Head-to-Head Comparison
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences vs Northwestern University
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Boston, MA
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL
- Massachusetts Pharmacy Wins
- 14
- Tied
- 16
- Northwestern Wins
- 18
Direct Answer
For overall financial value, Northwestern University offers a significantly safer investment tier. With an annual cost of $29,167 vs Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences's $39,545, Northwestern University delivers strong outcomes at a fraction of the price. For students prioritizing lower student debt over initial institution prestige, Northwestern University's lower price point delivers a highly efficient debt-to-earnings path.
48 data points compared · Sources: College Scorecard, Opportunity Insights, Times Higher Education, IPEDS
When to Pick Each School
Massachusetts Pharmacy
- Higher earnings: Median earnings of $125,557 ten years after enrollment, 41% more than Northwestern University
Northwestern
- Lower cost: Average net price of $29,167, roughly $10,378 a year less
- Higher grad rate: 96% of students finish, the higher completion rate of the pair
- Less debt: Median debt of $15,000, the lower of the two
- More selective: Admits 8% of applicants, which makes for a more competitive peer group
The Actual Decision
What are you really choosing between?
Massachusetts Pharmacy graduates concentrate in Health Professions (93% of degrees); Northwestern in Social Sciences (16%). If you already know the field you want, the choice is mostly made for you.
Based on each school's share of degrees by field (College Scorecard). It shows where graduates actually concentrate, not the only path a school offers.
Which School Fits You?
Pick Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences over Northwestern University. Median earnings of $125,557 ten years after enrollment vs $89,363.
Pick Northwestern University over Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Net price $29,167 vs $39,545.
Pick Northwestern University over Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. 96% completion rate vs 63%.
Key Metrics at a Glance
Graduation Rate
Earnings (10yr)
Avg Net Price
Median Debt
The Analysis
Verdict
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Northwestern University are close on paper, but Northwestern University wins the head-to-head, leading on 4 of the core measures (selectivity, cost, earnings, completion, mobility, and debt). The right pick still depends on how you weight them.
Getting in
Northwestern University is the harder admit. It takes 8% of applicants, while Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences takes 85%. Its entering class also posts the higher average SAT, 1,269 to 1,533.
So what: If test scores and a high-scoring peer group matter to you, Northwestern University sets the higher bar. The less selective school is easier to get into, which can work in your favor rather than against it.
What it costs
On price, Northwestern University comes out ahead. Its average net price after aid is $29,167, about $10,378 a year below Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences's $39,545. Graduates of Northwestern University also borrow less: median debt of $15,000, against $25,000.
So what: Over four years, the gap adds up to about $41,512 before any change in aid. Choosing Northwestern University leaves that money available for graduate school, savings, or simply less borrowing.
What graduates earn
Ten years after enrollment, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences graduates report median earnings of $125,557, compared with $89,363 at Northwestern University. That is a 41% advantage. Set against borrowing, Northwestern University has the lower debt-to-earnings ratio, 0.17x to 0.2x.
So what: An earnings gap of 41% this early in a career tends to widen, since raises build on the higher base. Of the measures on this page, this one carries the most financial weight.
Finishing the degree
Northwestern University graduates a larger share of its students, 96% versus 63%. More of its students stay on track to a degree.
So what: A completion gap of 33% is a risk measure. Students at the school with the lower rate face higher odds of leaving with debt and no degree, the most expensive outcome in higher education.
Recommendation
Bottom line: pick Northwestern University to keep costs and debt down; pick Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences for the higher earnings ceiling.
Data certainty: High. Both schools report 5 of 6 core signals used here; where one school is missing a figure, that row is left out of the comparison rather than estimated.
Counterintuitive Insights
The cheaper school is not the lower-earning one here. Northwestern University saves about $10,378 a year, yet Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences graduates earn $36,194 more ten years after enrollment. The cost advantage and the earnings premium sit at different schools, so your time horizon decides which counts more.
Their academic identities diverge. Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences concentrates enrollment in Health Professions, Biology & Biomedical, Psychology, while Northwestern University leans toward Social Sciences, Communications, Engineering. That split shapes which recruiters come to campus and what your classmates study.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- Cost-conscious students: net price of $39,545 runs well above Northwestern University's $29,167.
- Students minimizing debt: median debt is $25,000, against $15,000 at Northwestern University.
- Students who want a smaller campus: Northwestern University's enrollment of 9,201 far exceeds Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences's 3,451.
Full Data Breakdown
Overview 5 metrics
Admissions 4 metrics
Cost & Financial Aid 9 metrics
Academics 5 metrics
Student Body 6 metrics
Outcomes 6 metrics
Social Mobility (Chetty) 4 metrics
Social Capital 3 metrics
Research (Times HE) 4 metrics
Online Education (IPEDS) 2 metrics
The Overviews
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Boston, MA · Private nonprofit
A full data profile for Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences — outcomes, cost, and admissions — is on its profile page.
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL · Private nonprofit
Northwestern University has an impressive graduation rate of 96%, indicating strong student support and academic success. This high rate reflects the university’s commitment to helping students complete their degrees on time. With an acceptance rate of just 8%, gaining admission is highly competitive, attracting top talent from across the country.
The earnings potential for graduates is significant, with a 10-year median income of $89,363. This figure suggests that students who attend Northwestern can expect a strong return on their investment. However, 19% of students receive Pell Grants, which highlights that some students come from lower-income backgrounds, yet still have the opportunity to thrive here.
The net price for attending Northwestern is $29,167, and the median debt is relatively low at $15,000, making it more manageable for graduates. Students who excel here often pursue majors in engineering, social sciences, and communications. Those who thrive at Northwestern are typically motivated and high-achieving individuals, ready to engage in a challenging academic environment.
Rankings They Appear On
Northwestern University is featured on the Best Colleges for Communications ranking.
Top Degree Programs
Massachusetts Pharmacy's top program is Nursing (BSN) (93% of enrollment), while Northwestern leads with Sociology (16%).
Massachusetts Pharmacy
Career Pathways
Program strengths at these schools feed into careers like Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant (for Massachusetts Pharmacy) and Software Developer, Data Scientist, Cybersecurity Analyst (for Northwestern).
The two schools feed different job markets. Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is strongest in Health Professions, Biology & Biomedical, Psychology, Physical Sciences, while Northwestern University concentrates in Social Sciences, Communications, Engineering, Computer Science & IT. Those concentrations determine which recruiters show up on campus and where alumni cluster by industry. Match the school's program strengths to the field you plan to enter.
Massachusetts Pharmacy
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it harder to get into Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences or Northwestern University?
Northwestern University is harder to get into, admitting 8% of applicants compared with 85% at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
Which is more affordable, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences or Northwestern University?
Northwestern University is more affordable, with an average net price of $29,167 after aid versus $39,545 at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
Do Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences or Northwestern University graduates earn more?
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences graduates earn more: median earnings of $125,557 ten years after enrollment, versus $89,363 at Northwestern University.
Which has a better graduation rate, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences or Northwestern University?
Northwestern University has the higher graduation rate, 96% versus 63%.
Should you choose Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences or Northwestern University?
It depends on what you weigh most. Choose Northwestern University if affordability and lower debt come first; choose Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences if you're optimizing for post-grad earnings. The two schools win on different measures, so the better fit is the one whose strengths match your priorities.
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