MCC vs. Northwestern College

Deciding between McHenry County College and Northwestern College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MCC Crystal Lake, IL
  • Northwestern College Oak Lawn, IL
  • Setting
  • MCC Rural Fringe
  • Northwestern College Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • MCC 9,399
  • Northwestern College 464
  • Type
  • MCC Public 2 Year
  • Northwestern College Private 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MCC
  • Northwestern College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MCC -
  • Northwestern College -
  • Status
  • MCC Non-profit
  • Northwestern College For-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MCC
  • Northwestern College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MCC $4,162
  • Northwestern College $18,280
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MCC $14,399
  • Northwestern College $18,280
  • Room & Board
  • MCC $12,090
  • Northwestern College $8,100
  • Average Net Price
  • MCC $6,334
  • Northwestern College -
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MCC $6,422
  • Northwestern College $0
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MCC 33%
  • Northwestern College 0%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MCC -
  • Northwestern College -
  • Admitted
  • MCC -
  • Northwestern College -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MCC Open
  • Northwestern College
  • Enrolled
  • MCC Open
  • Northwestern College
  • Typical SAT score
  • MCC
  • Northwestern College
  • Typical ACT score
  • MCC
  • Northwestern College
  • Average High School GPA
  • MCC 2.25
  • Northwestern College -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MCC C+
  • Northwestern College -
  • Admissions Standards
  • MCC Unavailable
  • Northwestern College Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • MCC
  • Northwestern College
  • ACT Range
  • MCC
  • Northwestern College
  • SAT Range
  • MCC
  • Northwestern College
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MCC Open admission
  • Northwestern College Not reported
  • Application Deadline
  • MCC
  • Northwestern College

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MCC 25:1
  • Northwestern College 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MCC
    • Health Professions (37%)
    • General Studies (28%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (6%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Northwestern College
    • Health Professions (52%)
    • Business (20%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
    • Legal Professions (14%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MCC -
  • Northwestern College -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MCC $32,800
  • Northwestern College $32,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MCC 49%
  • Northwestern College 22%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MCC $4,500
  • Northwestern College $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MCC $46
  • Northwestern College $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MCC 44%
  • Northwestern College 4%
  • % Women
  • MCC 56%
  • Northwestern College 96%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MCC Low
  • Northwestern College Very High
  • HBCU
  • MCC No
  • Northwestern College No
  • % White
  • MCC 70%
  • Northwestern College 21%
  • % Asian
  • MCC 2%
  • Northwestern College 1%
  • % Black
  • MCC 1%
  • Northwestern College 46%
  • % Hispanic
  • MCC 16%
  • Northwestern College 15%
  • % Native American
  • MCC 0%
  • Northwestern College 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MCC 0%
  • Northwestern College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MCC 2%
  • Northwestern College 13%
  • % International
  • MCC 0%
  • Northwestern College 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MCC 9%
  • Northwestern College 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MCC 99%
  • Northwestern College 74%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MCC 1%
  • Northwestern College 26%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • MCC No
  • Northwestern College No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • MCC No
  • Northwestern College No
  • Meal Plan
  • MCC No
  • Northwestern College No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • MCC Yes
  • Northwestern College Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • MCC Yes
  • Northwestern College No

Comparable Facts

Compare McHenry County College in Crystal Lake, IL with Northwestern College in Oak Lawn, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

McHenry County College is larger than Northwestern College based on total student enrollment (9,399 students vs. 464 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • McHenry County College is located in Crystal Lake, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Northwestern College is in Oak Lawn, IL (Large Suburban setting).
  • McHenry County College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Northwestern College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: McHenry County College 25:1; Northwestern College 12:1.

MCC vs. Northwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCC or Northwestern College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern College are 33% lower than at McHenry County College ($8,100 vs. $12,090).
  • Northwestern College is 75.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than MCC (about $7,888 more per year; $18,280.00 vs. $10,392.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 27% higher at Northwestern College than at McHenry County College (about $3,881 more per year; $18,280.00 vs. $14,399.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at McHenry County College than at Northwestern College (33% vs. 0%).

MCC vs. Northwestern College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MCC or Northwestern 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 Northwestern College and MCC.

  • McHenry County College reports an open admissions policy.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MCC - Open admission; Northwestern College - Not reported.

MCC vs. Northwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MCC and Northwestern 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).

  • Graduates from McHenry County College earn a median of about $800 more per year than Northwestern College graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,800 vs. $32,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, McHenry County College graduates have a $22,500 lower median loan debt than Northwestern College graduates ($4,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, MCC graduates have an estimated $233 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northwestern College graduates ($46 vs. $279).
  • More MCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northwestern College students, three years after graduation. (49% vs. 22%)

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.