Location
- Northwestern University
- Evanston, IL
- Harvard University
- Cambridge, MA
Northwestern University vs Harvard University
Evanston, IL · Cambridge, MA · largest Scorecard gap: acceptance rate
Scorecard match plate
Pair IL:MA
PRIVATE-NP-PAIR · CROSS-STATE · ACCEPT-TIGHT · NET-SPLIT · EARN-SPLIT · DEBT-PAR · COMPLETE-HIGH · GAP-ACCEPT
- PRIVATE-NP-PAIR Private nonprofit pair
- CROSS-STATE IL × MA
- ACCEPT-TIGHT Tight admission
- NET-SPLIT Net-price split
- EARN-SPLIT Earnings split
- DEBT-PAR Debt near-par
- COMPLETE-HIGH High completion
- GAP-ACCEPT Largest gap · Acceptance Rate
Instrument codes from this pair's College Scorecard ownership, geography, acceptance, net price, earnings, debt, and completion, plus the TWIN-TIGHTEN · adm · 2013–2023 decade-path stamp below, not a ranking or recommendation.
Decade path · College Scorecard
Both acceptance rates tightened, 2013–2023
TWIN-TIGHTEN · adm · 2013–2023
Northwestern University and Harvard University each posted a directional decline in acceptance rate over the same College Scorecard window. The squeeze is shared; the magnitude is close.
- Northwestern University: acceptance rate tightened -53.3% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.86).
- Harvard University: acceptance rate tightened -40.9% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.89).
- Northwestern University: net price ranged $23,279–$28,544 across 11 years (2013–2023); endpoint change -4.9% is not a trend (r² 0.16).
- Harvard University: net price ranged $13,259–$19,500 across 11 years (2013–2023); endpoint change +19.7% is not a trend (r² 0.10).
College Scorecard institution series; dollars are nominal. Direction claims require r² ≥ 0.40 on the fitted annual slope, otherwise the page reports the observed range. Descriptive history, not a recommendation.
Scorecard metrics
Undergraduate Enrollment
- Northwestern University
- 9,201
- Harvard University
- 7,601
Acceptance Rate
- Harvard University
- 3.6%
Avg Net Price
- Northwestern University
- $29,167
- Harvard University
- $19,066
Median Earnings (6 yr)
- Northwestern University
- $76,844
- Harvard University
- $99,572
Median Earnings (10 yr)
- Northwestern University
- $89,363
- Harvard University
- $101,817
In-State Tuition
- Northwestern University
- $68,322
- Harvard University
- $61,676
Out-of-State Tuition
- Northwestern University
- $68,322
- Harvard University
- $61,676
Loan Repayment Rate (Completers)
- Northwestern University
- 91.3%
- Harvard University
- 82.6%
Median Debt at Graduation
- Northwestern University
- $15,000
- Harvard University
- $14,000
Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair. Teal = better side.
| Metric | Northwestern University Evanston, IL | Harvard University Cambridge, MA |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Evanston, IL | Cambridge, MA |
| Undergraduate Enrollment | 9,201 | 7,601 |
| Acceptance Rate | 7.7% | 3.6% |
| Avg Net Price | $29,167 | $19,066 |
| Median Earnings (6 yr) | $76,844 | $99,572 |
| Median Earnings (10 yr) | $89,363 | $101,817 |
| In-State Tuition | $68,322 | $61,676 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $68,322 | $61,676 |
| Loan Repayment Rate (Completers) | 91.3% | 82.6% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $15,000 | $14,000 |
Largest gaps: Northwestern University vs Harvard University
- ACCEPTANCE-RATE Harvard University leads on acceptance rate (3.6% vs 7.7% at Northwestern University)
- AVG-NET-PRICE Harvard University leads on avg net price ($19,066 vs $29,167 at Northwestern University)
- MEDIAN-EARNINGS-(6 Harvard University leads on median earnings (6 yr) ($99,572 vs $76,844 at Northwestern University)
Northwestern University profile · Harvard University profile · Compare other colleges
Also on the Scorecard board
Acceptance Rate and other Scorecard questions
On acceptance rate, who leads between Northwestern University and Harvard University?▼
Harvard University leads on acceptance rate at 3.6% versus 7.7% at Northwestern University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On avg net price, who leads between Northwestern University and Harvard University?▼
Harvard University leads on avg net price at $19,066 versus $29,167 at Northwestern University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median earnings (6 yr), who leads between Northwestern University and Harvard University?▼
Harvard University leads on median earnings (6 yr) at $99,572 versus $76,844 at Northwestern University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard College Scorecard institution outcomes (earnings, completion, debt); acceptance rate focus for this pair · 2025