Northwestern College vs. BLC

Should I go to Northwestern College or Bethany Lutheran College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Northwestern College or BLC 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

Dort WLC Wheaton College Creighton University
Northwestern College vs. Bethany Lutheran College comparison
Northwestern College Bethany Lutheran College College 3 College 4
Northwestern College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Northwestern College BLC
Location Orange City, IA Mankato, MN
Setting Distant Town Remote Town
Enrollment 1,651 830
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #638
Religious Affiliation Reformed Church in America Other (none of the above) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nwciowa.edu blc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northwestern College BLC
Tuition (In State) $34,000 $28,330
Tuition (Out of State) $34,000 $28,330
Room & Board $10,200 $8,270
Avg Net Price $25,198 $18,525
Avg Grant Aid $22,228 $20,705
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Northwestern College BLC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,105 665
Admitted 965 389
Acceptance Rate 87.3% 58.5%
Enrolled % 29.8% 45.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.57 3.51
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/27 20/25
SAT Range 940/1240 990/1290
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 1, 2024

Academics

Northwestern College BLC
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Biology (13%)
  • Communication (13%)
  • Psychology (10%)

Outcomes

Northwestern College BLC
Graduation Rate 66% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $37,300
Making Student Loan Payments 85% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,092 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $259 $240

Diversity

Northwestern College BLC
% Men 39% 48%
% Women 61% 52%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 83% 88%
% Black 2% 3%
% Hispanic 5% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 1%
% International 3% 3%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

Northwestern College BLC
% In-State 55% 59%
% Out-of-State 42% 23%

Campus

Northwestern College BLC
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Northwestern College is larger than than BLC based on total student enrollment (1,651 students vs. 830 students)

Northwestern College vs. BLC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwestern College or BLC?

  • Northwestern College is 20% more expensive to attend than BLC for in-state tuition ($34,000.00 vs. $28,330.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 20% higher at Northwestern College than Bethany Lutheran College ($34,000.00 vs. $28,330.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bethany Lutheran College than Northwestern College ($18,525 vs. $25,198)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bethany Lutheran College are 23.3% lower than costs at Northwestern College ($8,270 vs. $10,200)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Northwestern College as Bethany Lutheran College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern College students is 7.4% larger than aid received Bethany Lutheran College ($22,228 vs. $20,705)

Northwestern College vs. BLC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northwestern College (1141) is 67 points higher than at BLC (1074)
  • Incoming Northwestern College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at BLC (23)
  • Accepted freshman Northwestern College students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at BLC (3.51)
  • Northwestern College has a higher acceptance rate (87.3%) than BLC (58.5%)

Northwestern College vs. BLC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Northwestern College or BLC? 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 BLC and Northwestern College.

  • The graduation rate at Northwestern College is higher than Bethany Lutheran College (66% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from Northwestern College earn on average $1,100 more per year than BLC graduates after ten years. ($38,400 vs. $37,300)
  • Bethany Lutheran College students graduate with a $1,842 lower median federal student loan debt than Northwestern College graduates. ($23,250 vs. $25,092)
  • BLC graduates are paying $19 less per month on federal student loans than Northwestern College graduates. ($240 vs. $259)
  • More Northwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BLC students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 80%)

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