Northwestern College vs. MSU Moorhead

Should I go to Northwestern College or Minnesota State University Moorhead? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Northwestern College or MSU Moorhead 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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Northwestern College vs. Minnesota State University Moorhead comparison
Northwestern College Minnesota State University Moorhead College 3 College 4
Northwestern College Minnesota State University Moorhead
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Overview

Northwestern College MSU Moorhead
Location Orange City, IA Moorhead, MN
Setting Distant Town Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 1,651 4,682
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #638 #608
Religious Affiliation Reformed Church in America - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nwciowa.edu mnstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northwestern College MSU Moorhead
Tuition (In State) $34,000 $8,838
Tuition (Out of State) $34,000 $17,674
Room & Board $10,200 $10,104
Avg Net Price $25,198 $17,939
Avg Grant Aid $22,228 $6,905
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 96%

Admission

Northwestern College MSU Moorhead
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,105 3,898
Admitted 965 2,207
Acceptance Rate 87.3% 56.6%
Enrolled % 29.8% 28.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.57 3.52
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/27 18/24
SAT Range 940/1240 1080/1290
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

Northwestern College MSU Moorhead
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

Outcomes

Northwestern College MSU Moorhead
Graduation Rate 66% 45%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $42,400
Making Student Loan Payments 85% 65%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,092 $22,276
Median Loan Payment $259 $230

Diversity

Northwestern College MSU Moorhead
% Men 39% 35%
% Women 61% 65%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 83% 78%
% Black 2% 3%
% Hispanic 5% 3%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 3% 7%
% Unknown Race 4% 4%

Students

Northwestern College MSU Moorhead
% In-State 55% 68%
% Out-of-State 42% 28%

Campus

Northwestern College MSU Moorhead
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
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Comparable Facts

  • Minnesota State University Moorhead is larger than than Northwestern College based on total student enrollment (4,682 students vs. 1,651 students)

Northwestern College vs. MSU Moorhead Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwestern College or MSU Moorhead?

  • Northwestern College is 284.7% more expensive to attend than MSU Moorhead for in-state tuition ($34,000.00 vs. $8,838.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 92.4% higher at Northwestern College than Minnesota State University Moorhead ($34,000.00 vs. $17,674.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Minnesota State University Moorhead than Northwestern College ($17,939 vs. $25,198)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Minnesota State University Moorhead are 1% lower than costs at Northwestern College ($10,104 vs. $10,200)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northwestern College than Minnesota State University Moorhead (100% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern College students is 221.9% larger than aid received Minnesota State University Moorhead ($22,228 vs. $6,905)

Northwestern College vs. MSU Moorhead Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northwestern College or MSU Moorhead? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between MSU Moorhead or Northwestern College .

  • The average SAT score at Northwestern College (1141) is 92 points higher than at MSU Moorhead (1049)
  • Incoming Northwestern College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at MSU Moorhead (23)
  • Accepted freshman Northwestern College students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at MSU Moorhead (3.52)
  • Northwestern College has a higher acceptance rate (87.3%) than MSU Moorhead (56.6%)

Northwestern College vs. MSU Moorhead Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Northwestern College or MSU Moorhead? 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 MSU Moorhead and Northwestern College.

  • The graduation rate at Northwestern College is higher than Minnesota State University Moorhead (66% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from Minnesota State University Moorhead earn on average $4,000 more per year than Northwestern College graduates after ten years. ($42,400 vs. $38,400)
  • Minnesota State University Moorhead students graduate with a $2,816 lower median federal student loan debt than Northwestern College graduates. ($22,276 vs. $25,092)
  • MSU Moorhead graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Northwestern College graduates. ($230 vs. $259)
  • More Northwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MSU Moorhead students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 65%)

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