Key differences on Outcomes
- 1
Central grads earn $4.5K more ten years out than Northwestern's ($54,317 vs. $49,802)
Median earnings, 10 yrs - 2
Central graduates 2 pts more of its students than Northwestern (69% vs. 67%)
Graduation rate
Outcomes
Outcomes
Earnings and finishing
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Central$54.3KHighest
Northwestern$49.8K
Graduation rate
Central69%Highest
Northwestern67%
Retention rate
Central80%Highest
Northwestern74%
Borrowing
Median debt
Central$27K
Northwestern$23.2KLowest
Undergrads with a federal loan
Central70%
Northwestern56%
Median debt, Pell Grant recipients
Central$22.5K
Northwestern$19KLowest
Eight-year outcomes
Credential within 4 years, all students
Central66%
Northwestern56%
Credential within 8 years, all students
Central72%
Northwestern65%
Enrolled at another college, 8 years on
Central23%
Northwestern29%
Graduation by group
Graduated in 6 years, Pell Grant recipients
Central59%
Northwestern60%
Graduated in 6 years, neither Pell nor subsidized loan
Central74%
Northwestern71%
Pell graduation gap
Central14 pts lower
Northwestern11 pts lower
Graduated in 6 years, by race and ethnicity
| Group | Central | Northwestern |
|---|---|---|
| White | 68% | 69% |
| Asian | Not shown: under 30 students | Not shown: under 30 students |
| Hispanic/Latino | Not shown: under 30 students | Not shown: under 30 students |
| Black | Not shown: under 30 students | Not shown: under 30 students |
| Two or more races | Not shown: under 30 students | Not shown: under 30 students |
| International | Not reported | Not shown: under 30 students |
Sources:College Scorecard, most recent release;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;College Scorecard, 2023–24;IPEDS Outcome Measures survey, Students entering fall 2016;IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients), Entered fall 2018About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why