NNU vs. Gonzaga

Deciding between Northwest Nazarene University and Gonzaga 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 Nazarene University
Gonzaga University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • NNU Nampa, ID
  • Gonzaga Spokane, WA
  • Setting
  • NNU Small City
  • Gonzaga Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • NNU 1,635
  • Gonzaga 7,470
  • Type
  • NNU Private 4 Year
  • Gonzaga Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NNU #697
  • Gonzaga #180
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NNU Church of the Nazarene
  • Gonzaga Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • NNU Non-profit
  • Gonzaga Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NNU
  • Gonzaga

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NNU $40,794
  • Gonzaga $55,480
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NNU $40,794
  • Gonzaga $55,480
  • Room & Board
  • NNU $12,070
  • Gonzaga $15,730
  • Average Net Price
  • NNU $30,178
  • Gonzaga $40,117
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NNU $25,146
  • Gonzaga $33,390
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NNU 99%
  • Gonzaga 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NNU 3,247
  • Gonzaga 8,759
  • Admitted
  • NNU 2,102
  • Gonzaga 7,155
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NNU 64.7% Open
  • Gonzaga 81.7%
  • Enrolled
  • NNU 9.9% Open
  • Gonzaga 17.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NNU 1120
  • Gonzaga 1290
  • Typical ACT score
  • NNU 24
  • Gonzaga 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • NNU 3.59
  • Gonzaga 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NNU A-
  • Gonzaga A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • NNU Average
  • Gonzaga Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • NNU Low
  • Gonzaga
  • ACT Range
  • NNU 22/27
  • Gonzaga 27/31
  • SAT Range
  • NNU 1005/1240
  • Gonzaga 1190/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NNU Open admission
  • Gonzaga Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • NNU Aug 15, 2027
  • Gonzaga Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NNU 14:1
  • Gonzaga 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NNU
    • Business (30%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Gonzaga
    • Business (29%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NNU 52%
  • Gonzaga 83%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NNU $43,000
  • Gonzaga $61,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NNU 66%
  • Gonzaga 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NNU $26,000
  • Gonzaga $26,394
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NNU $268
  • Gonzaga $272

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NNU 40%
  • Gonzaga 44%
  • % Women
  • NNU 60%
  • Gonzaga 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NNU Low
  • Gonzaga Low
  • HBCU
  • NNU No
  • Gonzaga No
  • % White
  • NNU 75%
  • Gonzaga 72%
  • % Asian
  • NNU 2%
  • Gonzaga 5%
  • % Black
  • NNU 2%
  • Gonzaga 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • NNU 10%
  • Gonzaga 10%
  • % Native American
  • NNU 1%
  • Gonzaga 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NNU 0%
  • Gonzaga 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NNU 2%
  • Gonzaga 6%
  • % International
  • NNU 3%
  • Gonzaga 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NNU 6%
  • Gonzaga 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NNU 59%
  • Gonzaga 51%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NNU 39%
  • Gonzaga 48%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, ID with Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Gonzaga University is larger than NNU based on total student enrollment (7,470 students vs. 1,635 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northwest Nazarene University is located in Nampa, ID (Small City setting); Gonzaga University is in Spokane, WA (Midsize City setting).
  • Northwest Nazarene University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Gonzaga University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northwest Nazarene University 14:1; Gonzaga University 12:1.

NNU vs. Gonzaga Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NNU or Gonzaga? 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 Northwest Nazarene University than Gonzaga ($30,178 vs. $40,117).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwest Nazarene University are 23.3% lower than at Gonzaga University ($12,070 vs. $15,730).
  • Gonzaga University is 36% more expensive for in-state tuition than NNU (about $14,686 more per year; $55,480.00 vs. $40,794.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 36% higher at Gonzaga than at Northwest Nazarene University (about $14,686 more per year; $55,480.00 vs. $40,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gonzaga University than at Northwest Nazarene University (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Gonzaga University students is 32.8% larger than aid received by Northwest Nazarene University students ($33,390 vs. $25,146).

NNU vs. Gonzaga Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NNU or Gonzaga? 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 Gonzaga and NNU.

  • Northwest Nazarene University reports an open admissions policy.
  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Gonzaga University (1290) is 170 points higher than at NNU (1120).
  • Incoming Gonzaga students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 24 at NNU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northwest Nazarene University 1005/1240; Gonzaga University 1190/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northwest Nazarene University 22/27; Gonzaga University 27/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NNU - Open admission; Gonzaga - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: NNU Aug 15, 2027; Gonzaga Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Gonzaga students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at NNU (3.59).
  • Gonzaga has a higher acceptance rate (81.7%) than NNU (64.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.9% at NNU vs. 17.5% at Gonzaga.

NNU vs. Gonzaga Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NNU and Gonzaga? 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).

  • Gonzaga University's six-year graduation rate (83%) is higher than Northwest Nazarene University's (52%).
  • Graduates from Gonzaga University earn a median of about $18,600 more per year than NNU graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,600 vs. $43,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Northwest Nazarene University graduates have a $394 lower median loan debt than Gonzaga graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,394).
  • Among borrowers, NNU graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Gonzaga graduates ($268 vs. $272).
  • More Gonzaga graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NNU students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 66%)

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.