Northwestern vs Washington University - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Northwestern: 7.7% against 12.1% (Washington University).
On SAT scores this is the same calibre of applicant: 1540 and 1540.
Tuition is practically the same ($70,589 against $69,594), so financial aid, not the sticker price, will decide the cost.
Both meet assessed financial need in full; the real cost therefore depends on your circumstances, not on tuition.
None of these figures decides on its own; what decides is which course you want to be on, and on what budget.
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 12.1% acceptance). Washington University ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#33 vs #23). Northwestern graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($89K vs $86K). Washington University has lower sticker-price tuition ($69,594 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: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.
Choose Washington University for: a higher world ranking, lower tuition, a larger aid package.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Northwestern is more selective (7.69% vs 12.1% acceptance).
Northwestern graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($89K vs $86K); Northwestern has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.1% vs 94.3%).
Washington University has lower sticker-price tuition ($69,594 vs $70,589); Washington University offers a larger average aid package ($75,604 vs $68,110).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Northwestern | Washington University |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #33 | #23 |
| Rank · THE | #31 | #69 |
| Acceptance rate | 7.69% | 12.1% |
| Yield rate | 55.3% | 46.7% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 4.19 |
| Number of applications | 49,474 | 32,754 |
| International students | 11.8% | 9.4% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $89K | $86K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $61K | $61K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $139K | $137K |
| Graduation rate | 95.1% | 94.3% |
| Retention rate | 98% | 95% |
| Median debt | $15,000 | $17,500 |
| Tuition · year | $70,589 | $69,594 |
| Avg. aid package | $68,110 | $75,604 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $32,540 | $26,666 |
| Application fee | $75 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 23,431 | 16,357 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Northwestern or Washington University?
It's harder to get into Northwestern. Northwestern accepts 7.69% of applicants, while Washington University accepts 12.1%.
Do Northwestern or Washington University graduates earn more?
Northwestern graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $89K vs $86K.
How much is tuition at Northwestern vs Washington University?
Sticker-price tuition is $70,589 per year at Northwestern and $69,594 per year at Washington University.
What SAT score do you need for Northwestern or Washington University?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Northwestern and 1540 at Washington University; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Northwestern or Washington University?
Washington University ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #33 for Northwestern vs #23 for Washington University.
Which university offers more financial aid - Northwestern or Washington University?
The average aid package is $68,110 at Northwestern and $75,604 at Washington University.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
North Carolina
Duke