Northwest Nazarene University
#6 Best Business Colleges in Idaho- Graduation Rate
- 65% C+
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $51,719 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $29,580 F
- 73% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 65% B-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 10.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $10.2 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Best Business Colleges in Idaho.
Every $1 spent returns $10.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,083,455.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 27% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $10.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Northwest Nazarene University Matters
Northwest Nazarene University is a private university in Nampa, ID and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 1,024
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- 59
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Education, Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose Northwest Nazarene University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 65% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1005–1240. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $29,580 a year after grants and scholarships — 73% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $51,719 ten years after enrolling — 27% above the typical college, against $23,750 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.4% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 54% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.59 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Northwest Nazarene University serves 1,024 students and has a graduation rate of 65%. This means that nearly two-thirds of students complete their degree within six years. The acceptance rate is 65%, making it accessible for many prospective students.
Data from Chetty and Opportunity Insights highlight that while specific mobility metrics for Northwest Nazarene aren't available, graduates can expect to earn around $51,719 within ten years of completing their degree. This earning potential reflects a positive trajectory for many students, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds who may benefit from the university's supportive environment.
Attending Northwest Nazarene comes with a net price of $29,580 and a median debt of $23,750. Students who thrive here often pursue degrees in Health Professions, Business, or Education. The university also has a Pell Grant rate of 30%, indicating a commitment to supporting students from low-income families.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Northwest Nazarene University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Northwest Nazarene University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Nampa, Idaho, Northwest Nazarene University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 65% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,130. The graduation rate is roughly 65%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 65%
- Retention Rate
- 77%
- SAT Average
- 1130
- ACT Midpoint
- 23
- SAT Range
- 1005–1240
- ACT Range
- 22–27
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,760
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.45
- First-Gen Students
- 34%
- Applicants
- 3,394
- Admitted
- 2,993
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Northwest Nazarene University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Northwest Nazarene University is $40,794, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $29,580. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $28,732 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,750 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $40,794
- Out-of-State
- $40,794
- Avg Net Price
- $29,580
- Median Debt
- $23,750
- Pell Grant Rate
- 30%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 61%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $28,732
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $30,626
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $35,166
- Family Income $110K+
- $34,800
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Northwest Nazarene University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Northwest Nazarene University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Northwest Nazarene University earn a median of $51,719, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $45,488
- 8 Years
- $50,573
- 10 Years
- $51,719
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.46x
- Earning > $25K
- 62%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (106)
- 41%
- 100% (106)
- 41%
- 100% (106)
- 41%
- 100% (106)
- 41%
How Northwest Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Northwest Nazarene University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Northwest Nazarene University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $29,580/year ($118,320 total). Graduates earn $51,719 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,201,775 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,083,455 (10.2× your investment). The median debt is $23,750, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 65% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $118,320
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,201,775
- Net Return
- $1,083,455
- ROI Multiple
- 10.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $29,580
- Median Debt
- $23,750
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 65%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Northwest Nazarene University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Northwest Nazarene University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.40%, well above the typical college. About 5.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 27% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $83,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.40%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 27.0%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 5.2%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $113,855
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-10,132,346
Top Programs
The fields Northwest Nazarene University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 22% $74,862 early-career
- Business & Marketing 15% $52,804 early-career
- Education 8% $39,121 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 8%
- Engineering 8%
- Biology & Biomedical 7% $30,125 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 5%
- Psychology 4%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Northwest Nazarene University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Northwest Nazarene University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Nampa, Idaho, Northwest Nazarene University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 65% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,130. The graduation rate is roughly 65%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Northwest Nazarene University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Northwest Nazarene University is $40,794, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $29,580. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $28,732 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,750 in federal student loans.
Is Northwest Nazarene University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Northwest Nazarene University earn a median of $51,719, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Northwest Nazarene University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Northwest Nazarene University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.40%, well above the typical college. About 5.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 27% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $83,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Northwest Nazarene University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Northwest Nazarene University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.59, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.07), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Northwest Nazarene University.
- Chatham UniversityPittsburgh, PA · Close peer65% grad $52,410 earn 62% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Regis CollegeWeston, MA · Close peer71% grad $52,873 earn 70% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Arizona Christian UniversityGlendale, AZ · Close peer41% grad $51,612 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Northwestern CollegeOrange City, IA · Close peer65% grad $49,802 earn 80% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Friends UniversityWichita, KS · Close peer52% grad $52,113 earn 55% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Agnes Scott CollegeDecatur, GA · Close peer71% grad $56,274 earn 62% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Northwest Nazarene University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Northwest Nazarene University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.59, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.07), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note