VCM vs. IU Northwest

Deciding between VanderCook College of Music and Indiana University Northwest? 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.

Indiana University Northwest

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • VCM Chicago, IL
  • IU Northwest Gary, IN
  • Setting
  • VCM Large City
  • IU Northwest Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • VCM 323
  • IU Northwest 3,041
  • Type
  • VCM Private 4 Year
  • IU Northwest Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • VCM
  • IU Northwest #875
  • Religious Affiliation
  • VCM -
  • IU Northwest -
  • Status
  • VCM Non-profit
  • IU Northwest Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • VCM
  • IU Northwest

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • VCM $30,910
  • IU Northwest $8,424
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • VCM $30,910
  • IU Northwest $22,811
  • Room & Board
  • VCM $14,008
  • IU Northwest $10,972
  • Average Net Price
  • VCM $21,306
  • IU Northwest $5,745
  • Average Grant Aid
  • VCM $23,317
  • IU Northwest $8,327
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • VCM 100%
  • IU Northwest 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • VCM 38
  • IU Northwest 2,928
  • Admitted
  • VCM 34
  • IU Northwest 2,149
  • Acceptance Rate
  • VCM 89.5%
  • IU Northwest 73.4%
  • Enrolled
  • VCM 44.1%
  • IU Northwest 23.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • VCM 1030
  • IU Northwest 1050
  • Typical ACT score
  • VCM 17
  • IU Northwest 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • VCM 3.1
  • IU Northwest 3.14
  • Typical High School Grades
  • VCM B
  • IU Northwest B
  • Admissions Standards
  • VCM Extremely Easy
  • IU Northwest Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • VCM
  • IU Northwest Low
  • ACT Range
  • VCM 15/20
  • IU Northwest 18/26
  • SAT Range
  • VCM 890/1160
  • IU Northwest 910/1180
  • Submit Test Scores
  • VCM Test optional
  • IU Northwest Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • VCM Apr 1, 2027
  • IU Northwest

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • VCM 5:1
  • IU Northwest 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • VCM
    • Education (100%)
  • IU Northwest
    • Health Professions (33%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • VCM 45%
  • IU Northwest 23%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • VCM N/A
  • IU Northwest $39,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • VCM 66%
  • IU Northwest 33%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • VCM $27,000
  • IU Northwest $25,030
  • Median Loan Payment
  • VCM $279
  • IU Northwest $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • VCM 47%
  • IU Northwest 27%
  • % Women
  • VCM 53%
  • IU Northwest 73%
  • Racial Diversity
  • VCM High
  • IU Northwest High
  • HBCU
  • VCM No
  • IU Northwest No
  • % White
  • VCM 62%
  • IU Northwest 55%
  • % Asian
  • VCM 2%
  • IU Northwest 2%
  • % Black
  • VCM 8%
  • IU Northwest 18%
  • % Hispanic
  • VCM 21%
  • IU Northwest 20%
  • % Native American
  • VCM 0%
  • IU Northwest 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • VCM 0%
  • IU Northwest 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • VCM 4%
  • IU Northwest 3%
  • % International
  • VCM 2%
  • IU Northwest 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • VCM 2%
  • IU Northwest 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • VCM 73%
  • IU Northwest 95%
  • % Out-of-State
  • VCM 27%
  • IU Northwest 4%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, IL with Indiana University Northwest in Gary, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Indiana University Northwest is larger than VCM based on total student enrollment (3,041 students vs. 323 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • VanderCook College of Music is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Indiana University Northwest is in Gary, IN (Small City setting).
  • VanderCook College of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Indiana University Northwest is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: VanderCook College of Music 5:1; Indiana University Northwest 15:1.

VCM vs. IU Northwest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, VCM or IU 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 Indiana University Northwest than VCM ($5,745 vs. $21,306).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Northwest are 21.7% lower than at VanderCook College of Music ($10,972 vs. $14,008).
  • VanderCook College of Music is 266.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than IU Northwest (about $22,486 more per year; $30,910.00 vs. $8,424.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 35.5% higher at VCM than at Indiana University Northwest (about $8,099 more per year; $30,910.00 vs. $22,811.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at VanderCook College of Music than at Indiana University Northwest (100% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by VanderCook College of Music students is 180% larger than aid received by Indiana University Northwest students ($23,317 vs. $8,327).

VCM vs. IU Northwest Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, VCM or IU 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 IU Northwest and VCM.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Indiana University Northwest (1050) is 20 points higher than at VCM (1030).
  • Incoming IU Northwest students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 17 at VCM).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: VanderCook College of Music 890/1160; Indiana University Northwest 910/1180.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: VanderCook College of Music 15/20; Indiana University Northwest 18/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: VCM - Test optional; IU Northwest - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: VCM Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IU Northwest students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.14) than students at VCM (3.1).
  • VCM has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than IU Northwest (73.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 44.1% at VCM vs. 23.5% at IU Northwest.

VCM vs. IU Northwest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for VCM and IU 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).

  • VanderCook College of Music's six-year graduation rate (45%) is higher than Indiana University Northwest's (23%).
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Indiana University Northwest graduates have a $1,970 lower median loan debt than VCM graduates ($25,030 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, IU Northwest graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VCM graduates ($258 vs. $279).
  • More VCM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IU Northwest students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 33%)

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.