Northwestern vs. Wheaton College

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

 Northwestern Wheaton College
Location Evanston, IL Wheaton, IL
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 23,161 2,885
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #15 #166
Religious Affiliation - Undenominational - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website northwestern.edu wheaton.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Northwestern Wheaton College
Tuition (In State) $62,391 $41,990
Tuition (Out of State) $62,391 $41,990
Room & Board $19,440 $11,690
Avg Net Price $22,095 $29,961
Avg Grant Aid $61,716 $24,272
% Receiving Grant Aid 50% 100%

Admission

 Northwestern Wheaton College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 51,261 1,893
Admitted 3,695 1,674
Acceptance Rate 7.2% 88.4%
Enrolled % 55.2% 30.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.92 3.75
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Very High
Applicant Competition Extreme
ACT Range 33/35 28/33
SAT Range 1490/1570 1250/1430
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 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

 Northwestern Wheaton College
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Communication (14%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Business (8%)

Outcomes

 Northwestern Wheaton College
Graduation Rate 94% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $89,800 $54,300
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 90%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,378 $22,500
Median Loan Payment $200 $232

Diversity

 Northwestern Wheaton College
% Men 46% 43%
% Women 54% 57%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 50% 76%
% Black 6% 3%
% Hispanic 12% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 8% 3%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

 Northwestern Wheaton College
% In-State 22% 23%
% Out-of-State 67% 70%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Northwestern University is larger than than Wheaton College based on total student enrollment (23,161 students vs. 2,885 students)

Northwestern vs. Wheaton College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwestern or Wheaton College?

  • Northwestern University is 48.6% more expensive to attend than Wheaton College for in-state tuition ($62,391.00 vs. $41,990.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 48.6% higher at Northwestern than Wheaton College ($62,391.00 vs. $41,990.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwestern University than Wheaton College ($22,095 vs. $29,961)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wheaton College are 66.3% lower than costs at Northwestern University ($11,690 vs. $19,440)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Wheaton College than Northwestern University (100% vs. 50%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern University students is 154.3% larger than aid received Wheaton College ($61,716 vs. $24,272)

Northwestern vs. Wheaton College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northwestern University (1460) is 146 points higher than at Wheaton College (1314)
  • Incoming Northwestern students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at Wheaton College (30)
  • Accepted freshman Northwestern students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Wheaton College (3.75)
  • Wheaton College has a higher acceptance rate (88.4%) than Northwestern (7.2%)

Northwestern vs. Wheaton College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Northwestern or Wheaton College? 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 Wheaton College and Northwestern.

  • The graduation rate at Northwestern is higher than Wheaton College (94% vs. 87%)
  • Graduates from Northwestern University earn on average $35,500 more per year than Wheaton College graduates after ten years. ($89,800 vs. $54,300)
  • Northwestern University students graduate with a $3,122 lower median federal student loan debt than Wheaton College graduates. ($19,378 vs. $22,500)
  • Northwestern graduates are paying $32 less per month on federal student loans than Wheaton College graduates. ($200 vs. $232)
  • More Wheaton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northwestern students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 87%)

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