Northwestern College vs. University of Scranton

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

Northwestern College University of Scranton
Location Saint Paul, MN Scranton, PA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 3,253 4,731
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #554 #217
Religious Affiliation Other Protestant Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nwc.edu scranton.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northwestern College University of Scranton
Tuition (In State) $34,490 $49,912
Tuition (Out of State) $34,490 $49,912
Room & Board $10,644 $16,490
Avg Net Price $25,704 $35,526
Avg Grant Aid $20,487 $30,218
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

Northwestern College University of Scranton
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,349 9,530
Admitted 1,248 8,039
Acceptance Rate 92.5% 84.4%
Enrolled % 31.9% 13.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.58 3.56
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28 25/31
SAT Range 1015/1311 1150/1320
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 Mar 1, 2025

Academics

Northwestern College University of Scranton
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (22%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

Northwestern College University of Scranton
Graduation Rate 64% 77%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,100 $62,100
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 81%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,070 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $228 $279

Diversity

Northwestern College University of Scranton
% Men 39% 42%
% Women 61% 58%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 84% 82%
% Black 3% 2%
% Hispanic 4% 9%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

Northwestern College University of Scranton
% In-State 77% 44%
% Out-of-State 22% 56%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Scranton is larger than than Northwestern College based on total student enrollment (4,731 students vs. 3,253 students)

Northwestern College vs. University of Scranton Cost Comparison

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

  • University of Scranton is 44.7% more expensive to attend than Northwestern College for in-state tuition ($49,912.00 vs. $34,490.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 44.7% higher at University of Scranton than Northwestern College ($49,912.00 vs. $34,490.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwestern College than University of Scranton ($25,704 vs. $35,526)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern College are 54.9% lower than costs at University of Scranton ($10,644 vs. $16,490)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northwestern College than University of Scranton (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Scranton students is 47.5% larger than aid received Northwestern College ($30,218 vs. $20,487)

Northwestern College vs. University of Scranton Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Scranton (1134) is 32 points higher than at Northwestern College (1102)
  • Incoming University of Scranton students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) 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 University of Scranton (3.56)
  • Northwestern College has a higher acceptance rate (92.5%) than University of Scranton (84.4%)

Northwestern College vs. University of Scranton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at University of Scranton is higher than Northwestern College (77% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from University of Scranton earn on average $21,000 more per year than Northwestern College graduates after ten years. ($62,100 vs. $41,100)
  • Northwestern College students graduate with a $4,930 lower median federal student loan debt than University of Scranton graduates. ($22,070 vs. $27,000)
  • Northwestern College graduates are paying $51 less per month on federal student loans than University of Scranton graduates. ($228 vs. $279)
  • More University of Scranton 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/