Northwestern College vs. Creighton University

Deciding between Northwestern College and Creighton 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.

Northwestern College
Creighton University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Northwestern College Orange City, IA
  • Creighton University Omaha, NE
  • Setting
  • Northwestern College Distant Town
  • Creighton University Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Northwestern College 1,705
  • Creighton University 8,581
  • Type
  • Northwestern College Private 4 Year
  • Creighton University Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Northwestern College #633
  • Creighton University #134
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Northwestern College Reformed Church in America
  • Creighton University Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Northwestern College Non-profit
  • Creighton University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Northwestern College
  • Creighton University
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Northwestern College $36,710
  • Creighton University $48,856
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Northwestern College $36,710
  • Creighton University $48,856
  • Room & Board
  • Northwestern College $10,900
  • Creighton University $13,652
  • Average Net Price
  • Northwestern College $26,347
  • Creighton University $32,636
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Northwestern College $23,537
  • Creighton University $30,913
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Northwestern College 100%
  • Creighton University 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Northwestern College 1,497
  • Creighton University 7,907
  • Admitted
  • Northwestern College 1,203
  • Creighton University 6,306
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Northwestern College 80.4%
  • Creighton University 79.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Northwestern College 27.2%
  • Creighton University 17.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Northwestern College 1090
  • Creighton University 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Northwestern College 23
  • Creighton University 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Northwestern College 3.57
  • Creighton University 3.84
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Northwestern College A-
  • Creighton University A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Northwestern College Average
  • Creighton University Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Northwestern College
  • Creighton University
  • ACT Range
  • Northwestern College 20/27
  • Creighton University 26/31
  • SAT Range
  • Northwestern College 940/1240
  • Creighton University 1243/1428
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Northwestern College Test-free
  • Creighton University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Northwestern College
  • Creighton University
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Northwestern College 15:1
  • Creighton University 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Northwestern College
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (15%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Creighton University
    • Health Professions (25%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Northwestern College 66%
  • Creighton University 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Northwestern College $38,400
  • Creighton University $66,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Northwestern College 85%
  • Creighton University 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Northwestern College $25,092
  • Creighton University $25,332
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Northwestern College $259
  • Creighton University $261
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Northwestern College 40%
  • Creighton University 41%
  • % Women
  • Northwestern College 60%
  • Creighton University 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Northwestern College Very Low
  • Creighton University Medium
  • HBCU
  • Northwestern College No
  • Creighton University No
  • % White
  • Northwestern College 83%
  • Creighton University 71%
  • % Asian
  • Northwestern College 1%
  • Creighton University 10%
  • % Black
  • Northwestern College 2%
  • Creighton University 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Northwestern College 5%
  • Creighton University 8%
  • % Native American
  • Northwestern College 0%
  • Creighton University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Northwestern College 0%
  • Creighton University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Northwestern College 2%
  • Creighton University 4%
  • % International
  • Northwestern College 3%
  • Creighton University 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Northwestern College 4%
  • Creighton University 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Northwestern College 54%
  • Creighton University 24%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Northwestern College 44%
  • Creighton University 74%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Northwestern College in Orange City, IA with Creighton University in Omaha, NE on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Creighton University is larger than Northwestern College based on total student enrollment (8,581 students vs. 1,705 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northwestern College is located in Orange City, IA (Distant Town setting); Creighton University is in Omaha, NE (Large City setting).
  • Northwestern College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Creighton University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northwestern College 15:1; Creighton University 11:1.

Northwestern College vs. Creighton University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwestern College or Creighton University? 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 Northwestern College than Creighton University ($26,347 vs. $32,636).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern College are 20.2% lower than at Creighton University ($10,900 vs. $13,652).
  • Creighton University is 33.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Northwestern College (about $12,146 more per year; $48,856.00 vs. $36,710.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 33.1% higher at Creighton University than at Northwestern College (about $12,146 more per year; $48,856.00 vs. $36,710.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Northwestern College as at Creighton University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Creighton University students is 31.3% larger than aid received by Northwestern College students ($30,913 vs. $23,537).

Northwestern College vs. Creighton University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northwestern College or Creighton University? 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 Creighton University and Northwestern College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Creighton University (1340) is 250 points higher than at Northwestern College (1090).
  • Incoming Creighton University students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 23 at Northwestern College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northwestern College 940/1240; Creighton University 1243/1428.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northwestern College 20/27; Creighton University 26/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Northwestern College - Test-free; Creighton University - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Creighton University students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Northwestern College (3.57).
  • Northwestern College has a higher acceptance rate (80.4%) than Creighton University (79.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.2% at Northwestern College vs. 17.9% at Creighton University.

Northwestern College vs. Creighton University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northwestern College and Creighton University? 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).

  • Creighton University's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Northwestern College's (66%).
  • Graduates from Creighton University earn a median of about $28,200 more per year than Northwestern College graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,600 vs. $38,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Northwestern College graduates have a $240 lower median loan debt than Creighton University graduates ($25,092 vs. $25,332).
  • Among borrowers, Northwestern College graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Creighton University graduates ($259 vs. $261).
  • More Northwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Creighton University 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.