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Minnesota State University-Mankato University of Minnesota-Duluth Bethel University Winona State University MSU Moorhead University of St Thomas South Dakota State University NDSU Minnesota Metropolitan State University University of Minnesota-Rochester Southeast Missouri State University| Northwestern College | Saint Cloud State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Northwestern College | St. Cloud State University | ||
| Location | Saint Paul, MN | Saint Cloud, MN | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 3,253 | 10,420 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #554 | #710 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Other Protestant | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nwc.edu | stcloudstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Northwestern College | St. Cloud State University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $34,490 | $8,811 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $34,490 | $18,695 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,644 | $9,950 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $25,704 | $14,065 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $20,487 | $6,042 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 98% |
Admission |
Northwestern College | St. Cloud State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 1,349 | 4,810 | ||
| Admitted | 1,248 | 4,583 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 92.5% | 95.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 31.9% | 16.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.58 | 3.4 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/28 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 1015/1311 | 1027/1200 | ||
| 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 | Aug 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Northwestern College | St. Cloud State University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Northwestern College | St. Cloud State University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 64% | 48% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $41,100 | $46,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 78% | 67% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,070 | $22,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $228 | $232 |
Diversity |
Northwestern College | St. Cloud State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 39% | 43% | ||
| % Women | 61% | 57% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 84% | 73% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
Northwestern College | St. Cloud State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 77% | 75% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 22% | 11% | ||
Campus |
Northwestern College | St. Cloud State 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
- Saint Cloud State University is larger than than Northwestern College based on total student enrollment (10,420 students vs. 3,253 students)
Northwestern College vs. St. Cloud State University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Northwestern College or St. Cloud State University?
- Northwestern College is 291.4% more expensive to attend than St. Cloud State University for in-state tuition ($34,490.00 vs. $8,811.00)
- Out of state tuition is 84.5% higher at Northwestern College than Saint Cloud State University ($34,490.00 vs. $18,695.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Saint Cloud State University than Northwestern College ($14,065 vs. $25,704)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Cloud State University are 7% lower than costs at Northwestern College ($9,950 vs. $10,644)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northwestern College than Saint Cloud State University (100% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern College students is 239.1% larger than aid received Saint Cloud State University ($20,487 vs. $6,042)
Northwestern College vs. St. Cloud State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Northwestern College or St. Cloud State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between St. Cloud State University or Northwestern College .
- The average SAT score at Northwestern College (1102) is 72 points higher than at St. Cloud State University (1030)
- Incoming Northwestern College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at St. Cloud State University (22)
- Accepted freshman Northwestern College students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at St. Cloud State University (3.4)
- St. Cloud State University has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than Northwestern College (92.5%)
Northwestern College vs. St. Cloud State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Northwestern College or St. Cloud State 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 St. Cloud State University and Northwestern College.
- The graduation rate at Northwestern College is higher than Saint Cloud State University (64% vs. 48%)
- Graduates from Saint Cloud State University earn on average $5,600 more per year than Northwestern College graduates after ten years. ($46,700 vs. $41,100)
- Northwestern College students graduate with a $430 lower median federal student loan debt than St. Cloud State University graduates. ($22,070 vs. $22,500)
- Northwestern College graduates are paying $4 less per month on federal student loans than St. Cloud State University graduates. ($228 vs. $232)
- More Northwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former St. Cloud State University students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 67%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/