Rend Lake College vs. Northwestern College

Comparable Facts

Compare Rend Lake College in Ina, IL with Northwestern College in Oak Lawn, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rend Lake College is larger than Northwestern College based on total student enrollment (2,015 students vs. 464 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rend Lake College is located in Ina, IL (Distant Rural setting); Northwestern College is in Oak Lawn, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Rend Lake College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Northwestern College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rend Lake College 19:1; Northwestern College 12:1.

Rend Lake College vs. Northwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rend Lake 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 30.6% lower than at Rend Lake College ($8,100 vs. $11,678).
• Northwestern College is 134.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rend Lake College (about $10,480 more per year; $18,280.00 vs. $7,800.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 134.4% higher at Northwestern College than at Rend Lake College (about $10,480 more per year; $18,280.00 vs. $7,800.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rend Lake College than at Northwestern College (78% vs. 0%).

Rend Lake College vs. Northwestern College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rend Lake 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 Rend Lake College.

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

Rend Lake College vs. Northwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rend Lake 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 Northwestern College earn a median of about $2,100 more per year than Rend Lake College graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,000 vs. $29,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rend Lake College graduates have a $23,500 lower median loan debt than Northwestern College graduates ($3,500 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Rend Lake College graduates have an estimated $243 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northwestern College graduates ($36 vs. $279).
• More Rend Lake College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northwestern College students, three years after graduation. (40% 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.