National Louis University (NLU) vs NorthWestern

National Louis University and Northwestern University, two distinct institutions of higher learning, offer contrasting educational experiences. National Louis University, a private, non-profit university, prides itself on its diverse student body and commitment to social justice. With an acceptance rate of 100%, it welcomes students from all backgrounds, fostering an inclusive learning environment. Northwestern University, a prestigious private research university, boasts a highly selective admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 8.4%. Its student body is known for its academic excellence and diverse interests. While National Louis University excels in fields like education, nursing, and business, Northwestern University offers a wider range of majors, including engineering, law, and medicine. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about these universities' unique strengths and determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
National Louis University logo

National Louis University

Northwestern University logo

Northwestern University

Overview

Location Chicago, Illinois Evanston, Illinois
Campus setting City: Large City: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Quarter Quarter
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 61.0% 99.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 97.0% 7.0%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $95
SAT range N/A 1470 - 1570
ACT range N/A 34 - 35
Students submitting SAT score 43.0%
Students submitting ACT score 39.0%
Total number of applicants 1,518 47,636
Total number of admissions given out 1,473 3,321
Admitted students who chose to enroll 558 2,086
Yield rate 37.9% 62.8%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Not required
Recommendation letters Not required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $32,325 $83,838
Average net price $14,665 $29,999
Tuition $10,755 $60,276
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $11,271

Meal plan: $6,993
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

93.0%
Average amount $8,931
57.0%
Average amount $51,087
Students receiving federal student loan 14.0%
Average amount $3,883
23.0%
Average amount $4,625
Students taking out private loans 1.0%
Average amount $19,696
2.0%
Average amount $38,595

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 3,607
Men 25.8% Women 74.2%
8,847
Men 46.1% Women 53.9%
Graduate students 3,708
Men 17.5% Women 82.5%
14,562
Men 47.3% Women 52.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 2.9% N/A
International students 1.3% 17.8%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Small
Dormitory capacity N/A 4,409
First year students are required to live on campus? N/A No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Illinois Indiana Arizona California N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Business
  • Psychology
  • Family and Consumer Sciences
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Business
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Engineering
  • Health Professions
  • Legal Profession
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 6:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 33.8% 95.2%
Dropout rate 51.2% 4.2%
Transferred out 12.5% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $116,556
  • Year 2: $86,424
  • Year 3: $90,466
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,515
  • Year 2: $61,516
  • Year 3: $68,357
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,800
  • Year 2: $56,234
  • Year 3: $62,702
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,308
  • Year 2: $59,921
  • Year 3: $62,677
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,451
  • Year 2: $57,705
  • Year 3: $59,800
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,872
  • Year 2: $63,600
  • Year 3: $59,310
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,332
  • Year 2: $53,017
  • Year 3: $57,588
Curriculum and Instruction (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,059
  • Year 2: $54,238
  • Year 3: $55,084
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,097
  • Year 2: $50,887
  • Year 3: $53,488
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,720
  • Year 2: $45,696
  • Year 3: $53,026
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $150,242
  • Year 2: $188,472
  • Year 3: $221,242
Business/Commerce, General (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $188,472
  • Year 3: $216,176
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $187,194
  • Year 2: $170,971
  • Year 3: $206,288
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $120,709
  • Year 2: $189,565
  • Year 3: $194,961
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $162,478
  • Year 2: $163,561
  • Year 3: $177,652
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $111,200
  • Year 2: $157,779
  • Year 3: $159,304
Engineering, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $140,321
  • Year 2: $141,586
  • Year 3: $154,556
Medical Illustration and Informatics (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $88,288
  • Year 2: $118,465
  • Year 3: $132,325
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $118,780
  • Year 2: $111,323
  • Year 3: $130,124
Community Organization and Advocacy (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $115,760
  • Year 2: $113,668
  • Year 3: $128,046

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