Toledo vs Northwestern - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
These are two different admissions games: Northwestern admits 7.7% of applications, Toledo admits 92%.
For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Northwestern awards international students $74,103 on average, Toledo awards $4,861.
The cheaper tuition belongs to Toledo: $20,164 against $70,589, or $50,425 less a year.
Ten years on, graduates of Northwestern earn noticeably more: $89K against $51K.
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 92% acceptance). Northwestern ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#601-700 vs #33). Northwestern graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($89K vs $51K). Toledo has lower sticker-price tuition ($20,164 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 Toledo 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 92% acceptance); Northwestern has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1235).
Northwestern graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($89K vs $51K); Northwestern has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.1% vs 57%).
Toledo has lower sticker-price tuition ($20,164 vs $70,589); Northwestern offers a larger average aid package ($68,110 vs $14,444).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Toledo | Northwestern |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #601-700 | #33 |
| Rank · THE | - | #31 |
| Acceptance rate | 92% | 7.69% |
| Yield rate | 18.8% | 55.3% |
| Median SAT | 1235 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 11,067 | 49,474 |
| International students | 8% | 11.8% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $51K | $89K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $31K | $61K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $77K | $139K |
| Graduation rate | 57% | 95.1% |
| Retention rate | 77.3% | 98% |
| Median debt | $22,250 | $15,000 |
| Tuition · year | $20,164 | $70,589 |
| Avg. aid package | $14,444 | $68,110 |
| % of need met | 61% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $23,487 | $32,540 |
| Application fee | $40 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 14,358 | 23,431 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Toledo or Northwestern?
It's harder to get into Northwestern. Toledo accepts 92% of applicants, while Northwestern accepts 7.69%.
Do Toledo or Northwestern graduates earn more?
Northwestern graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $89K vs $51K.
How much is tuition at Toledo vs Northwestern?
Sticker-price tuition is $20,164 per year at Toledo and $70,589 per year at Northwestern.
What SAT score do you need for Toledo or Northwestern?
The median admitted SAT score is 1235 at Toledo and 1540 at Northwestern; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Toledo or Northwestern?
Northwestern ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #601-700 for Toledo vs #33 for Northwestern.
Which university offers more financial aid - Toledo or Northwestern?
The average aid package is $14,444 at Toledo and $68,110 at Northwestern.
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