Northwestern vs. Case Western

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

Northwestern Case Western
Location Evanston, IL Cleveland, OH
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 23,161 12,201
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #15 #49
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website northwestern.edu case.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northwestern Case Western
Tuition (In State) $62,391 $61,040
Tuition (Out of State) $62,391 $61,040
Room & Board $19,440 $17,220
Avg Net Price $22,095 $38,279
Avg Grant Aid $61,716 $35,452
% Receiving Grant Aid 50% 87%

Admission

Northwestern Case Western
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 51,261 38,701
Admitted 3,695 10,607
Acceptance Rate 7.2% 27.4%
Enrolled % 55.2% 14.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.92 3.86
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme High
ACT Range 33/35 32/35
SAT Range 1490/1570 1410/1540
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 Jan 1, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Northwestern Case Western
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Communication (14%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Engineering (28%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)

Outcomes

Northwestern Case Western
Graduation Rate 94% 78%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $89,800 $84,700
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 84%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,378 $24,066
Median Loan Payment $200 $248

Diversity

Northwestern Case Western
% Men 46% 48%
% Women 54% 52%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 50% 52%
% Black 6% 5%
% Hispanic 12% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 8% 11%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

Northwestern Case Western
% In-State 22% 15%
% Out-of-State 67% 67%

Campus

Northwestern Case Western
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Northwestern University is larger than than Case Western based on total student enrollment (23,161 students vs. 12,201 students)

Northwestern vs. Case Western Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwestern or Case Western?

  • Northwestern University is 2.2% more expensive to attend than Case Western for in-state tuition ($62,391.00 vs. $61,040.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.2% higher at Northwestern than Case Western Reserve University ($62,391.00 vs. $61,040.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwestern University than Case Western ($22,095 vs. $38,279)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Case Western Reserve University are 12.9% lower than costs at Northwestern University ($17,220 vs. $19,440)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Case Western Reserve University than Northwestern University (87% vs. 50%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern University students is 74.1% larger than aid received Case Western Reserve University ($61,716 vs. $35,452)

Northwestern vs. Case Western Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northwestern University (1460) is 62 points higher than at Case Western (1398)
  • Incoming Northwestern students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at Case Western (32)
  • Accepted freshman Northwestern students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Case Western (3.86)
  • Case Western has a higher acceptance rate (27.4%) than Northwestern (7.2%)

Northwestern vs. Case Western Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Northwestern or Case Western? 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 Case Western and Northwestern.

  • The graduation rate at Northwestern is higher than Case Western Reserve University (94% vs. 78%)
  • Graduates from Northwestern University earn on average $5,100 more per year than Case Western graduates after ten years. ($89,800 vs. $84,700)
  • Northwestern University students graduate with a $4,688 lower median federal student loan debt than Case Western graduates. ($19,378 vs. $24,066)
  • Northwestern graduates are paying $48 less per month on federal student loans than Case Western graduates. ($200 vs. $248)
  • More Northwestern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Case Western students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 84%)

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