Northwestern vs. MSOE

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

 Northwestern MSOE
Location Evanston, IL Milwaukee, WI
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 23,161 2,729
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #15 #243
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website northwestern.edu msoe.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Northwestern MSOE
Tuition (In State) $62,391 $44,601
Tuition (Out of State) $62,391 $44,601
Room & Board $19,440 $12,494
Avg Net Price $22,095 $25,661
Avg Grant Aid $61,716 $31,850
% Receiving Grant Aid 50% 100%

Admission

 Northwestern MSOE
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 51,261 5,478
Admitted 3,695 3,477
Acceptance Rate 7.2% 63.5%
Enrolled % 55.2% 19.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.92 3.65
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Elite Very High
Applicant Competition Extreme Low
ACT Range 33/35 24/30
SAT Range 1490/1570 1160/1405
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2025 Sep 1, 2024

Academics

 Northwestern MSOE
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Communication (14%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Engineering (66%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Engineering Technology (7%)
  • Communication (1%)

Outcomes

 Northwestern MSOE
Graduation Rate 94% 57%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $89,800 $68,900
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,378 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $200 $279

Diversity

 Northwestern MSOE
% Men 46% 71%
% Women 54% 29%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 50% 66%
% Black 6% 2%
% Hispanic 12% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 8% 13%
% Unknown Race 2% 8%

Students

 Northwestern MSOE
% In-State 22% 58%
% Out-of-State 67% 38%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Northwestern University is larger than than MSOE based on total student enrollment (23,161 students vs. 2,729 students)

Northwestern vs. MSOE Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwestern or MSOE?

  • Northwestern University is 39.9% more expensive to attend than MSOE for in-state tuition ($62,391.00 vs. $44,601.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 39.9% higher at Northwestern than Milwaukee School of Engineering ($62,391.00 vs. $44,601.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwestern University than MSOE ($22,095 vs. $25,661)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Milwaukee School of Engineering are 55.6% lower than costs at Northwestern University ($12,494 vs. $19,440)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Milwaukee School of Engineering than Northwestern University (100% vs. 50%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern University students is 93.8% larger than aid received Milwaukee School of Engineering ($61,716 vs. $31,850)

Northwestern vs. MSOE Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northwestern University (1460) is 212 points higher than at MSOE (1248)
  • Incoming Northwestern students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at MSOE (28)
  • Accepted freshman Northwestern students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at MSOE (3.65)
  • MSOE has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than Northwestern (7.2%)

Northwestern vs. MSOE Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Northwestern is higher than Milwaukee School of Engineering (94% vs. 57%)
  • Graduates from Northwestern University earn on average $20,900 more per year than MSOE graduates after ten years. ($89,800 vs. $68,900)
  • Northwestern University students graduate with a $7,622 lower median federal student loan debt than MSOE graduates. ($19,378 vs. $27,000)
  • Northwestern graduates are paying $79 less per month on federal student loans than MSOE graduates. ($200 vs. $279)
  • More Northwestern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MSOE students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 83%)

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