Northwestern College vs. Arcadia

Should I go to Northwestern College or Arcadia University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Northwestern College or Arcadia 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. Arcadia University comparison
Northwestern College Arcadia University College 3 College 4
Arcadia University
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Overview

Northwestern College Arcadia
Location Saint Paul, MN Glenside, PA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 3,253 3,026
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #554 #502
Religious Affiliation Other Protestant Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nwc.edu arcadia.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northwestern College Arcadia
Tuition (In State) $34,490 $46,430
Tuition (Out of State) $34,490 $46,430
Room & Board $10,644 $13,720
Avg Net Price $25,704 $29,692
Avg Grant Aid $20,487 $30,934
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

Northwestern College Arcadia
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,349 6,321
Admitted 1,248 4,903
Acceptance Rate 92.5% 77.6%
Enrolled % 31.9% 10%
Avg High School GPA 3.58 3.42
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28 24/29
SAT Range 1015/1311 1088/1320
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Northwestern College Arcadia
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (22%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

Northwestern College Arcadia
Graduation Rate 64% 62%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,100 $46,400
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,070 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $228 $279

Diversity

Northwestern College Arcadia
% Men 39% 32%
% Women 61% 68%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 84% 68%
% Black 3% 9%
% Hispanic 4% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 1% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

Northwestern College Arcadia
% In-State 77% 62%
% Out-of-State 22% 37%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Northwestern College is larger than than Arcadia based on total student enrollment (3,253 students vs. 3,026 students)

Northwestern College vs. Arcadia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwestern College or Arcadia?

  • Arcadia University is 34.6% more expensive to attend than Northwestern College for in-state tuition ($46,430.00 vs. $34,490.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 34.6% higher at Arcadia than Northwestern College ($46,430.00 vs. $34,490.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwestern College than Arcadia ($25,704 vs. $29,692)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern College are 28.9% lower than costs at Arcadia University ($10,644 vs. $13,720)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northwestern College than Arcadia University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Arcadia University students is 51% larger than aid received Northwestern College ($30,934 vs. $20,487)

Northwestern College vs. Arcadia Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Arcadia University (1104) is 2 points higher than at Northwestern College (1102)
  • Incoming Arcadia students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Northwestern College (24)
  • Accepted freshman Northwestern College students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at Arcadia (3.42)
  • Northwestern College has a higher acceptance rate (92.5%) than Arcadia (77.6%)

Northwestern College vs. Arcadia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Northwestern College is higher than Arcadia University (64% vs. 62%)
  • Graduates from Arcadia University earn on average $5,300 more per year than Northwestern College graduates after ten years. ($46,400 vs. $41,100)
  • Northwestern College students graduate with a $4,930 lower median federal student loan debt than Arcadia graduates. ($22,070 vs. $27,000)
  • Northwestern College graduates are paying $51 less per month on federal student loans than Arcadia graduates. ($228 vs. $279)
  • More Northwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Arcadia students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 69%)

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