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Iowa UChicago Notre Dame Duke Vanderbilt WUSTL Johns Hopkins Cornell Michigan State Georgetown Purdue Michigan| Northwestern University | Iowa State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Northwestern | ISU | ||
| Location | Evanston, IL | Ames, IA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 23,203 | 30,177 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #16 | #351 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | northwestern.edu | iastate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Northwestern | ISU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $64,887 | $8,982 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $64,887 | $26,168 | ||
| Room & Board | $20,334 | $9,726 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $23,341 | $17,354 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $64,463 | $10,718 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 52% | 77% |
Admission |
Northwestern | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 51,769 | 22,995 | ||
| Admitted | 3,703 | 20,496 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 7.2% | 89.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 57% | 28.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.92 | 3.7 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Extreme | |||
| ACT Range | 33/35 | 21/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1490/1560 | 1110/1350 | ||
| 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 | ISU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 6:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Northwestern | ISU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 94% | 68% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $89,800 | $53,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 87% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $19,378 | $23,868 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $200 | $246 |
Diversity |
Northwestern | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 27% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 33% | 8% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 50% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 2% | ||
| % International | 8% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 5% |
Students |
Northwestern | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 22% | 52% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 67% | 45% | ||
Campus |
Northwestern | ISU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Iowa State University is larger than than Northwestern based on total student enrollment (30,177 students vs. 23,203 students)
Northwestern vs. ISU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Northwestern or ISU?
- Northwestern University is 622.4% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($64,887.00 vs. $8,982.00)
- Out of state tuition is 148% higher at Northwestern than Iowa State University ($64,887.00 vs. $26,168.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Iowa State University than Northwestern ($17,354 vs. $23,341)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 109.1% lower than costs at Northwestern University ($9,726 vs. $20,334)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Iowa State University than Northwestern University (77% vs. 52%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern University students is 501.4% larger than aid received Iowa State University ($64,463 vs. $10,718)
Northwestern vs. ISU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Northwestern or ISU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ISU or Northwestern .
- The average SAT score at Northwestern University (1460) is 318 points higher than at ISU (1142)
- Incoming Northwestern students have a 8 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at ISU (25)
- Accepted freshman Northwestern students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at ISU (3.7)
- ISU has a higher acceptance rate (89.1%) than Northwestern (7.2%)
Northwestern vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Northwestern or ISU? 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 ISU and Northwestern.
- The graduation rate at Northwestern is higher than Iowa State University (94% vs. 68%)
- Graduates from Northwestern University earn on average $36,100 more per year than ISU graduates after ten years. ($89,800 vs. $53,700)
- Northwestern University students graduate with a $4,490 lower median federal student loan debt than ISU graduates. ($19,378 vs. $23,868)
- Northwestern graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans than ISU graduates. ($200 vs. $246)
- More Northwestern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ISU students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 74%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/