Northwestern vs. Wisconsin

Should I go to Northwestern University or University of Wisconsin Madison? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Northwestern or Wisconsin 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. 

Minnesota Michigan Illinois Ohio State UChicago UW-Seattle Notre Dame Duke Purdue Maryland Vanderbilt UT Austin
Northwestern University vs. University of Wisconsin Madison comparison
Northwestern University University of Wisconsin Madison College 3 College 4
Northwestern University University of Wisconsin Madison
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Northwestern Wisconsin
Location Evanston, IL Madison, WI
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 23,161 48,956
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #15 #105
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website northwestern.edu wisc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northwestern Wisconsin
Tuition (In State) $62,391 $9,273
Tuition (Out of State) $62,391 $37,904
Room & Board $19,440 $12,894
Avg Net Price $22,095 $13,376
Avg Grant Aid $61,716 $11,171
% Receiving Grant Aid 50% 47%

Admission

Northwestern Wisconsin
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 51,261 60,214
Admitted 3,695 29,539
Acceptance Rate 7.2% 49.1%
Enrolled % 55.2% 29.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.92 3.88
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Extreme Low
ACT Range 33/35 26/32
SAT Range 1490/1570 1340/1510
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2024 Jan 15, 2024

Academics

Northwestern Wisconsin
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Communication (14%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Business (10%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

Northwestern Wisconsin
Graduation Rate 94% 82%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $89,800 $64,800
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 84%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,378 $22,250
Median Loan Payment $200 $230

Diversity

Northwestern Wisconsin
% Men 46% 47%
% Women 54% 53%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 50% 76%
% Black 6% 2%
% Hispanic 12% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 8% 8%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

Northwestern Wisconsin
% In-State 22% 43%
% Out-of-State 67% 47%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Wisconsin Madison is larger than than Northwestern based on total student enrollment (48,956 students vs. 23,161 students)

Northwestern vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwestern or Wisconsin?

  • Northwestern University is 572.8% more expensive to attend than Wisconsin for in-state tuition ($62,391.00 vs. $9,273.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 64.6% higher at Northwestern than University of Wisconsin Madison ($62,391.00 vs. $37,904.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wisconsin Madison than Northwestern ($13,376 vs. $22,095)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Madison are 50.8% lower than costs at Northwestern University ($12,894 vs. $19,440)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northwestern University than University of Wisconsin Madison (50% vs. 47%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern University students is 452.5% larger than aid received University of Wisconsin Madison ($61,716 vs. $11,171)

Northwestern vs. Wisconsin Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northwestern University (1460) is 160 points higher than at Wisconsin (1300)
  • Incoming Northwestern students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at Wisconsin (29)
  • Accepted freshman Northwestern students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Wisconsin (3.88)
  • Wisconsin has a higher acceptance rate (49.1%) than Northwestern (7.2%)

Northwestern vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Northwestern or Wisconsin? 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 Wisconsin and Northwestern.

  • The graduation rate at Northwestern is higher than University of Wisconsin Madison (94% vs. 82%)
  • Graduates from Northwestern University earn on average $25,000 more per year than Wisconsin graduates after ten years. ($89,800 vs. $64,800)
  • Northwestern University students graduate with a $2,872 lower median federal student loan debt than Wisconsin graduates. ($19,378 vs. $22,250)
  • Northwestern graduates are paying $30 less per month on federal student loans than Wisconsin graduates. ($200 vs. $230)
  • More Northwestern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wisconsin students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 84%)

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