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K-State ESU University of Missouri-Columbia Nebraska Arkansas Iowa University of Missouri-Kansas City UALR Johnson County Community College OU Baker Washburn University| Northwestern College | University of Kansas | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Northwestern College | KU | ||
| Location | Orange City, IA | Lawrence, KS | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 1,665 | 28,406 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #633 | #291 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Reformed Church in America | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nwciowa.edu | ku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Northwestern College | KU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $35,000 | $10,596 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $35,000 | $28,308 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,700 | $10,818 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $24,737 | $18,322 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $23,319 | $10,644 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 89% |
Admission |
Northwestern College | KU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 1,155 | 19,226 | ||
| Admitted | 1,005 | 16,958 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 87% | 88.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.2% | 31% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.57 | 3.66 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 20/27 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1240 | 1050/1290 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Northwestern College | KU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Northwestern College | KU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 66% | 61% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $38,400 | $54,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 85% | 66% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,092 | $20,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $259 | $211 |
Diversity |
Northwestern College | KU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 7% | 11% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 16% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 83% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 5% | ||
| % International | 3% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 1% |
Students |
Northwestern College | KU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 55% | 55% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 42% | 43% | ||
Campus |
Northwestern College | KU | ||
| 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
- University of Kansas is larger than than Northwestern College based on total student enrollment (28,406 students vs. 1,665 students)
Northwestern College vs. KU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Northwestern College or KU?
- Northwestern College is 230.3% more expensive to attend than KU for in-state tuition ($35,000.00 vs. $10,596.00)
- Out of state tuition is 23.6% higher at Northwestern College than University of Kansas ($35,000.00 vs. $28,308.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Kansas than Northwestern College ($18,322 vs. $24,737)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern College are 1.1% lower than costs at University of Kansas ($10,700 vs. $10,818)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northwestern College than University of Kansas (100% vs. 89%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern College students is 119.1% larger than aid received University of Kansas ($23,319 vs. $10,644)
Northwestern College vs. KU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Northwestern College or KU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between KU or Northwestern College .
- The average SAT score at University of Kansas (1145) is 4 points higher than at Northwestern College (1141)
- Incoming Northwestern College students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at KU (25)
- Accepted freshman KU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at Northwestern College (3.57)
- KU has a higher acceptance rate (88.2%) than Northwestern College (87%)
Northwestern College vs. KU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Northwestern College or KU? 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 KU and Northwestern College.
- The graduation rate at Northwestern College is higher than University of Kansas (66% vs. 61%)
- Graduates from University of Kansas earn on average $16,200 more per year than Northwestern College graduates after ten years. ($54,600 vs. $38,400)
- University of Kansas students graduate with a $4,592 lower median federal student loan debt than Northwestern College graduates. ($20,500 vs. $25,092)
- KU graduates are paying $48 less per month on federal student loans than Northwestern College graduates. ($211 vs. $259)
- More Northwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former KU students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 66%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/