross College (3.2)
  • Northwest University has a higher acceptance rate (88.1%) than Holy Cross College (73.7%)

Holy Cross College vs. Northwest University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Holy Cross College or Northwest University? 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 Northwest University and Holy Cross College.

  • The graduation rate at Northwest University is higher than Holy Cross College (50% vs. 13%)
  • Graduates from Holy Cross College earn on average $2,400 more per year than Northwest University graduates after ten years. ($43,800 vs. $41,400)
  • Northwest University students graduate with a $1,593 lower median federal student loan debt than Holy Cross College graduates. ($21,532 vs. $23,125)
  • Northwest University graduates are paying $17 less per month on federal student loans than Holy Cross College graduates. ($222 vs. $239)
  • More Holy Cross College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northwest University students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 62%)

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