Northwood University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Midland, Michigan. It enrolls 1,974 students (a mid-sized 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
63/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes60
Value34
Affordability27
Selectivity69
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 64.5%, Northwood University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
64.5%
Moderate
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 Northwood University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
4.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Northwood 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 $27,232 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$27,232
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
26%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
45%
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
$34,400
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,100
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,000
Books & Supplies
$810
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,210
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,746
Total Cost of Attendance
$48,780
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
$25,700
$30,001 – $48,000
$25,913
$48,001 – $75,000
$25,906
$75,001 – $110,000
$26,016
Over $110,000
$28,224
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.
$4,97510%percentile
$9,25025%percentile
$20,842Medianpercentile
$28,50075%percentile
$40,13790%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 $19,500
↓ $1,342
No Pell $17,500
↓ $3,342
Dependent students $15,750
↓ $5,092
Independent students $22,000
↑ $1,158
Female students $19,208
↓ $1,634
Male students $17,943
↓ $2,899
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $12,500, less than completers ($20,842), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
49% of full-time students who enrolled at Northwood 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 Northwood University earn a median of $63,075 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$63,075
Earning > $25K
83%
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
$49,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$61,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$43,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$56,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$62,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,500, about 20% 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 ↑
14.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 75% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Northwood University is home to 1,974 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 40% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,974
Part-Time
32%
First-Generation
40%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 72.2%1,426
Black 8.8%173
Hispanic 7.7%151
Other 3.5%68
International 2.2%44
Asian 1.1%22
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Northwood University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityMidland, Michigan
Housing
Mostly residential920 beds on campus
Adult Learners
34%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Northwood University offers
a varied set of programs:
25 distinct programs across
6 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 Northwood University is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$244M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$70,610
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
43 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
3
7%
$81,762
Associate Professors
19
44%
$71,016
Assistant Professors
21
49%
$68,650
Pros & Cons of Northwood University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Northwood University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Below-average completion rate
Frequently Asked Questions about Northwood University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Northwood University.
Is Northwood University hard to get into?
Admissions at Northwood University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 64.5%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Northwood University?
Northwood University has an acceptance rate of 64.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Northwood University cost?
The average net price after aid at Northwood University is $27,232 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Northwood University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $63,075 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $27,232 per year. That's roughly 2.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Northwood University known for?
Northwood University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Business Administration, Accounting. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Northwood University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Northwood University are $63,075, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Northwood University accredited?
Yes. Northwood University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Northwood University?
Northwood University enrolls 1,974 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Northwood University?
Northwood University graduates 49% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Northwood University a public or private college?
Northwood University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Northwood University located?
Northwood University is located in Midland, Michigan.
What programs does Northwood University offer?
Northwood University offers 25 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Business Administration, Accounting.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Northwood University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Northwood University is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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