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Northwestern College

Orange City, IA · Town · 1,175 students
WebsiteScorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$25,907
Average net priceYour net price
2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
65%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
52% typical
$49,802
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$51,562 typical
80%
Acceptance rate
Applied for fall 2024
81% typical · not scored
Accredited by Higher Learning Commission
About

Northwestern College is a private Christian liberal arts institution in Orange City, Iowa, best known for its standout programs in nursing, pre-medicine, education, and business. The college earns national recognition for its exceptional academic outcomes, routinely achieving near-100% medical school acceptance rates and superior first-time pass rates on professional licensure exams. Rooted in Reformed Christian traditions, the close-knit campus culture centers on the integration of faith and learning, enriched by regular chapel gatherings, personalized faculty mentorship, and competitive NAIA Red Raider athletics. Set in a welcoming, Dutch-heritage community, Northwestern uniquely emphasizes global service learning, offering students numerous cross-cultural immersion and undergraduate research opportunities.

Location
Orange City, IA, 51041 · Town campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
OMA · Omaha
117 mi away
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
YoursEveryone
Tuition & fees$36,710
Housing & food (on campus)$10,900
Books & supplies$1,150
Cost of attendance$55,640
Average net price$25,907
Same price for all students
Tuition & fees$36,710
Housing & food (on campus)$10,900
Books & supplies$1,150
Cost of attendance$55,640
Average net price$25,907
Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: www.nwciowa.edu
How it’s made up · 2026-27
Northwestern College’s own figures for 2026-27, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.
Tuition$39,000
Fees$320
Books & supplies$1,150
Personal expenses$2,140
Transportation$1,480
Total published by the school$55,640
Net price by family income · 2023-24
$0–30k
$27,059
$30–48k
$19,503
$48–75k
$20,572
$75–110k
$24,265
$110k+
$29,539
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
65%
Entered 2017–18
Within 4 yrs
55%
Back for yr 2
74%
Transferred
19%
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
67% graduated · 28% transferred · 4% left or unknown · none still enrolled
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$46,731
10 yrs after entry$49,802
Debt
Median at graduation$23,249
Monthly payment$246
Middle 50% owe$8k–$27k
90th percentile$33,250
Green marks a figure above the typical Master's (medium programs): 52% graduate within 6 yrs.
Admissions
Getting in · applied for fall 2024
Admit rate
80%
Test policy
Not required
Per College Scorecard
ACT midpoint
24

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Essay prompts

If Northwestern College asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the school's application.

Student Body
Gender
Men 48%Women 52%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
15 : 1
Pell grant
25%
First-gen
13%
Family income
$81,300
Independent
8%
Age at entry
20.0
Part-time
10%
Race & ethnicity
White
81%
Hispanic
7%
Black
2%
Asian
2%
Two or more
2%
Non-resident
4%
Unknown
3%
Varsity sports
NAIA Division II · EADA 2024-25
  • Baseball
    Men's
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Football
    Men's
  • Golf
    Men's · Women's
  • Other Sports
    Men's · Women's · Co-ed
  • Soccer
    Men's · Women's
  • Softball
    Women's
  • Tennis
    Men's · Women's
  • Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Volleyball
    Women's
  • Wrestling
    Men's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021
After 6 yrs
$46,731
After 10 yrs
$49,802
Business Administration, Management and Operations58
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods43
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness22
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing19
Social Work15
Biology, General12
Accounting and Related Services12
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication11
Psychology, General8
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities7
Economics7
Design and Applied Arts7
Criminal Justice and Corrections6
Computer Science5
Mathematics5
Religion/Religious Studies5
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$77M
Full-time faculty
99%
Faculty salary
$7,580/mo
Teaching spend
$8,295
per student
Federal loans
56%
Classification
Carnegie type
Master's (medium programs)
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, selective admissions

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