CUW vs. Northland College

Deciding between Concordia University Wisconsin and Northland College? 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.

Concordia University Wisconsin
Northland College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CUW Mequon, WI
  • Northland College Ashland, WI
  • Setting
  • CUW Rural Fringe
  • Northland College Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • CUW 5,253
  • Northland College 286
  • Type
  • CUW Private 4 Year
  • Northland College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CUW #442
  • Northland College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CUW Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
  • Northland College United Church of Christ
  • Status
  • CUW Non-profit
  • Northland College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CUW
  • Northland College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CUW $35,470
  • Northland College $44,403
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CUW $35,470
  • Northland College $44,403
  • Room & Board
  • CUW $13,200
  • Northland College $11,600
  • Average Net Price
  • CUW $31,916
  • Northland College $23,253
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CUW $21,379
  • Northland College $33,572
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CUW 99%
  • Northland College 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CUW 3,945
  • Northland College 947
  • Admitted
  • CUW 3,085
  • Northland College 710
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CUW 78.2%
  • Northland College 75%
  • Enrolled
  • CUW 14.1%
  • Northland College 9.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CUW
  • Northland College 1050
  • Typical ACT score
  • CUW 23
  • Northland College 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • CUW 3.52
  • Northland College 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CUW A-
  • Northland College B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • CUW Moderate
  • Northland College Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • CUW
  • Northland College
  • ACT Range
  • CUW 20/26
  • Northland College 18/25
  • SAT Range
  • CUW
  • Northland College 950/1140
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CUW Test optional
  • Northland College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CUW
  • Northland College

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CUW 11:1
  • Northland College 5:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CUW
    • Business (40%)
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (4%)
  • Northland College
    • Natural Resources Conservation (23%)
    • Biology (22%)
    • Education (15%)
    • Physical Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CUW 58%
  • Northland College 48%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CUW $46,100
  • Northland College $34,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CUW 52%
  • Northland College 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CUW $23,925
  • Northland College $26,943
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CUW $247
  • Northland College $278

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CUW 42%
  • Northland College 58%
  • % Women
  • CUW 58%
  • Northland College 42%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CUW Low
  • Northland College Very Low
  • HBCU
  • CUW No
  • Northland College No
  • % White
  • CUW 72%
  • Northland College 83%
  • % Asian
  • CUW 2%
  • Northland College 0%
  • % Black
  • CUW 15%
  • Northland College 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • CUW 2%
  • Northland College 6%
  • % Native American
  • CUW 1%
  • Northland College 2%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CUW 0%
  • Northland College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CUW 3%
  • Northland College 2%
  • % International
  • CUW 2%
  • Northland College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CUW 2%
  • Northland College 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CUW 54%
  • Northland College 32%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CUW 34%
  • Northland College 43%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • CUW Yes
  • Northland College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • CUW No
  • Northland College No
  • Meal Plan
  • CUW Yes
  • Northland College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • CUW Yes
  • Northland College No
  • Daycare Facility
  • CUW No
  • Northland College No

Comparable Facts

Compare Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon, WI with Northland College in Ashland, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Concordia University Wisconsin is larger than Northland College based on total student enrollment (5,253 students vs. 286 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Concordia University Wisconsin is located in Mequon, WI (Rural Fringe setting); Northland College is in Ashland, WI (Remote Town setting).
  • Concordia University Wisconsin is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Northland College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Concordia University Wisconsin 11:1; Northland College 5:1.

CUW vs. Northland College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CUW or Northland College? 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 Northland College than CUW ($23,253 vs. $31,916).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northland College are 12.1% lower than at Concordia University Wisconsin ($11,600 vs. $13,200).
  • Northland College is 25.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than CUW (about $8,933 more per year; $44,403.00 vs. $35,470.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 25.2% higher at Northland College than at Concordia University Wisconsin (about $8,933 more per year; $44,403.00 vs. $35,470.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northland College than at Concordia University Wisconsin (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northland College students is 57% larger than aid received by Concordia University Wisconsin students ($33,572 vs. $21,379).

CUW vs. Northland College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CUW or Northland College? 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 Northland College and CUW.

  • Incoming CUW students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 21 at Northland College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsNorthland College 950/1140.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Concordia University Wisconsin 20/26; Northland College 18/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CUW - Test optional; Northland College - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman CUW students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at Northland College (3.3).
  • CUW has a higher acceptance rate (78.2%) than Northland College (75%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at CUW vs. 9.6% at Northland College.

CUW vs. Northland College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CUW and Northland College? 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).

  • Concordia University Wisconsin's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than Northland College's (48%).
  • Graduates from Concordia University Wisconsin earn a median of about $11,200 more per year than Northland College graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,100 vs. $34,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Concordia University Wisconsin graduates have a $3,018 lower median loan debt than Northland College graduates ($23,925 vs. $26,943).
  • Among borrowers, CUW graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northland College graduates ($247 vs. $278).
  • More Northland College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CUW students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 52%)

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.