Principia College vs. Northwestern College

Principia College and Northwestern College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Principia College
Northwestern College

At a glance

  • Cheaper after aid: Principia College. Average net price is $18,248 vs $26,347 at Northwestern College.
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Key differences

Principia College Northwestern College
Acceptance rate
Northwestern College more selective
Principia College-
Northwestern College80.4%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Principia College higher
Principia College1040-1250
Northwestern College940-1240
Average net price
Principia College $8,099 less
Principia College$18,248
Northwestern College$26,347
In-state tuition
Principia College $2,030 less
Principia College$34,680
Northwestern College$36,710
Out-of-state tuition
Principia College $2,030 less
Principia College$34,680
Northwestern College$36,710
Graduation rate
Northwestern College +66 pts
Principia College-
Northwestern College66%
Median earnings (10 years)
Northwestern College +$38,400
Principia College-
Northwestern College$38,400

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Principia College -
  • Northwestern College 1,497
  • Admitted
  • Principia College -
  • Northwestern College 1,203
  • Acceptance rate
  • Principia College
  • Northwestern College 80.4%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Principia College
  • Northwestern College 27.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Principia College 1150
  • Northwestern College 1090
  • Typical ACT score
  • Principia College 21
  • Northwestern College 23
  • Average high school GPA
  • Principia College 3.34
  • Northwestern College 3.57
  • Typical high school grades
  • Principia College B+
  • Northwestern College A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Principia College Easy
  • Northwestern College Average
  • Applicant competition
  • Principia College
  • Northwestern College
  • SAT range
  • Principia College 1040-1250
  • Northwestern College 940-1240
  • ACT range
  • Principia College 19-23
  • Northwestern College 20-27
  • Submit test scores
  • Principia College Not reported
  • Northwestern College Test-free
  • Application deadline
  • Principia College
  • Northwestern College
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Principia College $34,680
  • Northwestern College $36,710
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Principia College $34,680
  • Northwestern College $36,710
  • Room & board
  • Principia College $13,910
  • Northwestern College $10,900
  • Average net price
  • Principia College $18,248
  • Northwestern College $26,347
  • Average grant aid
  • Principia College $30,402
  • Northwestern College $23,537
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Principia College 90%
  • Northwestern College 100%
  • Graduation rate
  • Principia College -
  • Northwestern College 66%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Principia College N/A
  • Northwestern College $38,400
  • Making student loan payments
  • Principia College -
  • Northwestern College 85%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Principia College N/A
  • Northwestern College $25,092
  • Median loan payment
  • Principia College N/A
  • Northwestern College $259
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Principia College 6:1
  • Northwestern College 15:1
  • Popular majors
  • Principia College
  • Northwestern College
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (15%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Location
  • Principia College Elsah, Illinois
  • Northwestern College Orange City, IA
  • Setting
  • Principia College Rural Fringe
  • Northwestern College Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Principia College 339
  • Northwestern College 1,705
  • Type
  • Principia College Private 4 Year
  • Northwestern College Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Principia College
  • Northwestern College #633

Comparable Facts

Compare Principia College in Elsah, Illinois with Northwestern College in Orange City, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Northwestern College is larger than Principia College based on total student enrollment (1,705 students vs. 339 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Principia College is located in Elsah, Illinois (Rural Fringe setting); Northwestern College is in Orange City, IA (Distant Town setting).
  • Principia College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Northwestern College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Principia College 6:1; Northwestern College 15:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern College are 21.6% lower than at Principia College ($10,900 vs. $13,910).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.9% higher at Northwestern College than at Principia College (about $2,030 more per year; $36,710 vs. $34,680).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwestern College than at Principia College (100% vs. 90%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Principia College students is 29.2% larger than aid received by Northwestern College students ($30,402 vs. $23,537).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at Northwestern College than at Principia College (23 vs. 21, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are not reported at Principia College, test-free at Northwestern College.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Northwestern College average a 3.57 high school GPA, 0.23 higher than at Principia College (3.34).

Loans and repayment

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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