NNU vs. Washington State

Should I go to Northwest Nazarene University or Washington State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if NNU or Washington State 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

Idaho Central Washington University Boise State UW-Seattle Western Washington University Portland State University UWB Gonzaga OSU Seattle U UO EWU
Northwest Nazarene University vs. Washington State University comparison
Northwest Nazarene University Washington State University College 3 College 4
Northwest Nazarene University Washington State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

NNU Washington State
Location Nampa, ID Pullman, WA
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 1,778 27,539
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #761 #386
Religious Affiliation Church of the Nazarene - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nnu.edu wsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NNU Washington State
Tuition (In State) $35,548 $10,708
Tuition (Out of State) $35,548 $26,392
Room & Board $10,500 $12,396
Avg Net Price $25,674 $17,911
Avg Grant Aid $21,411 $10,689
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 83%

Admission

NNU Washington State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,394 19,401
Admitted 2,993 16,123
Acceptance Rate 88.2%Open 83.1%
Enrolled % 8%Open 24.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.59 3.5
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/27 20/26
SAT Range 1000/1240 1020/1210
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025 Jan 31, 2025

Academics

NNU Washington State
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (30%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

NNU Washington State
Graduation Rate 52% 67%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,000 $54,400
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $20,429
Median Loan Payment $268 $211

Diversity

NNU Washington State
% Men 37% 46%
% Women 63% 54%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 75% 63%
% Black 2% 3%
% Hispanic 10% 13%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 8%
% International 3% 5%
% Unknown Race 6% 2%

Students

NNU Washington State
% In-State 55% 83%
% Out-of-State 42% 15%

Campus

NNU Washington State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Washington State University is larger than than NNU based on total student enrollment (27,539 students vs. 1,778 students)

NNU vs. Washington State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NNU or Washington State?

  • Northwest Nazarene University is 232% more expensive to attend than Washington State for in-state tuition ($35,548.00 vs. $10,708.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 34.7% higher at NNU than Washington State University ($35,548.00 vs. $26,392.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Washington State University than NNU ($17,911 vs. $25,674)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwest Nazarene University are 18.1% lower than costs at Washington State University ($10,500 vs. $12,396)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northwest Nazarene University than Washington State University (99% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwest Nazarene University students is 100.3% larger than aid received Washington State University ($21,411 vs. $10,689)

NNU vs. Washington State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NNU or Washington State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Washington State or NNU .

  • The average SAT score at Northwest Nazarene University (1056) is 17 points higher than at Washington State (1039)
  • Incoming NNU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Washington State (23)
  • Accepted freshman NNU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at Washington State (3.5)
  • NNU has a higher acceptance rate (88.2%) than Washington State (83.1%)

NNU vs. Washington State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NNU or Washington State? 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 Washington State and NNU.

  • The graduation rate at Washington State is higher than Northwest Nazarene University (67% vs. 52%)
  • Graduates from Washington State University earn on average $11,400 more per year than NNU graduates after ten years. ($54,400 vs. $43,000)
  • Washington State University students graduate with a $5,571 lower median federal student loan debt than NNU graduates. ($20,429 vs. $26,000)
  • Washington State graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than NNU graduates. ($211 vs. $268)
  • More Washington State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NNU students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 66%)

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