IU Northwest vs. St. Mary's College

Comparable Facts

Compare Indiana University Northwest in Gary, IN with Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Indiana University Northwest is larger than St. Mary's College based on total student enrollment (3,041 students vs. 1,601 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Indiana University Northwest is located in Gary, IN (Small City setting); Saint Mary's College is in Notre Dame, IN (Rural Fringe setting).
• Indiana University Northwest is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Mary's College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Indiana University Northwest 15:1; Saint Mary's College 9:1.

IU Northwest vs. St. Mary's College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU Northwest or St. Mary's College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Indiana University Northwest than St. Mary's College ($5,745 vs. $27,865).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Northwest are 23.1% lower than at Saint Mary's College ($10,972 vs. $14,260).
• Saint Mary's College is 531.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than IU Northwest (about $44,806 more per year; $53,230.00 vs. $8,424.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 133.4% higher at St. Mary's College than at Indiana University Northwest (about $30,419 more per year; $53,230.00 vs. $22,811.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College than at Indiana University Northwest (100% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College students is 365.3% larger than aid received by Indiana University Northwest students ($38,748 vs. $8,327).

IU Northwest vs. St. Mary's College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IU Northwest or St. Mary's 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 St. Mary's College and IU Northwest.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Saint Mary's College (1230) is 180 points higher than at IU Northwest (1050).
• Incoming St. Mary's College students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 22 at IU Northwest).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Northwest 910/1180; Saint Mary's College 1130/1325.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Northwest 18/26; Saint Mary's College 26/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IU Northwest - Test optional; St. Mary's College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman St. Mary's College students have a 0.69 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at IU Northwest (3.14).
• St. Mary's College has a higher acceptance rate (76%) than IU Northwest (73.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.5% at IU Northwest vs. 20.1% at St. Mary's College.

IU Northwest vs. St. Mary's College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IU Northwest and St. Mary's 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).

• Saint Mary's College's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Indiana University Northwest's (23%).
• Graduates from Saint Mary's College earn a median of about $11,600 more per year than IU Northwest graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $39,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Indiana University Northwest graduates have a $1,970 lower median loan debt than St. Mary's College graduates ($25,030 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, IU Northwest graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than St. Mary's College graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More St. Mary's College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IU Northwest students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 33%)

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.