University of South Alabama vs. Northwest

Should I go to University of South Alabama or Northwest Missouri State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if University of South Alabama or Northwest is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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University of South Alabama vs. Northwest Missouri State University comparison
University of South Alabama Northwest Missouri State University College 3 College 4
University of South Alabama Northwest Missouri State University
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Overview

University of South Alabama Northwest
Location Mobile, AL Maryville, MO
Setting Midsize City Remote Town
Enrollment 13,768 9,664
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #750 #907
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website southalabama.edu nwmissouri.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of South Alabama Northwest
Tuition (In State) $8,976 $6,442
Tuition (Out of State) $17,952 $12,884
Room & Board $8,830 $11,788
Avg Net Price $13,613 $15,497
Avg Grant Aid $8,500 $8,700
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 96%

Admission

University of South Alabama Northwest
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,593 6,834
Admitted 8,247 5,871
Acceptance Rate 65.5% 85.9%
Enrolled % 23.3% 17.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.69 3.45
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/26 18/23
SAT Range 1015/1200 970/1200
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2025

Academics

University of South Alabama Northwest
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (27%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Engineering (6%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Business (29%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Agriculture (6%)
  • General Studies (6%)

Outcomes

University of South Alabama Northwest
Graduation Rate 39% 49%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,200 $41,200
Making Student Loan Payments 45% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,500 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $253 $258

Diversity

University of South Alabama Northwest
% Men 7% 14%
% Women 28% 29%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 59% 79%
% Black 24% 7%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 5% 6%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

University of South Alabama Northwest
% In-State 73% 67%
% Out-of-State 26% 29%

Campus

University of South Alabama Northwest
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of South Alabama is larger than than Northwest based on total student enrollment (13,768 students vs. 9,664 students)

University of South Alabama vs. Northwest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of South Alabama or Northwest?

  • University of South Alabama is 39.3% more expensive to attend than Northwest for in-state tuition ($8,976.00 vs. $6,442.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 39.3% higher at University of South Alabama than Northwest Missouri State University ($17,952.00 vs. $12,884.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Alabama than Northwest ($13,613 vs. $15,497)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Alabama are 33.5% lower than costs at Northwest Missouri State University ($8,830 vs. $11,788)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northwest Missouri State University than University of South Alabama (96% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwest Missouri State University students is 2.4% larger than aid received University of South Alabama ($8,700 vs. $8,500)

University of South Alabama vs. Northwest Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of South Alabama or Northwest? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Northwest or University of South Alabama .

  • The average SAT score at Northwest Missouri State University (1047) is 2 points higher than at University of South Alabama (1045)
  • Incoming University of South Alabama students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at Northwest (23)
  • Accepted freshman University of South Alabama students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Northwest (3.45)
  • Northwest has a higher acceptance rate (85.9%) than University of South Alabama (65.5%)

University of South Alabama vs. Northwest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of South Alabama or Northwest? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Northwest and University of South Alabama.

  • The graduation rate at Northwest is higher than University of South Alabama (49% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from University of South Alabama earn on average $4,000 more per year than Northwest graduates after ten years. ($45,200 vs. $41,200)
  • University of South Alabama students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than Northwest graduates. ($24,500 vs. $25,000)
  • University of South Alabama graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than Northwest graduates. ($253 vs. $258)
  • More Northwest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of South Alabama students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 45%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/