Saint Mary's College of California vs. Northwestern College

Comparable Facts

Compare Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga, CA with Northwestern College in Orange City, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Saint Mary's College of California is larger than Northwestern College based on total student enrollment (2,734 students vs. 1,705 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Saint Mary's College of California is located in Moraga, CA (Large Suburban setting); Northwestern College is in Orange City, IA (Distant Town setting).
• Saint Mary's College of California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Northwestern College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Saint Mary's College of California 10:1; Northwestern College 15:1.

Saint Mary's College of California vs. Northwestern College Cost Comparison

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

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwestern College than Saint Mary's College of California ($26,347 vs. $35,332).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern College are 38.1% lower than at Saint Mary's College of California ($10,900 vs. $17,600).
• Saint Mary's College of California is 57.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Northwestern College (about $21,093 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $36,710.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 57.5% higher at Saint Mary's College of California than at Northwestern College (about $21,093 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $36,710.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College of California as at Northwestern College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College of California students is 80.2% larger than aid received by Northwestern College students ($42,407 vs. $23,537).

Saint Mary's College of California vs. Northwestern College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Saint Mary's College of California 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 Saint Mary's College of California.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Saint Mary's College of California (1160) is 70 points higher than at Northwestern College (1090).
• Incoming Saint Mary's College of California students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 23 at Northwestern College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College of California 1070/1253; Northwestern College 940/1240.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College of California 21/28; Northwestern College 20/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Saint Mary's College of California - Test-free; Northwestern College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Saint Mary's College of California Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Saint Mary's College of California students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Northwestern College (3.57).
• Saint Mary's College of California has a higher acceptance rate (86.5%) than Northwestern College (80.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.5% at Saint Mary's College of California vs. 27.2% at Northwestern College.

Saint Mary's College of California vs. Northwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Saint Mary's College of California 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).

• Northwestern College's six-year graduation rate (66%) is higher than Saint Mary's College of California's (61%).
• Graduates from Saint Mary's College of California earn a median of about $28,400 more per year than Northwestern College graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,800 vs. $38,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Saint Mary's College of California graduates have a $92 lower median loan debt than Northwestern College graduates ($25,000 vs. $25,092).
• Among borrowers, Saint Mary's College of California graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northwestern College graduates ($258 vs. $259).
• More Northwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Saint Mary's College of California students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 71%)

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.