IU Northwest vs. Trine University

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

IU Northwest Trine University
Location Gary, IN Angola, IN
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 3,045 4,471
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #850 #758
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website iun.edu trine.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

IU Northwest Trine University
Tuition (In State) $7,492 $35,000
Tuition (Out of State) $21,356 $35,000
Room & Board $10,244 $12,250
Avg Net Price $5,553 $25,580
Avg Grant Aid $8,153 $24,424
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 96%

Admission

IU Northwest Trine University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,820 4,102
Admitted 2,163 3,474
Acceptance Rate 76.7% 84.7%
Enrolled % 21.7% 19.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.14 3.51
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/27 21/28
SAT Range 940/1170 1030/1240
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2026

Academics

IU Northwest Trine University
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (33%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • Engineering (30%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Engineering Technology (7%)

Outcomes

IU Northwest Trine University
Graduation Rate 23% 44%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,500 $46,400
Making Student Loan Payments 33% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,030 $25,150
Median Loan Payment $258 $260

Diversity

IU Northwest Trine University
% Men 2% 2%
% Women 6% 5%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 55% 79%
% Black 18% 3%
% Hispanic 20% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 0% 7%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

IU Northwest Trine University
% In-State 95% 54%
% Out-of-State 5% 45%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Trine University is larger than than IU Northwest based on total student enrollment (4,471 students vs. 3,045 students)

IU Northwest vs. Trine University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU Northwest or Trine University?

  • Trine University is 367.2% more expensive to attend than IU Northwest for in-state tuition ($35,000.00 vs. $7,492.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 63.9% higher at Trine University than Indiana University Northwest ($35,000.00 vs. $21,356.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Indiana University Northwest than Trine University ($5,553 vs. $25,580)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Northwest are 19.6% lower than costs at Trine University ($10,244 vs. $12,250)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Trine University than Indiana University Northwest (96% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Trine University students is 199.6% larger than aid received Indiana University Northwest ($24,424 vs. $8,153)

IU Northwest vs. Trine University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Trine University (1089) is 161 points higher than at IU Northwest (928)
  • Incoming Trine University students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at IU Northwest (20)
  • Accepted freshman Trine University students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.51) than students at IU Northwest (3.14)
  • Trine University has a higher acceptance rate (84.7%) than IU Northwest (76.7%)

IU Northwest vs. Trine University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, IU Northwest or Trine 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 Trine University and IU Northwest.

  • The graduation rate at Trine University is higher than Indiana University Northwest (44% vs. 23%)
  • Graduates from Trine University earn on average $6,900 more per year than IU Northwest graduates after ten years. ($46,400 vs. $39,500)
  • Indiana University Northwest students graduate with a $120 lower median federal student loan debt than Trine University graduates. ($25,030 vs. $25,150)
  • IU Northwest graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Trine University graduates. ($258 vs. $260)
  • More Trine University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IU Northwest students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 33%)

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