Oakton College vs. Northwestern College

Comparable Facts

Compare Oakton College in Des Plaines, IL with Northwestern College in Oak Lawn, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Oakton College is larger than Northwestern College based on total student enrollment (8,329 students vs. 464 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Oakton College is located in Des Plaines, IL (Small City setting); Northwestern College is in Oak Lawn, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Oakton College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Northwestern College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Oakton College 14:1; Northwestern College 12:1.

Oakton College vs. Northwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Oakton College or Northwestern College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern College are 9.9% lower than at Oakton College ($8,100 vs. $8,994).
• Northwestern College is 75% more expensive for in-state tuition than Oakton College (about $7,834 more per year; $18,280.00 vs. $10,446.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 46.7% higher at Northwestern College than at Oakton College (about $5,818 more per year; $18,280.00 vs. $12,462.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oakton College than at Northwestern College (62% vs. 0%).

Oakton College vs. Northwestern College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Oakton College or Northwestern College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Northwestern College and Oakton College.

• Oakton College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Oakton College - Open admission; Northwestern College - Not reported.

Oakton College vs. Northwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Oakton College and Northwestern College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Oakton College earn a median of about $10,100 more per year than Northwestern College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,100 vs. $32,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Oakton College graduates have a $21,133 lower median loan debt than Northwestern College graduates ($5,867 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Oakton College graduates have an estimated $219 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northwestern College graduates ($60 vs. $279).
• More Oakton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northwestern College students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 22%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.