Northwestern College vs. University of North Dakota

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

Northwestern College University of North Dakota
Location Saint Paul, MN Grand Forks, ND
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 3,253 13,876
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #554 #384
Religious Affiliation Other Protestant - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nwc.edu und.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northwestern College University of North Dakota
Tuition (In State) $34,490 $9,237
Tuition (Out of State) $34,490 $13,856
Room & Board $10,644 $10,170
Avg Net Price $25,704 $17,359
Avg Grant Aid $20,487 $6,387
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 86%

Admission

Northwestern College University of North Dakota
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,349 6,597
Admitted 1,248 5,494
Acceptance Rate 92.5% 83.3%
Enrolled % 31.9% 31.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.58 3.5
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28 20/26
SAT Range 1015/1311 1110/1290
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025 Aug 17, 2025

Academics

Northwestern College University of North Dakota
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (22%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Transportation and Materials Moving (14%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Education (7%)

Outcomes

Northwestern College University of North Dakota
Graduation Rate 64% 54%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,100 $54,700
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,070 $24,500
Median Loan Payment $228 $253

Diversity

Northwestern College University of North Dakota
% Men 39% 50%
% Women 61% 50%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 84% 83%
% Black 3% 2%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

Northwestern College University of North Dakota
% In-State 77% 38%
% Out-of-State 22% 60%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of North Dakota is larger than than Northwestern College based on total student enrollment (13,876 students vs. 3,253 students)

Northwestern College vs. University of North Dakota Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwestern College or University of North Dakota?

  • Northwestern College is 273.4% more expensive to attend than University of North Dakota for in-state tuition ($34,490.00 vs. $9,237.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 148.9% higher at Northwestern College than University of North Dakota ($34,490.00 vs. $13,856.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of North Dakota than Northwestern College ($17,359 vs. $25,704)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Dakota are 4.7% lower than costs at Northwestern College ($10,170 vs. $10,644)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northwestern College than University of North Dakota (100% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern College students is 220.8% larger than aid received University of North Dakota ($20,487 vs. $6,387)

Northwestern College vs. University of North Dakota Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northwestern College (1102) is 14 points higher than at University of North Dakota (1088)
  • Incoming Northwestern College students have at the same average ACT score (24) as students at University of North Dakota (24)
  • Accepted freshman Northwestern College students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at University of North Dakota (3.5)
  • Northwestern College has a higher acceptance rate (92.5%) than University of North Dakota (83.3%)

Northwestern College vs. University of North Dakota Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Northwestern College or University of North Dakota? 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 North Dakota and Northwestern College.

  • The graduation rate at Northwestern College is higher than University of North Dakota (64% vs. 54%)
  • Graduates from University of North Dakota earn on average $13,600 more per year than Northwestern College graduates after ten years. ($54,700 vs. $41,100)
  • Northwestern College students graduate with a $2,430 lower median federal student loan debt than University of North Dakota graduates. ($22,070 vs. $24,500)
  • Northwestern College graduates are paying $25 less per month on federal student loans than University of North Dakota graduates. ($228 vs. $253)
  • More Northwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of North Dakota students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 76%)

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