Northwestern vs. WUSTL

Should I go to Northwestern University or Washington University in St Louis? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Northwestern or WUSTL 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. Washington University in St Louis comparison
Northwestern University Washington University in St Louis College 3 College 4
Northwestern University Washington University in St Louis
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Overview

Northwestern WUSTL
Location Evanston, IL Saint Louis, MO
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 23,161 17,012
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #15 #20
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website northwestern.edu wustl.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northwestern WUSTL
Tuition (In State) $62,391 $59,420
Tuition (Out of State) $62,391 $59,420
Room & Board $19,440 $18,470
Avg Net Price $22,095 $23,432
Avg Grant Aid $61,716 $58,188
% Receiving Grant Aid 50% 43%

Admission

Northwestern WUSTL
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 51,261 32,014
Admitted 3,695 3,764
Acceptance Rate 7.2% 11.8%
Enrolled % 55.2% 48.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.92 3.92
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme Very High
ACT Range 33/35 33/35
SAT Range 1490/1570 1500/1570
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 4, 2025

Academics

Northwestern WUSTL
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Communication (14%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Northwestern WUSTL
Graduation Rate 94% 93%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $89,800 $82,800
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 88%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,378 $19,900
Median Loan Payment $200 $205

Diversity

Northwestern WUSTL
% Men 46% 47%
% Women 54% 53%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 50% 55%
% Black 6% 6%
% Hispanic 12% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 8% 8%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

Northwestern WUSTL
% In-State 22% 12%
% Out-of-State 67% 77%

Campus

Northwestern WUSTL
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 WUSTL based on total student enrollment (23,161 students vs. 17,012 students)

Northwestern vs. WUSTL Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwestern or WUSTL ?

  • Northwestern University is 5% more expensive to attend than WUSTL for in-state tuition ($62,391.00 vs. $59,420.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 5% higher at Northwestern than Washington University in St Louis ($62,391.00 vs. $59,420.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwestern University than WUSTL ($22,095 vs. $23,432)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Washington University in St Louis are 5.3% lower than costs at Northwestern University ($18,470 vs. $19,440)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northwestern University than Washington University in St Louis (50% vs. 43%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern University students is 6.1% larger than aid received Washington University in St Louis ($61,716 vs. $58,188)

Northwestern vs. WUSTL Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Washington University in St Louis (1469) is 9 points higher than at Northwestern (1460)
  • Incoming Northwestern students have at the same average ACT score (33) as students at WUSTL (33)
  • Accepted freshman Northwestern students have at the same average high school GPA (3.92) as students at WUSTL (3.92)
  • WUSTL has a higher acceptance rate (11.8%) than Northwestern (7.2%)

Northwestern vs. WUSTL Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Northwestern is higher than Washington University in St Louis (94% vs. 93%)
  • Graduates from Northwestern University earn on average $7,000 more per year than WUSTL graduates after ten years. ($89,800 vs. $82,800)
  • Northwestern University students graduate with a $522 lower median federal student loan debt than WUSTL graduates. ($19,378 vs. $19,900)
  • Northwestern graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than WUSTL graduates. ($200 vs. $205)
  • More WUSTL graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northwestern students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 87%)

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