Northwest Nazarene University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Nampa, Idaho. It enrolls 1,024 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNorthwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
58/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes66
Value11
Affordability29
Selectivity55
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 64.7%, Northwest Nazarene University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
64.7%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1005 – 1240
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
22 – 27
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Northwest Nazarene University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
22.6 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Northwest Nazarene University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $29,580 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$29,580
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
30%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
61%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$40,794
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,070
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,330
Books & Supplies
$700
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,030
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$7,136
Total Cost of Attendance
$55,163
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$28,732
$30,001 – $48,000
$30,626
$48,001 – $75,000
$35,166
$75,001 – $110,000
$33,413
Over $110,000
$34,800
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,16610%percentile
$7,50025%percentile
$23,750Medianpercentile
$27,00475%percentile
$38,25290%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $18,500
↓ $5,250
No Pell $15,000
↓ $8,750
Dependent students $15,750
↓ $8,000
Independent students $18,500
↓ $5,250
Female students $18,091
↓ $5,659
Male students $14,965
↓ $8,785
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($23,750), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
61% of full-time students who enrolled at Northwest Nazarene University graduate within six years, and 78% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
61%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
78%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Northwest Nazarene University earn a median of $51,719 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$51,719
Earning > $25K
78%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$38,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$58,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$44,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$43,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$49,400
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $20,600, about 35% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
23.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 92% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Northwest Nazarene University is home to 1,024 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 34% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,024
Part-Time
9%
First-Generation
34%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 72.1%738
Hispanic 15.2%156
Other 7.5%77
Black 1.7%17
International 1.3%13
Asian 1.2%12
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Northwest Nazarene University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize SuburbNampa, Idaho
Housing
Strongly residential843 beds for 1,024 students
Adult Learners
13%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Northwest Nazarene University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
53 distinct programs across
21 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Northwest Nazarene University is 14:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$134M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$58,552
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
98 instructional faculty across 3 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
30
31%
$66,510
Associate Professors
38
39%
$60,103
Assistant Professors
30
31%
$48,630
Pros & Cons of Northwest Nazarene University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Northwest Nazarene University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Best for:
Based on the data, Northwest Nazarene University is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Northwest Nazarene University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Northwest Nazarene University.
Is Northwest Nazarene University hard to get into?
Admissions at Northwest Nazarene University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 64.7%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Northwest Nazarene University?
Northwest Nazarene University has an acceptance rate of 64.7%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Northwest Nazarene University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Northwest Nazarene University scored between 1005 and 1240 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Northwest Nazarene University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Northwest Nazarene University scored between 22 and 27 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Northwest Nazarene University cost?
The average net price after aid at Northwest Nazarene University is $29,580 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Northwest Nazarene University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $51,719 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $29,580 per year. That's roughly 1.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Northwest Nazarene University known for?
Northwest Nazarene University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Nursing, Educational Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Northwest Nazarene University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Northwest Nazarene University are $51,719, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Northwest Nazarene University accredited?
Yes. Northwest Nazarene University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
How many students attend Northwest Nazarene University?
Northwest Nazarene University enrolls 1,024 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Northwest Nazarene University?
Northwest Nazarene University graduates 61% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Northwest Nazarene University a public or private college?
Northwest Nazarene University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Northwest Nazarene University located?
Northwest Nazarene University is located in Nampa, Idaho.
What programs does Northwest Nazarene University offer?
Northwest Nazarene University offers 53 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Nursing, Educational Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Northwest Nazarene University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Northwest Nazarene University is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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