Northwestern vs Virginia - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Northwestern: 7.7% against 16.8% (Virginia).
The share of international students differs sharply: 11.8% (Northwestern) against 4.9% (Virginia).
If you are applying from outside the US, budget without institutional support where there is none: only Northwestern reports aid for international students ($74,103 on average), Virginia does not.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Northwestern starts at $96,182 against $80,859 and ends at $28,072 against $43,736 (Virginia).
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 16.81% acceptance). Northwestern ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#33 vs #201-300). Median earnings 10 years after enrollment are effectively tied ($89K vs $87K). Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($62,923 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 Northwestern for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
Choose Virginia for: a higher graduation rate, lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Northwestern is more selective (7.69% vs 16.81% acceptance); Northwestern has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1470).
Northwestern graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($89K vs $87K); Virginia has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.6% vs 95.1%).
Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($62,923 vs $70,589); Northwestern offers a larger average aid package ($68,110 vs $37,123).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Northwestern | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #33 | #201-300 |
| Rank · THE | #31 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 7.69% | 16.81% |
| Yield rate | 55.3% | 40% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1470 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 49,474 | 58,951 |
| International students | 11.8% | 4.9% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $89K | $87K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $61K | $59K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $139K | $130K |
| Graduation rate | 95.1% | 95.6% |
| Retention rate | 98% | 97.9% |
| Median debt | $15,000 | $17,500 |
| Tuition · year | $70,589 | $62,923 |
| Avg. aid package | $68,110 | $37,123 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $32,540 | $25,137 |
| Application fee | $75 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 23,431 | 26,470 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Northwestern or Virginia?
It's harder to get into Northwestern. Northwestern accepts 7.69% of applicants, while Virginia accepts 16.81%.
Do Northwestern or Virginia graduates earn more?
Earnings are practically equal - 10 years after enrollment, the median is $89K at Northwestern and $87K at Virginia.
How much is tuition at Northwestern vs Virginia?
Sticker-price tuition is $70,589 per year at Northwestern and $62,923 per year at Virginia.
What SAT score do you need for Northwestern or Virginia?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Northwestern and 1470 at Virginia; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Northwestern or Virginia?
Northwestern ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #33 for Northwestern vs #201-300 for Virginia.
Which university offers more financial aid - Northwestern or Virginia?
The average aid package is $68,110 at Northwestern and $37,123 at Virginia.
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