Key differences on Outcomes
- 1
Northwestern graduates 4 pts more of its students than Washington University in St Louis (97% vs. 93%)
Graduation rate - 2
Northwestern grads earn $3.2K more ten years out than Washington University in St Louis's ($89,363 vs. $86,182)
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Outcomes
Outcomes
Earnings and finishing
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Washington University in St Louis$86.2K
Northwestern$89.4KHighest
Graduation rate
Washington University in St Louis93%
Northwestern97%Highest
Retention rate
Washington University in St Louis95%
Northwestern98%Highest
Borrowing
Median debt
Washington University in St Louis$17.5K
Northwestern$15KLowest
Undergrads with a federal loan
Washington University in St Louis12%
Northwestern17%
Median debt, Pell Grant recipients
Washington University in St Louis$10.1KLowest
Northwestern$12K
Eight-year outcomes
Credential within 4 years, all students
Washington University in St Louis87%
Northwestern87%
Credential within 8 years, all students
Washington University in St Louis93%
Northwestern97%
Enrolled at another college, 8 years on
Washington University in St Louis4%
Northwestern2%
Graduation by group
Graduated in 6 years, Pell Grant recipients
Washington University in St Louis92%
Northwestern94%
Graduated in 6 years, neither Pell nor subsidized loan
Washington University in St Louis95%
Northwestern96%
Pell graduation gap
Washington University in St Louis3 pts lower
Northwestern2 pts lower
Graduated in 6 years, by race and ethnicity
| Group | Washington University in St Louis | Northwestern |
|---|---|---|
| White | 95% | 96% |
| Asian | 97% | 97% |
| Hispanic/Latino | 94% | 90% |
| Black | 89% | 92% |
| Two or more races | 93% | 93% |
| International | 94% | 97% |
On-time progress, from the colleges' Common Data Sets
| Finished within | Washington University in St Louis | Northwestern |
|---|---|---|
| 4 years: Pell recipients | 84% | Not published |
| 4 years: neither Pell nor subsidized loan | 86% | Not published |
| 4 years: all first-time full-time | 85% | Not published |
| 5 years: Pell recipients | 91% | Not published |
| 5 years: neither Pell nor subsidized loan | 93% | Not published |
| 5 years: all first-time full-time | 93% | Not published |
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 2018;Washington University in St Louis Common Data Set 2024–25, 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