WSU vs. Northwest

Deciding between Wichita State University 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.

Wichita State University
Northwest Missouri State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • WSU Wichita, KS
  • Northwest Maryville, MO
  • Setting
  • WSU Large City
  • Northwest Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • WSU 16,689
  • Northwest 9,152
  • Type
  • WSU Public 4 Year
  • Northwest Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WSU #746
  • Northwest #896
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WSU -
  • Northwest -
  • Status
  • WSU Non-profit
  • Northwest Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WSU
  • Northwest

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WSU $9,684
  • Northwest $10,611
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WSU $19,869
  • Northwest $17,324
  • Room & Board
  • WSU $12,420
  • Northwest $12,282
  • Average Net Price
  • WSU $14,228
  • Northwest $16,790
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WSU $8,125
  • Northwest $9,101
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WSU 89%
  • Northwest 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WSU 9,916
  • Northwest 5,185
  • Admitted
  • WSU 9,316
  • Northwest 4,464
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WSU 93.9%
  • Northwest 86.1%
  • Enrolled
  • WSU 20.1%
  • Northwest 22.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WSU 1070
  • Northwest 1080
  • Typical ACT score
  • WSU 21
  • Northwest 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • WSU 3.48
  • Northwest 3.45
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WSU B+
  • Northwest B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • WSU Moderate
  • Northwest Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • WSU
  • Northwest
  • ACT Range
  • WSU 17/25
  • Northwest 19/24
  • SAT Range
  • WSU 905/1240
  • Northwest 976/1193
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WSU Test optional
  • Northwest Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • WSU
  • Northwest

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WSU 19:1
  • Northwest 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WSU
    • Business (22%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • Northwest
    • Business (29%)
    • Education (17%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Agriculture (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WSU 43%
  • Northwest 49%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WSU $43,800
  • Northwest $41,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WSU 55%
  • Northwest 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WSU $20,500
  • Northwest $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WSU $211
  • Northwest $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WSU 42%
  • Northwest 35%
  • % Women
  • WSU 58%
  • Northwest 65%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WSU Medium
  • Northwest Low
  • HBCU
  • WSU No
  • Northwest No
  • % White
  • WSU 63%
  • Northwest 79%
  • % Asian
  • WSU 7%
  • Northwest 1%
  • % Black
  • WSU 6%
  • Northwest 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • WSU 11%
  • Northwest 4%
  • % Native American
  • WSU 1%
  • Northwest 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WSU 0%
  • Northwest 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WSU 4%
  • Northwest 3%
  • % International
  • WSU 6%
  • Northwest 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WSU 3%
  • Northwest 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WSU 72%
  • Northwest 62%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WSU 22%
  • Northwest 35%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Wichita State University is larger than Northwest based on total student enrollment (16,689 students vs. 9,152 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Wichita State University is located in Wichita, KS (Large City setting); Northwest Missouri State University is in Maryville, MO (Remote Town setting).
  • Wichita State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Northwest Missouri State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Wichita State University 19:1; Northwest Missouri State University 16:1.

WSU vs. Northwest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WSU 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 Wichita State University than Northwest ($14,228 vs. $16,790).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwest Missouri State University are 1.1% lower than at Wichita State University ($12,282 vs. $12,420).
  • Northwest Missouri State University is 9.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than WSU (about $927 more per year; $10,611.00 vs. $9,684.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.7% higher at WSU than at Northwest Missouri State University (about $2,545 more per year; $19,869.00 vs. $17,324.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwest Missouri State University than at Wichita State University (95% vs. 89%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwest Missouri State University students is 12% larger than aid received by Wichita State University students ($9,101 vs. $8,125).

WSU vs. Northwest Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WSU 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 WSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northwest Missouri State University (1080) is 10 points higher than at WSU (1070).
  • Incoming WSU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 21) as students at Northwest (21).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wichita State University 905/1240; Northwest Missouri State University 976/1193.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wichita State University 17/25; Northwest Missouri State University 19/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WSU - Test optional; Northwest - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman WSU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at Northwest (3.45).
  • WSU has a higher acceptance rate (93.9%) than Northwest (86.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.1% at WSU vs. 22.2% at Northwest.

WSU vs. Northwest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WSU 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).

  • Northwest Missouri State University's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than Wichita State University's (43%).
  • Graduates from Wichita State University earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than Northwest graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,800 vs. $41,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Wichita State University graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Northwest graduates ($20,500 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, WSU graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northwest graduates ($211 vs. $258).
  • More Northwest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 55%)

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.