Northwestern College
Northwestern College is a private research university in Orange City, Iowa, enrolling about 1,175 students. Admission is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of about 80.36% in federal reporting data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $49,802 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $36,710
- 2024 Average Net Price: $25,907 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 80.36% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 1,175 90.0% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 66.05%
- Average ACT Score: 24
Northwestern College: what the data shows
Common questions about Northwestern College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Northwestern College?
Northwestern College is located in Orange City, IA (ZIP 51041).
NCES locale classification: Town distant.
Is Northwestern College public or private?
Northwestern College is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Northwestern College cost?
Published tuition: $36,710.
Average net price after aid: $25,907.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $27,059 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $19,503 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $20,572 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $24,265 |
| $110,001+ | $29,539 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $146,840.
How hard is it to get into Northwestern College?
Admission rate: 80.36%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: midpoint ACT 24.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Northwestern College?
Total enrollment: 1,175 students.
About 90% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Northwestern College?
150%-time completion rate: 66.05%.
First-year retention: 73.5%.
What do graduates of Northwestern College earn?
Median earnings: $46,731 six years after entry; $49,802 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $23,249.
24.70% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Northwestern College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (638 completions)
- Educational Administration & Support (97 completions)
- CIP 131321 (67 completions)
- CIP 520201 (60 completions)
- Early Childhood Education & Teaching (45 completions)
- Education - 13.1015 (39 completions)
- CIP 131099 (35 completions)
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research (30 completions)
- CIP 510912 (29 completions)
- Culinary Arts and Related Services (23 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Northwestern College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 80.36%; completion rate 66.05%; median earnings $49,802 at 10 years; net price $25,907. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$36,710
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Northwestern College was $36,710.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$25,907
2024 Value
In 2024 Northwestern College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $25,907.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$103,628 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$25,907 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$146,840 4-Year Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for Northwestern College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
24.70% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
56.11% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Northwestern College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Northwestern College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $26,764 | $26,764 | $19,499 |
| 2014 | $27,860 | $27,860 | $20,832 |
| 2015 | $28,950 | $28,950 | $20,310 |
| 2016 | $29,500 | $29,500 | $22,158 |
| 2017 | $30,200 | $30,200 | $23,064 |
| 2018 | $31,100 | $31,100 | $23,406 |
| 2019 | $32,300 | $32,300 | $22,968 |
| 2020 | $32,920 | $32,920 | $22,410 |
| 2021 | $33,590 | $33,590 | $23,185 |
| 2022 | $34,250 | $34,250 | $22,849 |
| 2023 | $35,300 | $35,300 | $23,519 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
80.36% Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
ACT Average: 24
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
90.0% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Northwestern College in 2024 is 1,175 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
73.5%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
54.61% 100% Completion Time
66.05% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 54.61% of students graduating from Northwestern College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Northwestern College.
Return on Investment
$23,249 Median Student Debt
$49,802 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
46.68% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
380.58% Return on Investment
4.7 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Northwestern College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
Educational Administration & Support: 97 completions
CIP 13.1321: 67 completions
CIP 52.0201: 60 completions
Early Childhood Education & Teaching: 45 completions
Education - 13.1015: 39 completions
CIP 13.1099: 35 completions
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research: 30 completions
CIP 51.0912: 29 completions
Culinary Arts and Related Services: 23 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 638 completions
Most popular programs at Northwestern College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Northwestern College graduates.
About
Northwestern College is a private non-profit institution located in Orange City, IA, offering 51 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 1,175 students. The admission rate is 80.36%. Average ACT scores for admitted students are 24. The institution maintains a 66.05% graduation rate. Approximately 24.70% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Location
Orange City, IA 51041
Region: Plains
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 51 distinct degree programs, Northwestern College provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
FAQ
How much does Northwestern College cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $36,710 and average net price is $25,907 in the latest College Scorecard data.
How hard is it to get into Northwestern College?
The admission rate is 80.4% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.
What test scores do students need for Northwestern College?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Northwestern College reports midpoint ACT about 24.
What do graduates of Northwestern College earn?
Median earnings are $46,731 six years after entry and $49,802 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Northwestern College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 66.0% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Northwestern College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $23,249.
How big is Northwestern College?
Total enrollment is about 1,175 students in the latest reporting year.
Is Northwestern College public or private?
Northwestern College is a private nonprofit institution located in Orange City, IA.
Is Northwestern College an HBCU?
No. Northwestern College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Northwestern College a tribal college?
No. Northwestern College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Northwestern College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Northwestern College does not meet that proxy (reported share 6.8%).
Is Northwestern College religiously affiliated?
Yes. IPEDS reports a religious affiliation for Northwestern College: Reformed Church in America.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.