Northwestern College vs. Wilkes

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

Northwestern College Wilkes
Location Saint Paul, MN Wilkes-Barre, PA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 3,262 5,198
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #551 #416
Religious Affiliation Other Protestant - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nwc.edu wilkes.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northwestern College Wilkes
Tuition (In State) $35,970 $40,308
Tuition (Out of State) $35,970 $40,308
Room & Board $11,148 $16,006
Avg Net Price $26,779 $28,508
Avg Grant Aid $21,360 $28,507
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Northwestern College Wilkes
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,194 6,414
Admitted 1,097 5,866
Acceptance Rate 91.9% 91.5%
Enrolled % 33.2% 8.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.58 3.56
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/29 20/29
SAT Range 981/1293 1023/1270
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

Academics

Northwestern College Wilkes
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (22%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

Northwestern College Wilkes
Graduation Rate 64% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,100 $58,200
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,070 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $228 $268

Diversity

Northwestern College Wilkes
% Men 1% 13%
% Women 1% 49%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 84% 73%
% Black 3% 4%
% Hispanic 4% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 1% 9%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

Northwestern College Wilkes
% In-State 74% 75%
% Out-of-State 26% 20%

Campus

Northwestern College Wilkes
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

  • Wilkes University is larger than than Northwestern College based on total student enrollment (5,198 students vs. 3,262 students)

Northwestern College vs. Wilkes Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwestern College or Wilkes?

  • Wilkes University is 12.1% more expensive to attend than Northwestern College for in-state tuition ($40,308.00 vs. $35,970.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 12.1% higher at Wilkes than Northwestern College ($40,308.00 vs. $35,970.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwestern College than Wilkes ($26,779 vs. $28,508)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern College are 43.6% lower than costs at Wilkes University ($11,148 vs. $16,006)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Northwestern College as Wilkes University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wilkes University students is 33.5% larger than aid received Northwestern College ($28,507 vs. $21,360)

Northwestern College vs. Wilkes Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northwestern College (1102) is 49 points higher than at Wilkes (1053)
  • Accepted freshman Northwestern College students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at Wilkes (3.56)
  • Northwestern College has a higher acceptance rate (91.9%) than Wilkes (91.5%)

Northwestern College vs. Wilkes Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Northwestern College or Wilkes? 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 Wilkes and Northwestern College.

  • The graduation rate at Northwestern College is higher than Wilkes University (64% vs. 58%)
  • Graduates from Wilkes University earn on average $17,100 more per year than Northwestern College graduates after ten years. ($58,200 vs. $41,100)
  • Northwestern College students graduate with a $3,930 lower median federal student loan debt than Wilkes graduates. ($22,070 vs. $26,000)
  • Northwestern College graduates are paying $40 less per month on federal student loans than Wilkes graduates. ($228 vs. $268)
  • More Northwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wilkes students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 75%)

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