Northwest University
Kirkland, WA 98083-0579
About Northwest University
Northwest University is a private research university in Kirkland, Washington, enrolling about 645 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 83.20% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $54,914 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Northwest University charges 23% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($36,035).
- Versus the Washington median, sticker tuition is about 4.4×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 70.78%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $54,914.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Northwest University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 516% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest University | $36,035 | $22,288 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| Washington (state median) | $8,256 | $9,863 | 70 |
| Rural (locale median) | $14,160 | $18,700 | 1,649 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 38% below published tuition at Northwest University
Key findings
- Northwest University's average net price ($22,288) is 38% below published tuition ($36,035).
- Northwest University charges 23% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($36,035).
- Versus the Washington median, sticker tuition is about 4.4×.
Northwest University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $36,035
Finding Northwest University charges 23% above the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $36,035. That is 23% above the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Washington median ($8,256), sticker tuition is about 4.4×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 3.0×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Northwest University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Northwest University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Northwest University is $22,288.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $22,288 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $12,425 above the Washington median net price. Versus rural campuses, net price runs $3,588 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway Northwest University’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 38% lower after grants and scholarships.
Northwest University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Northwest University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$36,035
Avg. net price
$22,288
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $17,996 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $14,384 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $17,840 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $22,644 |
| $110,001+ | $28,570 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $144,140. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Northwest University is known for
Top program completions
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse36
- Business Administration and Management, General30
- Education, General24
- Mental Health Counseling/Counselor24
- Psychology, General20
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 29% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1150
- Midpoint ACT: 28
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Northwest University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Northwest University is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Northwest University.
Campus
Location
Kirkland, WA
City / state
- ZIP
- 98083-0579
- NCES locale
- Rural fringe
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is 19% above the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Far West
- Carnegie
- Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs
Size
Enrollment
645
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 715
- Graduate
- 378
- Full-time share
- 97%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$20,891
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 25.33%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Northwest University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Northwest University 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 Northwest University 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 | $25,934 | $25,934 | $20,032 |
| 2014 | $26,968 | $26,968 | $19,560 |
| 2015 | $28,087 | $28,087 | $19,226 |
| 2016 | $29,200 | $29,200 | $19,054 |
| 2017 | $30,320 | $30,320 | $21,802 |
| 2018 | $31,540 | $31,540 | $26,932 |
| 2019 | $32,960 | $32,960 | $22,194 |
| 2020 | $33,980 | $33,980 | $20,729 |
| 2021 | $33,980 | $33,980 | $23,046 |
| 2022 | $35,000 | $35,000 | $21,830 |
| 2023 | $36,035 | $36,035 | $25,161 |
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.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1150 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 28 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.20
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Northwest University reported total enrollment of about 645 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 40% male and 60% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (59.1%), Hispanic or Latino (12.9%), and Two or More Races (7.8%). About 25.33% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 36.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
96.9% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Northwest University in 2024 is 645 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 715 students. Graduate enrollment is about 378 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
83.9%
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.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
63.93% 100% Completion Time
70.78% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 63.93% of students graduating from Northwest University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 8% male / 92% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 47% male / 53% female
- Education, General: 12% male / 88% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Northwest University graduates earn a median of $54,914 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Northwest University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $54,914. Median federal loan debt: $20,891. Average net price used in cost models: $22,288.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Northwest University graduates report median earnings of $54,914 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Northwest University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (33 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Northwest University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Northwest University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Northwest University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$10.6M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Washington median 0.89× the median ($11.9M)
- Far West median 0.63× the median ($16.8M)
- U.S. median 0.40× the median ($26.4M)
- Washington median 2.4× the median ($4,513)
- Far West median 1.5× the median ($7,260)
- U.S. median 0.89× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 24.6%
- Washington median 70.3 pp below median (94.9%)
- Far West median 21.1 pp below median (45.7%)
- U.S. median 33.3 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $8,558
- Washington median 0.89× the median ($9,588)
- Far West median 0.89× the median ($9,635)
- U.S. median 1.1× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $15,820
- Washington median 1.8× the median ($8,580)
- Far West median 2.3× the median ($7,030)
- U.S. median 2.2× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Northwest University at a glance
Northwest University
Northwest University is a private non-profit institution in Kirkland, WA, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Registered Nursing/Registered NurseBusiness Administration and Management, GeneralEducation, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian59.1%Hispanic or Latino12.9%Two or More Races7.8%
Schools near Northwest University
Other campuses in Kirkland, WA when available, plus nearby institutions in Washington.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade B) within Washington, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Northwest University located?
Northwest University is located in Kirkland, WA.
What is Northwest University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Northwest University is 83.2% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 586 applicants and 516 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Northwest University's tuition?
Northwest University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $36,035 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $22,288 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Northwest University cost?
Reported tuition is $36,035 and average net price is $22,288 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $11,180 annually.
Why is Northwest University's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Northwest University, published tuition is $36,035 while average net price is $22,288—about 38% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains Northwest University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($22,288), completion (70.8% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($54,914). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Northwest University?
Northwest University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 715 students, White (59.1%), Hispanic or Latino (12.9%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Northwest University?
About 36.4% of students at Northwest University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Northwest University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Northwest University reports midpoint SAT about 1150 and midpoint ACT about 28.
What do graduates of Northwest University earn?
Median earnings are $50,495 six years after entry and $54,914 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Northwest University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 70.8% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Northwest University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $20,891.
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 Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.