Sauk Valley Community College vs. Northwestern College

Comparable Facts

Compare Sauk Valley Community College in Dixon, IL with Northwestern College in Oak Lawn, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sauk Valley Community College is larger than Northwestern College based on total student enrollment (1,467 students vs. 464 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sauk Valley Community College is located in Dixon, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Northwestern College is in Oak Lawn, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Sauk Valley Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Northwestern College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sauk Valley Community College 14:1; Northwestern College 12:1.

Sauk Valley Community College vs. Northwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Sauk Valley Community 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 25% lower than at Sauk Valley Community College ($8,100 vs. $10,798).
• Northwestern College is 57% more expensive for in-state tuition than Sauk Valley Community College (about $6,640 more per year; $18,280.00 vs. $11,640.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 41.7% higher at Northwestern College than at Sauk Valley Community College (about $5,380 more per year; $18,280.00 vs. $12,900.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sauk Valley Community College than at Northwestern College (62% vs. 0%).

Sauk Valley Community College vs. Northwestern College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Sauk Valley Community 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 Sauk Valley Community College.

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

Sauk Valley Community College vs. Northwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Sauk Valley Community 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 Sauk Valley Community College earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than Northwestern College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,600 vs. $32,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sauk Valley Community College graduates have a $21,500 lower median loan debt than Northwestern College graduates ($5,500 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Sauk Valley Community College graduates have an estimated $223 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northwestern College graduates ($56 vs. $279).
• More Sauk Valley Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northwestern College students, three years after graduation. (58% 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.