Northwestern College vs. Nichols

Comparable Facts

Compare Northwestern College in Orange City, IA with Nichols College in Dudley, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northwestern College is larger than Nichols based on total student enrollment (1,705 students vs. 1,392 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Northwestern College is located in Orange City, IA (Distant Town setting); Nichols College is in Dudley, MA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Northwestern College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Nichols College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Northwestern College 15:1; Nichols College 15:1.

Northwestern College vs. Nichols Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwestern College or Nichols? 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 Nichols ($26,347 vs. $32,337).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern College are 31% lower than at Nichols College ($10,900 vs. $15,800).
• Nichols College is 16.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Northwestern College (about $5,995 more per year; $42,705.00 vs. $36,710.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.3% higher at Nichols than at Northwestern College (about $5,995 more per year; $42,705.00 vs. $36,710.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwestern College than at Nichols College (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Nichols College students is 9.7% larger than aid received by Northwestern College students ($25,809 vs. $23,537).

Northwestern College vs. Nichols Admissions comparison

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

• Nichols College reports an open admissions policy.
• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Nichols College (1130) is 40 points higher than at Northwestern College (1090).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northwestern College 940/1240; Nichols College 1028/1236.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northwestern College 20/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Northwestern College - Test-free; Nichols - Open admission.
• Accepted freshman Northwestern College students have a 0.67 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at Nichols (2.9).
• Nichols has a higher acceptance rate (80.8%) than Northwestern College (80.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.2% at Northwestern College vs. 18.1% at Nichols.

Northwestern College vs. Nichols Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northwestern College and Nichols? 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).

• Northwestern College's six-year graduation rate (66%) is higher than Nichols College's (43%).
• Graduates from Nichols College earn a median of about $13,400 more per year than Northwestern College graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,800 vs. $38,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Northwestern College graduates have a $1,908 lower median loan debt than Nichols graduates ($25,092 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Northwestern College graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Nichols graduates ($259 vs. $279).
• More Northwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Nichols students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 68%)

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.