Central vs. Northwest

Deciding between University of Central Missouri and Northwest Missouri State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Central Missouri
Northwest Missouri State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Central Warrensburg, MO
  • Northwest Maryville, MO
  • Setting
  • Central Rural Fringe
  • Northwest Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Central 12,857
  • Northwest 9,152
  • Type
  • Central Public 4 Year
  • Northwest Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Central #723
  • Northwest #896
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Central -
  • Northwest -
  • Status
  • Central Non-profit
  • Northwest Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Central
  • Northwest

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Central $10,050
  • Northwest $10,611
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Central $18,600
  • Northwest $17,324
  • Room & Board
  • Central $10,740
  • Northwest $12,282
  • Average Net Price
  • Central $14,943
  • Northwest $16,790
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Central $7,811
  • Northwest $9,101
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Central 96%
  • Northwest 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Central 5,647
  • Northwest 5,185
  • Admitted
  • Central 3,603
  • Northwest 4,464
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Central 63.8%
  • Northwest 86.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Central 28.6%
  • Northwest 22.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Central
  • Northwest 1080
  • Typical ACT score
  • Central 22
  • Northwest 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • Central 3.68
  • Northwest 3.45
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Central A-
  • Northwest B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Central Easy
  • Northwest Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Central Low
  • Northwest
  • ACT Range
  • Central 19/25
  • Northwest 19/24
  • SAT Range
  • Central
  • Northwest 976/1193
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Central Test optional
  • Northwest Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Central
  • Northwest

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Central 18:1
  • Northwest 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Central
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Northwest
    • Business (29%)
    • Education (17%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Agriculture (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Central 50%
  • Northwest 49%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Central $41,500
  • Northwest $41,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Central 59%
  • Northwest 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Central $22,441
  • Northwest $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Central $232
  • Northwest $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Central 46%
  • Northwest 35%
  • % Women
  • Central 54%
  • Northwest 65%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Central Low
  • Northwest Low
  • HBCU
  • Central No
  • Northwest No
  • % White
  • Central 77%
  • Northwest 79%
  • % Asian
  • Central 1%
  • Northwest 1%
  • % Black
  • Central 11%
  • Northwest 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Central 4%
  • Northwest 4%
  • % Native American
  • Central 0%
  • Northwest 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Central 0%
  • Northwest 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Central 4%
  • Northwest 3%
  • % International
  • Central 2%
  • Northwest 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Central 1%
  • Northwest 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Central 82%
  • Northwest 62%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Central 15%
  • Northwest 35%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Central Yes
  • Northwest Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Central No
  • Northwest No
  • Meal Plan
  • Central Yes
  • Northwest Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Central Yes
  • Northwest No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Central Yes
  • Northwest No

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, MO with Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, MO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Central Missouri is larger than Northwest based on total student enrollment (12,857 students vs. 9,152 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Central Missouri is located in Warrensburg, MO (Rural Fringe setting); Northwest Missouri State University is in Maryville, MO (Remote Town setting).
  • University of Central Missouri is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Northwest Missouri State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Central Missouri 18:1; Northwest Missouri State University 16:1.

Central vs. Northwest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central or Northwest? 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 University of Central Missouri than Northwest ($14,943 vs. $16,790).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Central Missouri are 12.6% lower than at Northwest Missouri State University ($10,740 vs. $12,282).
  • Northwest Missouri State University is 5.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Central (about $561 more per year; $10,611.00 vs. $10,050.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.4% higher at Central than at Northwest Missouri State University (about $1,276 more per year; $18,600.00 vs. $17,324.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Central Missouri than at Northwest Missouri State University (96% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwest Missouri State University students is 16.5% larger than aid received by University of Central Missouri students ($9,101 vs. $7,811).

Central vs. Northwest Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Central or Northwest? 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 Northwest and Central.

  • Incoming Central students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 21 at Northwest).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsNorthwest Missouri State University 976/1193.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Central Missouri 19/25; Northwest Missouri State University 19/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Central - Test optional; Northwest - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Central students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Northwest (3.45).
  • Northwest has a higher acceptance rate (86.1%) than Central (63.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.6% at Central vs. 22.2% at Northwest.

Central vs. Northwest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Central and Northwest? 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).

  • University of Central Missouri's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than Northwest Missouri State University's (49%).
  • Graduates from University of Central Missouri earn a median of about $300 more per year than Northwest graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,500 vs. $41,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Central Missouri graduates have a $2,559 lower median loan debt than Northwest graduates ($22,441 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, Central graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northwest graduates ($232 vs. $258).
  • More Northwest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 59%)

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.