North Central College vs. Northwestern College

Should I go to North Central College or Northwestern College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if North Central College 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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North Central College vs. Northwestern College comparison
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North Central College Northwestern College
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Overview

North Central College Northwestern College
Location Naperville, IL Orange City, IA
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 2,695 1,651
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #340 #638
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Reformed Church in America - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website northcentralcollege.edu nwciowa.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

North Central College Northwestern College
Tuition (In State) $42,866 $34,000
Tuition (Out of State) $42,866 $34,000
Room & Board $11,998 $10,200
Avg Net Price $25,285 $25,198
Avg Grant Aid $30,776 $22,228
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

North Central College Northwestern College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,099 1,105
Admitted 3,104 965
Acceptance Rate 60.9% 87.3%
Enrolled % 15.6% 29.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.57
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/28 20/27
SAT Range 1020/1240 940/1240
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Apr 15, 2025

Academics

North Central College Northwestern College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (28%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

Outcomes

North Central College Northwestern College
Graduation Rate 64% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,900 $38,400
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 85%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $25,092
Median Loan Payment $258 $259

Diversity

North Central College Northwestern College
% Men 47% 39%
% Women 53% 61%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 71% 83%
% Black 4% 2%
% Hispanic 11% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 2% 3%
% Unknown Race 7% 4%

Students

North Central College Northwestern College
% In-State 85% 55%
% Out-of-State 11% 42%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • North Central College is larger than than Northwestern College based on total student enrollment (2,695 students vs. 1,651 students)

North Central College vs. Northwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, North Central College or Northwestern College?

  • North Central College is 26.1% more expensive to attend than Northwestern College for in-state tuition ($42,866.00 vs. $34,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 26.1% higher at North Central College than Northwestern College ($42,866.00 vs. $34,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwestern College than North Central College ($25,198 vs. $25,285)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern College are 17.6% lower than costs at North Central College ($10,200 vs. $11,998)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at North Central College as Northwestern College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by North Central College students is 38.5% larger than aid received Northwestern College ($30,776 vs. $22,228)

North Central College vs. Northwestern College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northwestern College (1141) is 16 points higher than at North Central College (1125)
  • Incoming North Central College students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at Northwestern College (25)
  • Accepted freshman North Central College students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Northwestern College (3.57)
  • Northwestern College has a higher acceptance rate (87.3%) than North Central College (60.9%)

North Central College vs. Northwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, North Central College 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 North Central College.

  • The graduation rate at Northwestern College is higher than North Central College (66% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from North Central College earn on average $10,500 more per year than Northwestern College graduates after ten years. ($48,900 vs. $38,400)
  • North Central College students graduate with a $92 lower median federal student loan debt than Northwestern College graduates. ($25,000 vs. $25,092)
  • North Central College graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than Northwestern College graduates. ($258 vs. $259)
  • More Northwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former North Central College students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 74%)

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