MWSU vs. Northwest

Deciding between Missouri Western State University and Northwest Missouri State University? 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.

Northwest Missouri State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • MWSU Saint Joseph, MO
  • Northwest Maryville, MO
  • Setting
  • MWSU Small City
  • Northwest Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • MWSU 3,716
  • Northwest 9,152
  • Type
  • MWSU Public 4 Year
  • Northwest Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MWSU
  • Northwest #896
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MWSU -
  • Northwest -
  • Status
  • MWSU Non-profit
  • Northwest Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MWSU
  • Northwest

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MWSU $10,306
  • Northwest $10,611
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MWSU $20,866
  • Northwest $17,324
  • Room & Board
  • MWSU $12,311
  • Northwest $12,282
  • Average Net Price
  • MWSU $13,126
  • Northwest $16,790
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MWSU $9,245
  • Northwest $9,101
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MWSU 96%
  • Northwest 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MWSU -
  • Northwest 5,185
  • Admitted
  • MWSU -
  • Northwest 4,464
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MWSU Open
  • Northwest 86.1%
  • Enrolled
  • MWSU Open
  • Northwest 22.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MWSU
  • Northwest 1080
  • Typical ACT score
  • MWSU
  • Northwest 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • MWSU 3.25
  • Northwest 3.45
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MWSU B+
  • Northwest B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • MWSU Unavailable
  • Northwest Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • MWSU
  • Northwest
  • ACT Range
  • MWSU
  • Northwest 19/24
  • SAT Range
  • MWSU
  • Northwest 976/1193
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MWSU Open admission
  • Northwest Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MWSU
  • Northwest

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MWSU 15:1
  • Northwest 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MWSU
    • Business (21%)
    • Health Professions (15%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Northwest
    • Business (29%)
    • Education (17%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Agriculture (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MWSU 27%
  • Northwest 49%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MWSU $36,500
  • Northwest $41,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MWSU 53%
  • Northwest 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MWSU $21,818
  • Northwest $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MWSU $225
  • Northwest $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MWSU 38%
  • Northwest 35%
  • % Women
  • MWSU 62%
  • Northwest 65%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MWSU Low
  • Northwest Low
  • HBCU
  • MWSU No
  • Northwest No
  • % White
  • MWSU 79%
  • Northwest 79%
  • % Asian
  • MWSU 1%
  • Northwest 1%
  • % Black
  • MWSU 10%
  • Northwest 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • MWSU 1%
  • Northwest 4%
  • % Native American
  • MWSU 0%
  • Northwest 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MWSU 0%
  • Northwest 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MWSU 3%
  • Northwest 3%
  • % International
  • MWSU 1%
  • Northwest 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MWSU 3%
  • Northwest 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MWSU 81%
  • Northwest 62%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MWSU 18%
  • Northwest 35%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • MWSU Yes
  • Northwest Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • MWSU No
  • Northwest No
  • Meal Plan
  • MWSU Yes
  • Northwest Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • MWSU Yes
  • Northwest No
  • Daycare Facility
  • MWSU Yes
  • Northwest No

Comparable Facts

Compare Missouri Western State University in Saint Joseph, MO with Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, MO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northwest Missouri State University is larger than MWSU based on total student enrollment (9,152 students vs. 3,716 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Missouri Western State University is located in Saint Joseph, MO (Small City setting); Northwest Missouri State University is in Maryville, MO (Remote Town setting).
  • Missouri Western State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Northwest Missouri State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Missouri Western State University 15:1; Northwest Missouri State University 16:1.

MWSU vs. Northwest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MWSU or Northwest? 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 Missouri Western State University than Northwest ($13,126 vs. $16,790).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwest Missouri State University are 0.2% lower than at Missouri Western State University ($12,282 vs. $12,311).
  • Northwest Missouri State University is 3% more expensive for in-state tuition than MWSU (about $305 more per year; $10,611.00 vs. $10,306.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20.4% higher at MWSU than at Northwest Missouri State University (about $3,542 more per year; $20,866.00 vs. $17,324.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Missouri Western State University than at Northwest Missouri State University (96% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Missouri Western State University students is 1.6% larger than aid received by Northwest Missouri State University students ($9,245 vs. $9,101).

MWSU vs. Northwest Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MWSU or Northwest? 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 Northwest and MWSU.

  • Missouri Western State University reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsNorthwest Missouri State University 976/1193.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsNorthwest Missouri State University 19/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MWSU - Open admission; Northwest - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Northwest students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at MWSU (3.25).

MWSU vs. Northwest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MWSU and Northwest? 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).

  • Northwest Missouri State University's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than Missouri Western State University's (27%).
  • Graduates from Northwest Missouri State University earn a median of about $4,700 more per year than MWSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,200 vs. $36,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Missouri Western State University graduates have a $3,182 lower median loan debt than Northwest graduates ($21,818 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, MWSU graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northwest graduates ($225 vs. $258).
  • More Northwest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MWSU students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 53%)

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.