California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) vs NorthWestern

California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) and Northwestern University (NU) stand as two distinct academic institutions, each offering unique educational experiences. CIIS, a private, non-profit university in San Francisco, California, emphasizes holistic and transformative learning, with a focus on consciousness, spirituality, and social change. In contrast, NU, a private research university in Evanston, Illinois, is renowned for its rigorous academic programs, particularly in the fields of law, medicine, and business. While both universities boast impressive faculty and strong alumni networks, they differ significantly in terms of acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover which institution better aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
California Institute of Integral Studies logo

California Institute of Integral Studies

Northwestern University logo

Northwestern University

Overview

Location San Francisco, California 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 Semester Quarter
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 99.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate N/A 7.0%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $65

Graduate: $65
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 47,636
Total number of admissions given out 3,321
Admitted students who chose to enroll 2,086
Yield rate 62.8%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A
High school GPA N/A Not required
Recommendation letters N/A Required
High school transcript N/A Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) N/A Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $83,838
Average net price $29,999
Tuition $60,276
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $11,271

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

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

57.0%
Average amount $51,087
Students receiving federal student loan 23.0%
Average amount $4,625
Students taking out private loans 2.0%
Average amount $38,595

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 84
Men 19.0% Women 81.0%
8,847
Men 46.1% Women 53.9%
Graduate students 1,749
Men 21.2% Women 78.8%
14,562
Men 47.3% Women 52.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 3.9% 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 N/A N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Psychology
  • Health Professions
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Business
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Engineering
  • Health Professions
  • Legal Profession
Students to faculty ratio 12:1 6:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate N/A 95.2%
Dropout rate N/A 4.2%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $54,035
  • Year 3: $68,203
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,233
  • Year 2: $35,327
  • Year 3: $46,773
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,244
  • Year 2: $15,182
  • Year 3: $26,967
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,533
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $36,221
  • Year 3: N/A
Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,924
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
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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