Northwestern College vs. NDSU

Should I go to Northwestern College or North Dakota State University Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Northwestern College or NDSU 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.
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Northwestern College vs. North Dakota State University Main Campus comparison
Northwestern College North Dakota State University Main Campus College 3 College 4
Northwestern College North Dakota State University Main Campus
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Overview

 Northwestern College NDSU
Location Orange City, IA Fargo, ND
Setting Distant Town Midsize City
Enrollment 1,651 12,242
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #638 #568
Religious Affiliation Reformed Church in America - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nwciowa.edu ndsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Northwestern College NDSU
Tuition (In State) $34,000 $9,309
Tuition (Out of State) $34,000 $13,963
Room & Board $10,200 $9,300
Avg Net Price $25,198 $15,962
Avg Grant Aid $22,228 $5,732
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 77%

Admission

 Northwestern College NDSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,105 8,535
Admitted 965 8,166
Acceptance Rate 87.3% 95.7%
Enrolled % 29.8% 30.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.57 3.53
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/27 19/25
SAT Range 940/1240 968/1216
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

 Northwestern College NDSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Engineering (14%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Agriculture (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

 Northwestern College NDSU
Graduation Rate 66% 54%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $53,600
Making Student Loan Payments 85% 81%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,092 $23,300
Median Loan Payment $259 $240

Diversity

 Northwestern College NDSU
% Men 39% 49%
% Women 61% 51%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 83% 86%
% Black 2% 3%
% Hispanic 5% 2%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 3% 3%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

 Northwestern College NDSU
% In-State 55% 35%
% Out-of-State 42% 65%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • North Dakota State University Main Campus is larger than than Northwestern College based on total student enrollment (12,242 students vs. 1,651 students)

Northwestern College vs. NDSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwestern College or NDSU?

  • Northwestern College is 265.2% more expensive to attend than NDSU for in-state tuition ($34,000.00 vs. $9,309.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 143.5% higher at Northwestern College than North Dakota State University Main Campus ($34,000.00 vs. $13,963.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Dakota State University Main Campus than Northwestern College ($15,962 vs. $25,198)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Dakota State University Main Campus are 9.7% lower than costs at Northwestern College ($9,300 vs. $10,200)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northwestern College than North Dakota State University Main Campus (100% vs. 77%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern College students is 287.8% larger than aid received North Dakota State University Main Campus ($22,228 vs. $5,732)

Northwestern College vs. NDSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northwestern College (1141) is 50 points higher than at NDSU (1091)
  • Incoming Northwestern College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at NDSU (24)
  • Accepted freshman Northwestern College students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at NDSU (3.53)
  • NDSU has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than Northwestern College (87.3%)

Northwestern College vs. NDSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Northwestern College or NDSU? 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 NDSU and Northwestern College.

  • The graduation rate at Northwestern College is higher than North Dakota State University Main Campus (66% vs. 54%)
  • Graduates from North Dakota State University Main Campus earn on average $15,200 more per year than Northwestern College graduates after ten years. ($53,600 vs. $38,400)
  • North Dakota State University Main Campus students graduate with a $1,792 lower median federal student loan debt than Northwestern College graduates. ($23,300 vs. $25,092)
  • NDSU 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 NDSU students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 81%)

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