Northwestern College vs. W&J

Comparable Facts

Compare Northwestern College in Orange City, IA with Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Northwestern College is larger than W&J based on total student enrollment (1,705 students vs. 1,309 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Northwestern College is located in Orange City, IA (Distant Town setting); Washington & Jefferson College is in Washington, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Northwestern College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Washington & Jefferson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Northwestern College 15:1; Washington & Jefferson College 11:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern College are 25.9% lower than at Washington & Jefferson College ($10,900 vs. $14,710).
• Out-of-state tuition is 24.9% higher at Northwestern College than at Washington & Jefferson College (about $7,318 more per year; $36,710 vs. $29,392).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Northwestern College as at Washington & Jefferson College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern College students is 16.8% larger than aid received by Washington & Jefferson College students ($23,537 vs. $20,152).

Admissions details

• Incoming Northwestern College students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 23) as students at W&J (23).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both Northwestern College and W&J.
• Enrolled first-year students at Northwestern College average a 3.57 high school GPA, 0.03 higher than at W&J (3.54).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.2% at Northwestern College vs. 12.6% at W&J.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Northwestern College graduates have a $1,908 lower median loan debt than W&J graduates ($25,092 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Northwestern College graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than W&J graduates ($259 vs. $279).
• More Northwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former W&J students, three years after graduation (85% vs. 79%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.