Binghamton vs Northwestern - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
A place is harder to win where the bar sits higher: Northwestern admits 7.7%, Binghamton admits 38.6%.
The larger international cohort belongs to Northwestern: 11.8% of students against 4% (Binghamton).
Real money goes to international students at Northwestern ($74,103 on average), while Binghamton stops at $8,377.
The tuition gap is $40,142 a year: $30,447 (Binghamton) against $70,589.
These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.
Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.
EXPERT TAKE
Northwestern is the more selective of the two (7.69% vs 38.61% acceptance). Northwestern ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #33). Northwestern graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($89K vs $81K). Binghamton has lower sticker-price tuition ($30,447 vs $70,589 per year).
Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.
Choose Binghamton for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
Choose Northwestern for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Northwestern is more selective (7.69% vs 38.61% acceptance); Northwestern has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1420).
Northwestern graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($89K vs $81K); Northwestern has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.1% vs 81.6%).
Binghamton has lower sticker-price tuition ($30,447 vs $70,589); Northwestern offers a larger average aid package ($68,110 vs $19,288).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Binghamton | Northwestern |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #501-600 | #33 |
| Rank · THE | - | #31 |
| Acceptance rate | 38.61% | 7.69% |
| Yield rate | 15.9% | 55.3% |
| Median SAT | 1420 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.88 | - |
| Number of applications | 53,007 | 49,474 |
| International students | 4% | 11.8% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $81K | $89K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $53K | $61K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $114K | $139K |
| Graduation rate | 81.6% | 95.1% |
| Retention rate | 89.5% | 98% |
| Median debt | $18,500 | $15,000 |
| Tuition · year | $30,447 | $70,589 |
| Avg. aid package | $19,288 | $68,110 |
| % of need met | 74% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $27,208 | $32,540 |
| Application fee | $50 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 18,815 | 23,431 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Binghamton or Northwestern?
It's harder to get into Northwestern. Binghamton accepts 38.61% of applicants, while Northwestern accepts 7.69%.
Do Binghamton or Northwestern graduates earn more?
Northwestern graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $89K vs $81K.
How much is tuition at Binghamton vs Northwestern?
Sticker-price tuition is $30,447 per year at Binghamton and $70,589 per year at Northwestern.
What SAT score do you need for Binghamton or Northwestern?
The median admitted SAT score is 1420 at Binghamton and 1540 at Northwestern; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Binghamton or Northwestern?
Northwestern ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Binghamton vs #33 for Northwestern.
Which university offers more financial aid - Binghamton or Northwestern?
The average aid package is $19,288 at Binghamton and $68,110 at Northwestern.
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