Stanford vs Northwestern - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Stanford awards international students $85,424 on average, Northwestern awards $74,103.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Stanford starts at $97,545 against $96,182 and ends at $20,266 against $28,072 (Northwestern).
The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Stanford: $124K against $89K.
Both universities turn away more than nine applicants in ten (3.8% and 7.7%), so the outcome rests on how well your profile fits, not on the admission rate itself.
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
Stanford is the more selective of the two (3.8% vs 7.69% acceptance). Stanford ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#2 vs #33). Stanford graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($124K vs $89K). Stanford has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,574 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 Stanford for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
Choose Northwestern for: a higher graduation rate, higher retention.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Stanford is more selective (3.8% vs 7.69% acceptance); Stanford has a higher median SAT (1550 vs 1540).
Stanford graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($124K vs $89K); Northwestern has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.1% vs 91.9%).
Stanford has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,574 vs $70,589); Stanford offers a larger average aid package ($77,279 vs $68,110).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Stanford | Northwestern |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #2 | #33 |
| Rank · THE | #6 | #31 |
| Acceptance rate | 3.8% | 7.69% |
| Yield rate | 79.9% | 55.3% |
| Median SAT | 1550 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.94 | - |
| Number of applications | 60,646 | 49,474 |
| International students | 13.1% | 11.8% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $124K | $89K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $73K | $61K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $220K | $139K |
| Graduation rate | 91.9% | 95.1% |
| Retention rate | 97.5% | 98% |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $15,000 |
| Tuition · year | $68,574 | $70,589 |
| Avg. aid package | $77,279 | $68,110 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $28,507 | $32,540 |
| Application fee | $100 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 18,121 | 23,431 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Stanford or Northwestern?
It's harder to get into Stanford. Stanford accepts 3.8% of applicants, while Northwestern accepts 7.69%.
Do Stanford or Northwestern graduates earn more?
Stanford graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $124K vs $89K.
How much is tuition at Stanford vs Northwestern?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,574 per year at Stanford and $70,589 per year at Northwestern.
What SAT score do you need for Stanford or Northwestern?
The median admitted SAT score is 1550 at Stanford and 1540 at Northwestern; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Stanford or Northwestern?
Stanford ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #2 for Stanford vs #33 for Northwestern.
Which university offers more financial aid - Stanford or Northwestern?
The average aid package is $77,279 at Stanford and $68,110 at Northwestern.
Harvard
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
North Carolina
Duke