Northwestern College vs. Marquette University

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

Northwestern College Marquette University
Location Saint Paul, MN Milwaukee, WI
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 3,253 11,167
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #554 #216
Religious Affiliation Other Protestant Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nwc.edu marquette.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northwestern College Marquette University
Tuition (In State) $34,490 $45,860
Tuition (Out of State) $34,490 $45,860
Room & Board $10,644 $14,636
Avg Net Price $25,704 $33,136
Avg Grant Aid $20,487 $29,102
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Northwestern College Marquette University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,349 15,883
Admitted 1,248 13,851
Acceptance Rate 92.5% 87.2%
Enrolled % 31.9% 14.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.58 3.56
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Very High
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28 26/31
SAT Range 1015/1311 1170/1360
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 Dec 1, 2024

Academics

Northwestern College Marquette University
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (22%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)

Outcomes

Northwestern College Marquette University
Graduation Rate 64% 81%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,100 $67,500
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 81%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,070 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $228 $279

Diversity

Northwestern College Marquette University
% Men 39% 43%
% Women 61% 57%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 84% 73%
% Black 3% 4%
% Hispanic 4% 10%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

Northwestern College Marquette University
% In-State 77% 33%
% Out-of-State 22% 65%

Campus

Northwestern College Marquette University
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

  • Marquette University is larger than than Northwestern College based on total student enrollment (11,167 students vs. 3,253 students)

Northwestern College vs. Marquette University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwestern College or Marquette University?

  • Marquette University is 33% more expensive to attend than Northwestern College for in-state tuition ($45,860.00 vs. $34,490.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 33% higher at Marquette University than Northwestern College ($45,860.00 vs. $34,490.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwestern College than Marquette University ($25,704 vs. $33,136)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern College are 37.5% lower than costs at Marquette University ($10,644 vs. $14,636)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Northwestern College as Marquette University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Marquette University students is 42.1% larger than aid received Northwestern College ($29,102 vs. $20,487)

Northwestern College vs. Marquette University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Marquette University (1219) is 117 points higher than at Northwestern College (1102)
  • Incoming Marquette University students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Northwestern College (24)
  • Accepted freshman Northwestern College students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at Marquette University (3.56)
  • Northwestern College has a higher acceptance rate (92.5%) than Marquette University (87.2%)

Northwestern College vs. Marquette University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Northwestern College or Marquette University? 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 Marquette University and Northwestern College.

  • The graduation rate at Marquette University is higher than Northwestern College (81% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from Marquette University earn on average $26,400 more per year than Northwestern College graduates after ten years. ($67,500 vs. $41,100)
  • Northwestern College students graduate with a $4,930 lower median federal student loan debt than Marquette University graduates. ($22,070 vs. $27,000)
  • Northwestern College graduates are paying $51 less per month on federal student loans than Marquette University graduates. ($228 vs. $279)
  • More Marquette University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northwestern College students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 78%)

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