Northwestern College
Orange City, IA 51041
About Northwestern College
Northwestern College is a private research university in Orange City, Iowa, enrolling about 1,175 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 80.36% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $49,802 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Northwestern College charges 25% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($36,710).
- Versus the Iowa median, sticker tuition is about 1.8×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 66.05%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $49,802.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Northwestern College is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 381% 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.
Finding
Northwestern College awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 51 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern College | $36,710 | $25,907 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| Iowa (state median) | $20,270 | $11,272 | 49 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| 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 29% below published tuition at Northwestern College
Key findings
- Northwestern College's average net price ($25,907) is 29% below published tuition ($36,710).
- Northwestern College charges 25% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($36,710).
- Versus the Iowa median, sticker tuition is about 1.8×.
Northwestern College tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $36,710
Finding Northwestern College charges 25% above the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $36,710. That is 25% above the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Iowa median ($20,270), sticker tuition is about 1.8×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 3.1×.
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 Northwestern College versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Northwestern College versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Northwestern College is $25,907.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $25,907 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $14,635 above the Iowa median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $10,936 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 Northwestern College’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 29% lower after grants and scholarships.
Northwestern College: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Northwestern College—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
$36,710
Avg. net price
$25,907
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $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. 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 Northwestern College is known for
Top program completions
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General97
- Computer Teacher Education67
- Business Administration and Management, General60
- Early Childhood Education & Teaching45
- Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs39
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 28% of admitted students enrolled.
- Midpoint ACT: 24
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Northwestern College a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Northwestern College 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 Northwestern College.
Campus
Location
Orange City, IA
City / state
- ZIP
- 51041
- NCES locale
- Town distant
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 73% above the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Plains
- Carnegie
- Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs
Size
Enrollment
1,175
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 1,290
- Graduate
- 521
- Full-time share
- 90%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$23,249
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 24.70%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Northwestern College.
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 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.
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
Midpoint 24 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Northwestern College reported total enrollment of about 1,175 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 48% male and 52% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (81.1%), Hispanic or Latino (6.8%), and Non-Resident Alien (4.3%). About 24.70% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 13.5% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
90.0% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Northwestern College in 2024 is 1,175 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 1,290 students. Graduate enrollment is about 521 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.
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
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.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General: 31% male / 69% female
- Computer Teacher Education: 21% male / 79% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 80% male / 20% 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.
Northwestern College graduates earn a median of $49,802 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Northwestern College.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $49,802. Median federal loan debt: $23,249. Average net price used in cost models: $25,907.
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 Northwestern College graduates report median earnings of $49,802 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 Northwestern College.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (51 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Northwestern College.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Northwestern College graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Northwestern College—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$69.8M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Iowa median 1.9× the median ($36.3M)
- Plains median 2.9× the median ($24.1M)
- U.S. median 2.6× the median ($26.4M)
- Iowa median 1.6× the median ($28,406)
- Plains median 3.0× the median ($15,020)
- U.S. median 3.7× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 98.8%
- Iowa median 11.2 pp above median (87.6%)
- Plains median 34.1 pp above median (64.7%)
- U.S. median 40.8 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $7,580
- Iowa median 1.1× the median ($7,039)
- Plains median 1.1× the median ($7,194)
- U.S. median near the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $8,295
- Iowa median near the median ($8,352)
- Plains median near the median ($8,150)
- U.S. median 1.1× 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.
Northwestern College at a glance
Northwestern College
Northwestern College is a private non-profit institution in Orange City, IA, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Educational Leadership and Administration, GeneralComputer Teacher EducationBusiness Administration and Management, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian81.1%Hispanic or Latino6.8%Non-Resident Alien4.3%
Schools near Northwestern College
Other campuses in Orange City, IA when available, plus nearby institutions in Iowa.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C) within Iowa, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Northwestern College located?
Northwestern College is located in Orange City, IA.
What is Northwestern College's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Northwestern College is 80.4% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 1,155 applicants and 1,005 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Northwestern College's tuition?
Northwestern College tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $36,710 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $25,907 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Northwestern College cost?
Reported tuition is $36,710 and average net price is $25,907 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $10,900 annually.
Why is Northwestern College's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Northwestern College, published tuition is $36,710 while average net price is $25,907—about 29% 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 Northwestern College's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($25,907), completion (66.0% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($49,802). 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 Northwestern College?
Northwestern College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 1,290 students, White (81.1%), Hispanic or Latino (6.8%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Northwestern College?
About 13.5% of students at Northwestern College are first-generation college students.
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.
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.