Northwestern College vs. Elon

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

Northwestern College Elon
Location Saint Paul, MN Elon, NC
Setting Large Suburban Small Suburban
Enrollment 3,262 7,207
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #551 #134
Religious Affiliation Other Protestant - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nwc.edu elon.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northwestern College Elon
Tuition (In State) $35,970 $44,029
Tuition (Out of State) $35,970 $44,029
Room & Board $11,148 $14,478
Avg Net Price $26,779 $41,849
Avg Grant Aid $21,360 $17,523
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 69%

Admission

Northwestern College Elon
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,194 18,791
Admitted 1,097 12,649
Acceptance Rate 91.9% 67.3%
Enrolled % 33.2% 13.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.58 3.65
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/29 23/28
SAT Range 981/1293 1143/1305
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, 2026 Jan 10, 2026

Academics

Northwestern College Elon
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (22%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Communication (19%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)

Outcomes

Northwestern College Elon
Graduation Rate 64% 82%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,100 $56,200
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 86%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,070 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $228 $240

Diversity

Northwestern College Elon
% Men 1% 4%
% Women 1% 7%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 84% 82%
% Black 3% 6%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Northwestern College Elon
% In-State 74% 18%
% Out-of-State 26% 80%

Campus

Northwestern College Elon
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

  • Elon University is larger than than Northwestern College based on total student enrollment (7,207 students vs. 3,262 students)

Northwestern College vs. Elon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwestern College or Elon?

  • Elon University is 22.4% more expensive to attend than Northwestern College for in-state tuition ($44,029.00 vs. $35,970.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 22.4% higher at Elon than Northwestern College ($44,029.00 vs. $35,970.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwestern College than Elon ($26,779 vs. $41,849)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern College are 29.9% lower than costs at Elon University ($11,148 vs. $14,478)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northwestern College than Elon University (100% vs. 69%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern College students is 21.9% larger than aid received Elon University ($21,360 vs. $17,523)

Northwestern College vs. Elon Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Elon University (1211) is 109 points higher than at Northwestern College (1102)
  • Incoming Elon students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Northwestern College (24)
  • Accepted freshman Elon students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at Northwestern College (3.58)
  • Northwestern College has a higher acceptance rate (91.9%) than Elon (67.3%)

Northwestern College vs. Elon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Elon is higher than Northwestern College (82% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from Elon University earn on average $15,100 more per year than Northwestern College graduates after ten years. ($56,200 vs. $41,100)
  • Northwestern College students graduate with a $1,180 lower median federal student loan debt than Elon graduates. ($22,070 vs. $23,250)
  • Northwestern College graduates are paying $12 less per month on federal student loans than Elon graduates. ($228 vs. $240)
  • More Elon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northwestern College students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 78%)

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