Northwestern College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Orange City, Iowa. It enrolls 1,175 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.
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
57/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes59
Value17
Affordability28
Selectivity46
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 80.4%, Northwestern College is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
80.4%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Northwestern College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
17.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Northwestern College 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 $25,907 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$25,907
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
25%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
56%
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
$36,710
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,900
Room & Board (off-campus)
$10,900
Books & Supplies
$1,150
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,240
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,240
Total Cost of Attendance
$49,783
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
$27,059
$30,001 – $48,000
$19,503
$48,001 – $75,000
$20,572
$75,001 – $110,000
$24,265
Over $110,000
$29,539
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.
$3,50010%percentile
$8,00025%percentile
$23,249Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$33,25090%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 $19,000
↓ $4,249
No Pell $15,000
↓ $8,249
Dependent students $19,688
↓ $3,561
Independent students $6,302
↓ $16,947
Female students $15,937
↓ $7,312
Male students $17,636
↓ $5,613
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($23,249), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
53% of full-time students who enrolled at Northwestern College graduate within six years, and 77% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
53%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
77%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Northwestern College earn a median of $49,802 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$49,802
Earning > $25K
82%
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
$33,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$51,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$36,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$38,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$43,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $18,400, about 36% 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.
Stable ↑
1.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 95% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Northwestern College is home to 1,175 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
1,175
Part-Time
10%
First-Generation
13%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 81.1%953
Hispanic 6.8%80
International 4.3%50
Other 2.0%23
Asian 1.7%20
Black 1.6%19
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Northwestern College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantOrange City, Iowa
Housing
Strongly residential998 beds for 1,175 students
Adult Learners
9%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Northwestern College offers
a varied set of programs:
36 distinct programs across
19 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 Northwestern College is 14:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$166M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$67,749
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
84 instructional faculty across 5 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
33
39%
$76,255
Associate Professors
17
20%
$65,652
Assistant Professors
15
18%
$57,582
Instructors
10
12%
$54,097
No Rank
9
11%
$72,637
Pros & Cons of Northwestern College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Northwestern College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Northwestern College 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 Northwestern College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Northwestern College.
Is Northwestern College hard to get into?
Northwestern College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 80.4%.
What is the acceptance rate at Northwestern College?
Northwestern College has an acceptance rate of 80.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Northwestern College cost?
The average net price after aid at Northwestern College is $25,907 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Northwestern College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $49,802 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $25,907 per year. That's roughly 1.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Northwestern College known for?
Northwestern College is best known for its programs in Special Education, Educational Administration, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Northwestern College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Northwestern College are $49,802, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Northwestern College accredited?
Yes. Northwestern College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Northwestern College?
Northwestern College enrolls 1,175 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Northwestern College?
Northwestern College graduates 53% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Northwestern College a public or private college?
Northwestern College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Northwestern College located?
Northwestern College is located in Orange City, Iowa.
What programs does Northwestern College offer?
Northwestern College offers 36 distinct programs. The most popular include Special Education, Educational Administration, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Northwestern College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Northwestern College is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Graduation rate
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