Wheaton College vs. Northwestern College

Wheaton College and Northwestern College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Wheaton College
Northwestern College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Northwestern College (80.4% admitted vs 87.4%). Typical SAT 1090 vs 1370.
  • Cheaper after aid: Northwestern College. Average net price is $26,347 vs $31,356 at Wheaton College.
  • Graduation: Wheaton College 87% vs Northwestern College 66%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Wheaton College $54,300 vs Northwestern College $38,400 (median).
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Key differences

Wheaton College Northwestern College
Acceptance rate
Northwestern College more selective
Wheaton College87.4%
Northwestern College80.4%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Wheaton College higher
Wheaton College1260-1470
Northwestern College940-1240
Average net price
Northwestern College $5,009 less
Wheaton College$31,356
Northwestern College$26,347
In-state tuition
Northwestern College $8,836 less
Wheaton College$45,546
Northwestern College$36,710
Out-of-state tuition
Northwestern College $8,836 less
Wheaton College$45,546
Northwestern College$36,710
Graduation rate
Wheaton College +21 pts
Wheaton College87%
Northwestern College66%
Median earnings (10 years)
Wheaton College +$15,900
Wheaton College$54,300
Northwestern College$38,400

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Wheaton College 2,040
  • Northwestern College 1,497
  • Admitted
  • Wheaton College 1,783
  • Northwestern College 1,203
  • Acceptance rate
  • Wheaton College 87.4%
  • Northwestern College 80.4%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Wheaton College 29.9%
  • Northwestern College 27.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Wheaton College 1370
  • Northwestern College 1090
  • Typical ACT score
  • Wheaton College 30
  • Northwestern College 23
  • Average high school GPA
  • Wheaton College 3.75
  • Northwestern College 3.57
  • Typical high school grades
  • Wheaton College A-
  • Northwestern College A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Wheaton College Very High
  • Northwestern College Average
  • Applicant competition
  • Wheaton College
  • Northwestern College
  • SAT range
  • Wheaton College 1260-1470
  • Northwestern College 940-1240
  • ACT range
  • Wheaton College 28-32
  • Northwestern College 20-27
  • Submit test scores
  • Wheaton College Test optional
  • Northwestern College Test-free
  • Application deadline
  • Wheaton College Aug 1, 2027
  • Northwestern College
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Wheaton College $45,546
  • Northwestern College $36,710
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Wheaton College $45,546
  • Northwestern College $36,710
  • Room & board
  • Wheaton College $13,010
  • Northwestern College $10,900
  • Average net price
  • Wheaton College $31,356
  • Northwestern College $26,347
  • Average grant aid
  • Wheaton College $27,987
  • Northwestern College $23,537
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Wheaton College 98%
  • Northwestern College 100%
  • Graduation rate
  • Wheaton College 87%
  • Northwestern College 66%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Wheaton College $54,300
  • Northwestern College $38,400
  • Making student loan payments
  • Wheaton College 90%
  • Northwestern College 85%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Wheaton College $22,500
  • Northwestern College $25,092
  • Median loan payment
  • Wheaton College $232
  • Northwestern College $259
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Wheaton College 10:1
  • Northwestern College 15:1
  • Popular majors
  • Wheaton College
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (9%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
  • Northwestern College
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (15%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Location
  • Wheaton College Wheaton, IL
  • Northwestern College Orange City, IA
  • Setting
  • Wheaton College Large Suburban
  • Northwestern College Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Wheaton College 2,874
  • Northwestern College 1,705
  • Type
  • Wheaton College Private 4 Year
  • Northwestern College Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Wheaton College #146
  • Northwestern College #633

Comparable Facts

Compare Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL with Northwestern College in Orange City, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Wheaton College is larger than Northwestern College based on total student enrollment (2,874 students vs. 1,705 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Wheaton College is located in Wheaton, IL (Large Suburban setting); Northwestern College is in Orange City, IA (Distant Town setting).
  • Wheaton College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Northwestern College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Wheaton College 10:1; Northwestern College 15:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern College are 16.2% lower than at Wheaton College ($10,900 vs. $13,010).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 24.1% higher at Wheaton College than at Northwestern College (about $8,836 more per year; $45,546 vs. $36,710).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwestern College than at Wheaton College (100% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wheaton College students is 18.9% larger than aid received by Northwestern College students ($27,987 vs. $23,537).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 7 points higher at Wheaton College than at Northwestern College (30 vs. 23, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at Wheaton College, test-free at Northwestern College.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wheaton College Aug 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Wheaton College average a 3.75 high school GPA, 0.18 higher than at Northwestern College (3.57).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 29.9% at Wheaton College vs. 27.2% at Northwestern College.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Wheaton College graduates have a $2,592 lower median loan debt than Northwestern College graduates ($22,500 vs. $25,092).
  • Among borrowers, Wheaton College graduates have an estimated $27 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northwestern College graduates ($232 vs. $259).
  • More Wheaton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northwestern College students, three years after graduation (90% vs. 85%).

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

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