Northwestern College vs. University of St Thomas

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

Northwestern College University of St Thomas
Location Saint Paul, MN Saint Paul, MN
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 3,253 9,025
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #554 #179
Religious Affiliation Other Protestant Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nwc.edu stthomas.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northwestern College University of St Thomas
Tuition (In State) $34,490 $48,930
Tuition (Out of State) $34,490 $48,930
Room & Board $10,644 $12,587
Avg Net Price $25,704 $30,137
Avg Grant Aid $20,487 $32,284
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 96%

Admission

Northwestern College University of St Thomas
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,349 9,481
Admitted 1,248 7,300
Acceptance Rate 92.5% 77%
Enrolled % 31.9% 21.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.58 3.63
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28 24/29
SAT Range 1015/1311 1200/1390
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 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Northwestern College University of St Thomas
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (22%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Business (44%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (6%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Psychology (5%)

Outcomes

Northwestern College University of St Thomas
Graduation Rate 64% 74%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,100 $62,000
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,070 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $228 $268

Diversity

Northwestern College University of St Thomas
% Men 39% 49%
% Women 61% 51%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 84% 81%
% Black 3% 2%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Northwestern College University of St Thomas
% In-State 77% 78%
% Out-of-State 22% 18%

Campus

Northwestern College University of St Thomas
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 St Thomas is larger than than Northwestern College based on total student enrollment (9,025 students vs. 3,253 students)

Northwestern College vs. University of St Thomas Cost Comparison

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

  • University of St Thomas is 41.9% more expensive to attend than Northwestern College for in-state tuition ($48,930.00 vs. $34,490.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 41.9% higher at University of St Thomas than Northwestern College ($48,930.00 vs. $34,490.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwestern College than University of St Thomas ($25,704 vs. $30,137)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern College are 18.3% lower than costs at University of St Thomas ($10,644 vs. $12,587)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northwestern College than University of St Thomas (100% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of St Thomas students is 57.6% larger than aid received Northwestern College ($32,284 vs. $20,487)

Northwestern College vs. University of St Thomas Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of St Thomas (1202) is 100 points higher than at Northwestern College (1102)
  • Incoming University of St Thomas students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Northwestern College (24)
  • Accepted freshman University of St Thomas students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at Northwestern College (3.58)
  • Northwestern College has a higher acceptance rate (92.5%) than University of St Thomas (77%)

Northwestern College vs. University of St Thomas Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at University of St Thomas is higher than Northwestern College (74% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from University of St Thomas earn on average $20,900 more per year than Northwestern College graduates after ten years. ($62,000 vs. $41,100)
  • Northwestern College students graduate with a $3,930 lower median federal student loan debt than University of St Thomas graduates. ($22,070 vs. $26,000)
  • Northwestern College graduates are paying $40 less per month on federal student loans than University of St Thomas graduates. ($228 vs. $268)
  • More University of St Thomas graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northwestern College students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 78%)

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