Northwestern College vs. TLU

Deciding between Northwestern College and Texas Lutheran 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
Texas Lutheran University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Northwestern College Orange City, IA
  • TLU Seguin, TX
  • Setting
  • Northwestern College Distant Town
  • TLU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Northwestern College 1,705
  • TLU 1,423
  • Type
  • Northwestern College Private 4 Year
  • TLU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Northwestern College #633
  • TLU #629
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Northwestern College Reformed Church in America
  • TLU American Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • Status
  • Northwestern College Non-profit
  • TLU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Northwestern College
  • TLU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Northwestern College $36,710
  • TLU $36,230
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Northwestern College $36,710
  • TLU $36,230
  • Room & Board
  • Northwestern College $10,900
  • TLU $12,350
  • Average Net Price
  • Northwestern College $26,347
  • TLU $25,119
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Northwestern College $23,537
  • TLU $24,861
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Northwestern College 100%
  • TLU 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Northwestern College 1,497
  • TLU 2,306
  • Admitted
  • Northwestern College 1,203
  • TLU 2,207
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Northwestern College 80.4%
  • TLU 95.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Northwestern College 27.2%
  • TLU 16.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Northwestern College 1090
  • TLU 1130
  • Typical ACT score
  • Northwestern College 23
  • TLU 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • Northwestern College 3.57
  • TLU 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Northwestern College A-
  • TLU A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Northwestern College Average
  • TLU Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • Northwestern College
  • TLU
  • ACT Range
  • Northwestern College 20/27
  • TLU 22/28
  • SAT Range
  • Northwestern College 940/1240
  • TLU 1030/1230
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Northwestern College Test-free
  • TLU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Northwestern College
  • TLU
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Northwestern College 15:1
  • TLU 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Northwestern College
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (15%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • TLU
    • Business (25%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Northwestern College 66%
  • TLU 49%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Northwestern College $38,400
  • TLU $49,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Northwestern College 85%
  • TLU 67%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Northwestern College $25,092
  • TLU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Northwestern College $259
  • TLU $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Northwestern College 40%
  • TLU 46%
  • % Women
  • Northwestern College 60%
  • TLU 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Northwestern College Very Low
  • TLU High
  • HBCU
  • Northwestern College No
  • TLU No
  • % White
  • Northwestern College 83%
  • TLU 55%
  • % Asian
  • Northwestern College 1%
  • TLU 1%
  • % Black
  • Northwestern College 2%
  • TLU 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • Northwestern College 5%
  • TLU 32%
  • % Native American
  • Northwestern College 0%
  • TLU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Northwestern College 0%
  • TLU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Northwestern College 2%
  • TLU 0%
  • % International
  • Northwestern College 3%
  • TLU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Northwestern College 4%
  • TLU 3%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Northwestern College 54%
  • TLU 100%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Northwestern College 44%
  • TLU 0%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Northwestern College Yes
  • TLU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Northwestern College No
  • TLU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Northwestern College Yes
  • TLU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Northwestern College No
  • TLU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Northwestern College No
  • TLU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Northwestern College in Orange City, IA with Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northwestern College is larger than TLU based on total student enrollment (1,705 students vs. 1,423 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Northwestern College vs. TLU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwestern College or TLU? 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 Texas Lutheran University than Northwestern College ($25,119 vs. $26,347).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern College are 11.7% lower than at Texas Lutheran University ($10,900 vs. $12,350).
  • Northwestern College is 1.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than TLU (about $480 more per year; $36,710.00 vs. $36,230.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.3% higher at Northwestern College than at Texas Lutheran University (about $480 more per year; $36,710.00 vs. $36,230.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Northwestern College as at Texas Lutheran University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Texas Lutheran University students is 5.6% larger than aid received by Northwestern College students ($24,861 vs. $23,537).

Northwestern College vs. TLU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Texas Lutheran University (1130) is 40 points higher than at Northwestern College (1090).
  • Incoming TLU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 23 at Northwestern College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northwestern College 940/1240; Texas Lutheran University 1030/1230.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northwestern College 20/27; Texas Lutheran University 22/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Northwestern College - Test-free; TLU - Test-free.
  • Accepted freshman TLU students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Northwestern College (3.57).
  • TLU has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than Northwestern College (80.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.2% at Northwestern College vs. 16.8% at TLU.

Northwestern College vs. TLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northwestern College and TLU? 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 Texas Lutheran University's (49%).
  • Graduates from Texas Lutheran University earn a median of about $11,200 more per year than Northwestern College graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,600 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 TLU graduates ($25,092 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Northwestern College graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than TLU graduates ($259 vs. $279).
  • More Northwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former TLU students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 67%)

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.