Northwest University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Kirkland, Washington. It enrolls 645 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
66/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes69
Value41
Affordability35
Selectivity49
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 83.2%, Northwest University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
83.2%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1040 – 1350
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
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 University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
5.1 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Northwest 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 $22,288 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$22,288
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
25%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
55%
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
$36,035
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,180
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,180
Books & Supplies
$528
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,624
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,642
Total Cost of Attendance
$50,501
Application fee: $30 (one-time, due at submission)
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
$17,996
$30,001 – $48,000
$14,384
$48,001 – $75,000
$17,840
$75,001 – $110,000
$22,644
Over $110,000
$28,570
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.
$3,00010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$20,891Medianpercentile
$22,34575%percentile
$30,50090%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 $16,667
↓ $4,224
No Pell $14,000
↓ $6,891
Dependent students $15,000
↓ $5,891
Independent students $16,750
↓ $4,141
Female students $15,000
↓ $5,891
Male students $16,000
↓ $4,891
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($20,891), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
49% of full-time students who enrolled at Northwest University graduate within six years, and 79% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
49%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
79%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Northwest University earn a median of $54,914 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$54,914
Earning > $25K
76%
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
$41,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$55,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$46,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$44,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$48,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $14,000, about 25% 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 ↑
14.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 91% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Northwest University is home to 645 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 36% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
645
Part-Time
3%
First-Generation
36%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 59.1%381
Hispanic 12.9%83
Other 8.4%54
Black 5.9%38
International 5.7%37
Asian 5.1%33
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Northwest University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbKirkland, Washington
Housing
Strongly residential672 beds for 645 students
Adult Learners
8%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Northwest University offers
a varied set of programs:
32 distinct programs across
14 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 University is 9:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
9:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$45M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$70,073
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
58 instructional faculty across 4 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
11
19%
$83,323
Associate Professors
24
41%
$68,292
Assistant Professors
21
36%
$65,714
Instructors
2
3%
$71,099
Pros & Cons of Northwest University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Northwest University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
Best for:
Based on the data, Northwest University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Northwest University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Northwest University.
Is Northwest University hard to get into?
Northwest University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 83.2%.
What is the acceptance rate at Northwest University?
Northwest University has an acceptance rate of 83.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Northwest University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Northwest University scored between 1040 and 1350 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
How much does Northwest University cost?
The average net price after aid at Northwest University is $22,288 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Northwest University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $54,914 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $22,288 per year. That's roughly 2.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Northwest University known for?
Northwest University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Teaching Specific Subjects, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Northwest University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Northwest University are $54,914, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Northwest University accredited?
Yes. Northwest University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
How many students attend Northwest University?
Northwest University enrolls 645 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Northwest University?
Northwest University graduates 49% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Northwest University a public or private college?
Northwest University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Northwest University located?
Northwest University is located in Kirkland, Washington.
What programs does Northwest University offer?
Northwest University offers 32 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Teaching Specific Subjects, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Northwest University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Northwest University is 9:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Washington
Other colleges in Washington share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Liberal Arts
Biological and Physical Sciences
Public Administration
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