Northwestern vs. UC

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

Northwestern UC
Location Evanston, IL Cincinnati, OH
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 23,203 43,338
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #16 #431
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website northwestern.edu uc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northwestern UC
Tuition (In State) $64,887 $11,892
Tuition (Out of State) $64,887 $28,904
Room & Board $20,334 $13,048
Avg Net Price $23,341 $21,511
Avg Grant Aid $64,463 $8,195
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 68%

Admission

Northwestern UC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 51,769 33,165
Admitted 3,703 29,077
Acceptance Rate 7.2% 87.7%
Enrolled % 57% 23.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.92 3.69
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Elite Difficult
Applicant Competition Extreme
ACT Range 33/35 24/29
SAT Range 1490/1560 1150/1360
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 Mar 1, 2025

Academics

Northwestern UC
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Communication (14%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)

Outcomes

Northwestern UC
Graduation Rate 94% 59%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $89,800 $45,600
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 57%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,378 $23,000
Median Loan Payment $200 $237

Diversity

Northwestern UC
% Men 27% 11%
% Women 33% 17%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 50% 75%
% Black 6% 7%
% Hispanic 12% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 8% 4%
% Unknown Race 2% 4%

Students

Northwestern UC
% In-State 22% 77%
% Out-of-State 67% 20%

Campus

Northwestern UC
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

  • University of Cincinnati Main Campus is larger than than Northwestern based on total student enrollment (43,338 students vs. 23,203 students)

Northwestern vs. UC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwestern or UC?

  • Northwestern University is 445.6% more expensive to attend than UC for in-state tuition ($64,887.00 vs. $11,892.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 124.5% higher at Northwestern than University of Cincinnati Main Campus ($64,887.00 vs. $28,904.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Cincinnati Main Campus than Northwestern ($21,511 vs. $23,341)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Cincinnati Main Campus are 55.8% lower than costs at Northwestern University ($13,048 vs. $20,334)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Cincinnati Main Campus than Northwestern University (68% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern University students is 686.6% larger than aid received University of Cincinnati Main Campus ($64,463 vs. $8,195)

Northwestern vs. UC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northwestern University (1460) is 295 points higher than at UC (1165)
  • Incoming Northwestern students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at UC (26)
  • Accepted freshman Northwestern students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at UC (3.69)
  • UC has a higher acceptance rate (87.7%) than Northwestern (7.2%)

Northwestern vs. UC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Northwestern is higher than University of Cincinnati Main Campus (94% vs. 59%)
  • Graduates from Northwestern University earn on average $44,200 more per year than UC graduates after ten years. ($89,800 vs. $45,600)
  • Northwestern University students graduate with a $3,622 lower median federal student loan debt than UC graduates. ($19,378 vs. $23,000)
  • Northwestern graduates are paying $37 less per month on federal student loans than UC graduates. ($200 vs. $237)
  • More Northwestern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 57%)

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