Quad

Head-to-head

Transylvania
Northwestern

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    Northwestern's yield is 11 pts higher than Transylvania's

    Yield rate
  2. 2

    Transylvania's grants cover 57% of its full price on average, vs. 47% at Northwestern

    Aid generosity
  3. 3

    Transylvania grads earn $4.9K more ten years out than Northwestern's ($54,705 vs. $49,802)

    Median earnings, 10 yrs
  4. 4

    Transylvania graduates 4 pts more of its students than Northwestern (71% vs. 67%)

    Graduation rate
  5. 5

    Transylvania has 3 pts more first-gen students than Northwestern (16% vs. 13%)

    First-generation students
  6. 6

    Northwestern is a bit larger (1,175 vs. 1,005)

    Undergrads

The shape of each school

Each axis is a national rank among 4-year colleges; further out = more of it.

SelectivityTest scoresSizePell shareFirst-genDiversity

Hollow dots at the center mean that measure isn't reported.

Who's hardest to get into

Northwestern admits 80%, Transylvania 87%; Northwestern's yield is higher, at 27%.

Acceptance rate
Transylvania87%
Northwestern80%
Quad's selectivity
  • TransylvaniaAccessible
  • NorthwesternAccessible
SAT middle 50%Axis 1000–1600
Transylvania
1120–1380
NorthwesternTest-blind
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • TransylvaniaGPA and school record required
  • NorthwesternGPA and school record required

Who's on each campus

Northwestern is a bit larger than Transylvania (1,175 vs. 1,005 undergrads); Transylvania has the larger Pell share.

Undergrads
Transylvania1K
Northwestern1.2K
Pell Grant share
Transylvania26%
Northwestern25%

Majors and faculty

Business/Commerce leads at Transylvania, and Business Administration and Management at Northwestern; Transylvania has 10 students per faculty member to Northwestern's 15.

Students per faculty member
Transylvania10 to 1
Northwestern15 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • TransylvaniaBusiness/Commerce, General13%
  • NorthwesternBusiness Administration and Management, General17%

What each costs

Transylvania and Northwestern cost about the same a year on average; Transylvania's grants cover the larger share of its price.

Average cost, all students
Transylvania$26.8K
Northwestern$26.8K
Aid generosity
Transylvania57%
Northwestern47%

What each pays off

Transylvania's former students earn more, a median $54.7K ten years after enrolling; both graduate more than 60% within six years.

Median earnings, 10 years
Transylvania$54.7K
Northwestern$49.8K
Graduation rate
Transylvania71%
Northwestern67%

How each has changed

Applications grew at both; Transylvania got less selective while Northwestern held steady.

Applications, 10-year change
  • TransylvaniaGrowing+28%
  • NorthwesternGrowing+19%
All the numbersEvery figure for these colleges in one table, with differences highlighted.
Sources for this comparisonEvery dataset and year behind the numbers in this comparison; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D), Fall 2024;IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2024–25 graduates;College Scorecard, 2023–24;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