U of O vs NorthWestern

Nestled in the heart of Eugene, Oregon, and Evanston, Illinois, respectively, the University of Oregon (UO) and Northwestern University (NU) stand as two distinct academic powerhouses, each offering a unique educational experience. While both institutions share a commitment to academic excellence, they differ in several key aspects, including acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. This side-by-side comparison delves into these differences, providing prospective students with valuable insights to help them make informed decisions about their higher education journey. Whether you're drawn to UO's vibrant college town atmosphere or NU's proximity to the bustling city of Chicago, this comprehensive analysis will guide you towards the institution that best aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Northwestern University logo

Northwestern University

University of Oregon logo

University of Oregon

Overview

Location Evanston, Illinois Eugene, Oregon
Campus setting City: Small City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Public
Calendar system Quarter Quarter
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 99.0% 87.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 7.0% 93.4%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $95
Undergraduate: $65

Graduate: $70
SAT range 1470 - 1570 N/A
ACT range 34 - 35 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 43.0%
Students submitting ACT score 39.0%
Total number of applicants 47,636 31,558
Total number of admissions given out 3,321 29,483
Admitted students who chose to enroll 2,086 4,589
Yield rate 62.8% 15.6%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Required
Recommendation letters Required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $83,838
In state: $28,404

Out of state: $54,447
Average net price $29,999 $18,556
Tuition $60,276
In state: $11,974

Out of state: $38,017
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $11,271

Meal plan: $6,993
$13,509
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

57.0%
Average amount $51,087
63.0%
Average amount $13,590
Students receiving federal student loan 23.0%
Average amount $4,625
32.0%
Average amount $5,093
Students taking out private loans 2.0%
Average amount $38,595
4.0%
Average amount $28,121

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 8,847
Men 46.1% Women 53.9%
18,602
Men 44.5% Women 55.5%
Graduate students 14,562
Men 47.3% Women 52.7%
3,655
Men 45.4% Women 54.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students N/A 54.8%
International students 17.8% 4.8%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 4,409 5,523
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Oregon California Washington Colorado Texas

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Engineering
  • Health Professions
  • Legal Profession
  • Education
  • Business
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Social Sciences
  • Architecture
Students to faculty ratio 6:1 20:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Outcome

Graduation rate 95.2% 74.4%
Dropout rate 4.2% 8.7%
Transferred out N/A 16.4%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
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
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $89,230
  • Year 3: $95,616
Physics (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $77,844
  • Year 2: $75,832
  • Year 3: $90,800
Chemistry (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,666
  • Year 2: $83,177
  • Year 3: $90,002
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,849
  • Year 2: $86,621
  • Year 3: $87,239
Chemistry (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,269
  • Year 2: $72,231
  • Year 3: $82,154
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,287
  • Year 2: $61,681
  • Year 3: $80,277
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,279
  • Year 2: $59,425
  • Year 3: $68,549
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,062
  • Year 2: $56,840
  • Year 3: $67,900
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,838
  • Year 2: $62,012
  • Year 3: $67,123
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,818
  • Year 2: $55,464
  • Year 3: $66,741

Compare Similar Colleges

The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page. There, you can search for the specific colleges and initiate your comparison.
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