Northwestern College vs. University of Minnesota-Rochester

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

 Northwestern College University of Minnesota-Rochester
Location Saint Paul, MN Rochester, MN
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 3,262 588
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #551
Religious Affiliation Other Protestant - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nwc.edu umn.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Northwestern College University of Minnesota-Rochester
Tuition (In State) $35,970 $13,256
Tuition (Out of State) $35,970 $13,256
Room & Board $11,148 $12,990
Avg Net Price $26,779 $13,840
Avg Grant Aid $21,360 $13,604
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 75%

Admission

 Northwestern College University of Minnesota-Rochester
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,194 1,221
Admitted 1,097 877
Acceptance Rate 91.9% 71.8%
Enrolled % 33.2% 18.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.58 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Challenging Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/29 20/26
SAT Range 981/1293 1058/1331
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 Jul 31, 2026

Academics

 Northwestern College University of Minnesota-Rochester
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (22%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (10%)

Outcomes

 Northwestern College University of Minnesota-Rochester
Graduation Rate 64% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,100 $58,200
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,070 $20,185
Median Loan Payment $228 $208

Diversity

 Northwestern College University of Minnesota-Rochester
% Men 1% 1%
% Women 1% 2%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 84% 79%
% Black 3% 6%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

 Northwestern College University of Minnesota-Rochester
% In-State 74% 79%
% Out-of-State 26% 17%

Campus

 Northwestern College University of Minnesota-Rochester
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Northwestern College is larger than than University of Minnesota-Rochester based on total student enrollment (3,262 students vs. 588 students)

Northwestern College vs. University of Minnesota-Rochester Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwestern College or University of Minnesota-Rochester?

  • Northwestern College is 171.3% more expensive to attend than University of Minnesota-Rochester for in-state tuition ($35,970.00 vs. $13,256.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 171.3% higher at Northwestern College than University of Minnesota Rochester ($35,970.00 vs. $13,256.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Minnesota Rochester than Northwestern College ($13,840 vs. $26,779)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern College are 16.5% lower than costs at University of Minnesota Rochester ($11,148 vs. $12,990)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northwestern College than University of Minnesota Rochester (100% vs. 75%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern College students is 57% larger than aid received University of Minnesota Rochester ($21,360 vs. $13,604)

Northwestern College vs. University of Minnesota-Rochester Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Minnesota Rochester (1110) is 8 points higher than at Northwestern College (1102)
  • Incoming Northwestern College students have at the same average ACT score (24) as students at University of Minnesota-Rochester (24)
  • Northwestern College has a higher acceptance rate (91.9%) than University of Minnesota-Rochester (71.8%)

Northwestern College vs. University of Minnesota-Rochester Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Northwestern College or University of Minnesota-Rochester? 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 University of Minnesota-Rochester and Northwestern College.

  • Graduates from University of Minnesota Rochester earn on average $17,100 more per year than Northwestern College graduates after ten years. ($58,200 vs. $41,100)
  • University of Minnesota Rochester students graduate with a $1,885 lower median federal student loan debt than Northwestern College graduates. ($20,185 vs. $22,070)
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than Northwestern College graduates. ($208 vs. $228)
  • More Northwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Minnesota-Rochester students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 74%)

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