Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Minnesota Michigan Illinois Ohio State UChicago UW-Seattle Notre Dame Duke Purdue Maryland Vanderbilt UT Austin| Northwestern University | University of Wisconsin Madison | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Northwestern | Wisconsin | ||
| Location | Evanston, IL | Madison, WI | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 23,161 | 48,956 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #15 | #105 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | northwestern.edu | wisc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Northwestern | Wisconsin | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $62,391 | $9,273 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $62,391 | $37,904 | ||
| Room & Board | $19,440 | $12,894 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,095 | $13,376 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $61,716 | $11,171 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 50% | 47% |
Admission |
Northwestern | Wisconsin | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 51,261 | 60,214 | ||
| Admitted | 3,695 | 29,539 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 7.2% | 49.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 55.2% | 29.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.92 | 3.88 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Extreme | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 33/35 | 26/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1490/1570 | 1340/1510 | ||
| 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 | Wisconsin | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 6:1 | 18:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Northwestern | Wisconsin | ||
| Graduation Rate | 94% | 82% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $89,800 | $64,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 87% | 84% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $19,378 | $22,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $200 | $230 |
Diversity |
Northwestern | Wisconsin | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 46% | 47% | ||
| % Women | 54% | 53% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 50% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 8% | 8% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 0% |
Students |
Northwestern | Wisconsin | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 22% | 43% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 67% | 47% | ||
Campus |
Northwestern | Wisconsin | ||
| 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
- University of Wisconsin Madison is larger than than Northwestern based on total student enrollment (48,956 students vs. 23,161 students)
Northwestern vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Northwestern or Wisconsin?
- Northwestern University is 572.8% more expensive to attend than Wisconsin for in-state tuition ($62,391.00 vs. $9,273.00)
- Out of state tuition is 64.6% higher at Northwestern than University of Wisconsin Madison ($62,391.00 vs. $37,904.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wisconsin Madison than Northwestern ($13,376 vs. $22,095)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Madison are 50.8% lower than costs at Northwestern University ($12,894 vs. $19,440)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northwestern University than University of Wisconsin Madison (50% vs. 47%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern University students is 452.5% larger than aid received University of Wisconsin Madison ($61,716 vs. $11,171)
Northwestern vs. Wisconsin Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Northwestern or Wisconsin? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Wisconsin or Northwestern .
- The average SAT score at Northwestern University (1460) is 160 points higher than at Wisconsin (1300)
- Incoming Northwestern students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at Wisconsin (29)
- Accepted freshman Northwestern students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Wisconsin (3.88)
- Wisconsin has a higher acceptance rate (49.1%) than Northwestern (7.2%)
Northwestern vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Northwestern or Wisconsin? 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 Wisconsin and Northwestern.
- The graduation rate at Northwestern is higher than University of Wisconsin Madison (94% vs. 82%)
- Graduates from Northwestern University earn on average $25,000 more per year than Wisconsin graduates after ten years. ($89,800 vs. $64,800)
- Northwestern University students graduate with a $2,872 lower median federal student loan debt than Wisconsin graduates. ($19,378 vs. $22,250)
- Northwestern graduates are paying $30 less per month on federal student loans than Wisconsin graduates. ($200 vs. $230)
- More Northwestern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wisconsin 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/