Northwestern vs. IU

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

 Northwestern IU
Location Evanston, IL Bloomington, IN
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 23,203 47,527
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #16 #209
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website northwestern.edu iub.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Northwestern IU
Tuition (In State) $64,887 $10,312
Tuition (Out of State) $64,887 $39,004
Room & Board $20,334 $13,380
Avg Net Price $23,341 $16,282
Avg Grant Aid $64,463 $9,857
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 74%

Admission

 Northwestern IU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 51,769 54,279
Admitted 3,703 43,624
Acceptance Rate 7.2% 80.4%
Enrolled % 57% 21.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.92 3.74
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Very High
Applicant Competition Extreme
ACT Range 33/35 27/32
SAT Range 1490/1560 1170/1400
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, 2026

Academics

 Northwestern IU
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Communication (14%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Education (7%)

Outcomes

 Northwestern IU
Graduation Rate 94% 72%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $89,800 $56,200
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 72%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,378 $22,500
Median Loan Payment $200 $232

Diversity

 Northwestern IU
% Men 27% 12%
% Women 33% 11%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 50% 71%
% Black 6% 4%
% Hispanic 12% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 8% 11%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

 Northwestern IU
% In-State 22% 54%
% Out-of-State 67% 41%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Indiana University Bloomington is larger than than Northwestern based on total student enrollment (47,527 students vs. 23,203 students)

Northwestern vs. IU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwestern or IU?

  • Northwestern University is 529.2% more expensive to attend than IU for in-state tuition ($64,887.00 vs. $10,312.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 66.4% higher at Northwestern than Indiana University Bloomington ($64,887.00 vs. $39,004.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Indiana University Bloomington than Northwestern ($16,282 vs. $23,341)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Bloomington are 52% lower than costs at Northwestern University ($13,380 vs. $20,334)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Indiana University Bloomington than Northwestern University (74% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern University students is 554% larger than aid received Indiana University Bloomington ($64,463 vs. $9,857)

Northwestern vs. IU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northwestern University (1460) is 261 points higher than at IU (1199)
  • Incoming Northwestern students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at IU (27)
  • Accepted freshman Northwestern students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at IU (3.74)
  • IU has a higher acceptance rate (80.4%) than Northwestern (7.2%)

Northwestern vs. IU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Northwestern or IU? 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 IU and Northwestern.

  • The graduation rate at Northwestern is higher than Indiana University Bloomington (94% vs. 72%)
  • Graduates from Northwestern University earn on average $33,600 more per year than IU graduates after ten years. ($89,800 vs. $56,200)
  • Northwestern University students graduate with a $3,122 lower median federal student loan debt than IU graduates. ($19,378 vs. $22,500)
  • Northwestern graduates are paying $32 less per month on federal student loans than IU graduates. ($200 vs. $232)
  • More Northwestern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IU students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 72%)

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