Northwest Nazarene University
#7 Best 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 #7 in Best 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, Biology & Biomedical, Education
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.
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
- $83,800
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. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Health Professions 19%
- Business & Marketing 15%
- Biology & Biomedical 10%
- Education 8%
- Visual & Performing Arts 7%
- Engineering 4%
- Computer Science & IT 4%
- Humanities 4%
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
- Agnes Scott CollegeDecatur, GA · Close peer71% grad $56,274 earn 62% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- 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
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