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Dort WLC Wheaton College Creighton University| Northwestern College | Bethany Lutheran College | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Northwestern College | BLC | ||
| Location | Orange City, IA | Mankato, MN | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 1,651 | 830 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #638 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | Reformed Church in America | Other (none of the above) | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nwciowa.edu | blc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Northwestern College | BLC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $34,000 | $28,330 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $34,000 | $28,330 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,200 | $8,270 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $25,198 | $18,525 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $22,228 | $20,705 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 100% |
Admission |
Northwestern College | BLC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 1,105 | 665 | ||
| Admitted | 965 | 389 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 87.3% | 58.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 29.8% | 45.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.57 | 3.51 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 20/27 | 20/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1240 | 990/1290 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jul 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Northwestern College | BLC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Northwestern College | BLC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 66% | 53% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $38,400 | $37,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 85% | 80% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,092 | $23,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $259 | $240 |
Diversity |
Northwestern College | BLC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 39% | 48% | ||
| % Women | 61% | 52% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 83% | 88% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 1% | ||
| % International | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 1% |
Students |
Northwestern College | BLC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 55% | 59% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 42% | 23% | ||
Campus |
Northwestern College | BLC | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northwestern College is larger than than BLC based on total student enrollment (1,651 students vs. 830 students)
Northwestern College vs. BLC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Northwestern College or BLC?
- Northwestern College is 20% more expensive to attend than BLC for in-state tuition ($34,000.00 vs. $28,330.00)
- Out of state tuition is 20% higher at Northwestern College than Bethany Lutheran College ($34,000.00 vs. $28,330.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bethany Lutheran College than Northwestern College ($18,525 vs. $25,198)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bethany Lutheran College are 23.3% lower than costs at Northwestern College ($8,270 vs. $10,200)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Northwestern College as Bethany Lutheran College (100% vs. 100%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern College students is 7.4% larger than aid received Bethany Lutheran College ($22,228 vs. $20,705)
Northwestern College vs. BLC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Northwestern College or BLC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between BLC or Northwestern College .
- The average SAT score at Northwestern College (1141) is 67 points higher than at BLC (1074)
- Incoming Northwestern College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at BLC (23)
- Accepted freshman Northwestern College students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at BLC (3.51)
- Northwestern College has a higher acceptance rate (87.3%) than BLC (58.5%)
Northwestern College vs. BLC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Northwestern College or BLC? 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 BLC and Northwestern College.
- The graduation rate at Northwestern College is higher than Bethany Lutheran College (66% vs. 53%)
- Graduates from Northwestern College earn on average $1,100 more per year than BLC graduates after ten years. ($38,400 vs. $37,300)
- Bethany Lutheran College students graduate with a $1,842 lower median federal student loan debt than Northwestern College graduates. ($23,250 vs. $25,092)
- BLC graduates are paying $19 less per month on federal student loans than Northwestern College graduates. ($240 vs. $259)
- More Northwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BLC students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 80%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/