MSU Moorhead vs. Northwestern College

Should I go to Minnesota State University Moorhead or Northwestern College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if MSU Moorhead 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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Minnesota State University Moorhead vs. Northwestern College comparison
Minnesota State University Moorhead Northwestern College College 3 College 4
Minnesota State University Moorhead
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Overview

 MSU Moorhead Northwestern College
Location Moorhead, MN Saint Paul, MN
Setting Midsize Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 4,682 3,253
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #608 #554
Religious Affiliation - Other Protestant - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mnstate.edu nwc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 MSU Moorhead Northwestern College
Tuition (In State) $8,838 $34,490
Tuition (Out of State) $17,674 $34,490
Room & Board $10,104 $10,644
Avg Net Price $17,939 $25,704
Avg Grant Aid $6,905 $20,487
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 100%

Admission

 MSU Moorhead Northwestern College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,898 1,349
Admitted 2,207 1,248
Acceptance Rate 56.6% 92.5%
Enrolled % 28.6% 31.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.52 3.58
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/24 21/28
SAT Range 1080/1290 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

 MSU Moorhead Northwestern College
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (22%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (10%)

Outcomes

 MSU Moorhead Northwestern College
Graduation Rate 45% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,400 $41,100
Making Student Loan Payments 65% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,276 $22,070
Median Loan Payment $230 $228

Diversity

 MSU Moorhead Northwestern College
% Men 35% 39%
% Women 65% 61%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 78% 84%
% Black 3% 3%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 7% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

 MSU Moorhead Northwestern College
% In-State 68% 77%
% Out-of-State 28% 22%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Minnesota State University Moorhead is larger than than Northwestern College based on total student enrollment (4,682 students vs. 3,253 students)

MSU Moorhead vs. Northwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MSU Moorhead or Northwestern College?

  • Northwestern College is 290.2% more expensive to attend than MSU Moorhead for in-state tuition ($34,490.00 vs. $8,838.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 95.1% higher at Northwestern College than Minnesota State University Moorhead ($34,490.00 vs. $17,674.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Minnesota State University Moorhead than Northwestern College ($17,939 vs. $25,704)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Minnesota State University Moorhead are 5.3% lower than costs at Northwestern College ($10,104 vs. $10,644)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northwestern College than Minnesota State University Moorhead (100% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern College students is 196.7% larger than aid received Minnesota State University Moorhead ($20,487 vs. $6,905)

MSU Moorhead vs. Northwestern College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northwestern College (1102) is 53 points higher than at MSU Moorhead (1049)
  • Incoming Northwestern College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at MSU Moorhead (23)
  • Accepted freshman Northwestern College students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at MSU Moorhead (3.52)
  • Northwestern College has a higher acceptance rate (92.5%) than MSU Moorhead (56.6%)

MSU Moorhead vs. Northwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MSU Moorhead 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 MSU Moorhead.

  • The graduation rate at Northwestern College is higher than Minnesota State University Moorhead (64% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from Minnesota State University Moorhead earn on average $1,300 more per year than Northwestern College graduates after ten years. ($42,400 vs. $41,100)
  • Northwestern College students graduate with a $206 lower median federal student loan debt than MSU Moorhead graduates. ($22,070 vs. $22,276)
  • Northwestern College graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than MSU Moorhead graduates. ($228 vs. $230)
  • More Northwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MSU Moorhead students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 65%)

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