Northwestern College
- Graduation Rate
- 65% C+
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $49,802 B-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $25,907 D
- 51% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 80% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 10.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $10.3 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $10.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $963,978.
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 22% above the national college median.
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A top feeder school for 5 major employers.
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Every $1 invested returns $10.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Employer Pipelines
- 5
- Top feeder programs
Why Northwestern College Matters
Northwestern College is a private university in Orange City, IA 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
- 1,175
- Setting
- Town
- Designations
- 49
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Education, Biology & Biomedical, Health Professions
Why students choose Northwestern College
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
Accessible — admits about 80% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $25,907 a year after grants and scholarships — 51% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $49,802 ten years after enrolling — 22% above the typical college, against $23,249 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.75 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Northwestern College has an acceptance rate of 80%, making it an accessible option for many students. This allows a diverse group of individuals to pursue higher education in a supportive environment. With an enrollment of 1,175, students can expect a close-knit community and personalized attention from faculty.
The 10-year earnings for graduates stand at $49,802, indicating a solid return on investment for students. While specific mobility metrics are not available, the opportunity for growth is evident in the programs offered, particularly in Business, Education, and Health Professions. Graduates can expect a pathway to stable employment and economic advancement.
The net price of attendance is $25,907, with a median debt of $23,249. This suggests that students can attain a degree without excessive financial burden. Northwestern College appeals to students seeking a supportive atmosphere, practical programs, and a manageable financial outlook as they prepare for their careers.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Northwestern College 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 Northwestern College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Orange City, Iowa, Northwestern College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 80%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 24. The graduation rate is roughly 65%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 80%
- Retention Rate
- 74%
- ACT Midpoint
- 24
- Full-Time Faculty
- 99%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,580
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.34
- First-Gen Students
- 13%
- Applicants
- 1,105
- Admitted
- 965
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 Northwestern College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Northwestern College is $36,710, 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 $25,907. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $27,059 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,249 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $36,710
- Out-of-State
- $36,710
- Avg Net Price
- $25,907
- Median Debt
- $23,249
- Pell Grant Rate
- 25%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 56%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $27,059
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $19,503
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $20,572
- Family Income $110K+
- $29,539
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 Northwestern College — 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 Northwestern College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Northwestern College earn a median of $49,802, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $46,731
- 8 Years
- $50,613
- 10 Years
- $49,802
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.47x
- Earning > $25K
- 69%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (201)
- 64%
- 100% (201)
- 64%
- 100% (201)
- 64%
- 100% (201)
- 64%
Where Grads Go
Northwestern College is a top feeder for:
Rank among programs feeding each employer.
Top employers of Northwestern College’s MBA graduates, by hires reported in the school’s employment report.
- Alix Partners ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- Amazon ✓ VerifiedTechnology · Class of 2025
- APAR Industries ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- Bain & Company ✓ VerifiedConsulting · Class of 2025
- Boston Consulting Group ✓ VerifiedConsulting · Class of 2025
- Capital One ✓ VerifiedFinance & banking · Class of 2025
- Chartis Group ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- GitHub ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- Kearney ✓ VerifiedConsulting · Class of 2025
- McMaster-Carr ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- NVIDIA ✓ VerifiedTechnology · Class of 2025
- Rotunda Capital Partners ✓ VerifiedFinance & banking · Class of 2025
- ServiceNow ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- Walmart ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
How Northwestern Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Northwestern College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Northwestern College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $25,907/year ($103,628 total). Graduates earn $49,802 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,067,606 in total earnings — a net gain of $963,978 (10.3× your investment). The median debt is $23,249, 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)
- $103,628
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,067,606
- Net Return
- $963,978
- ROI Multiple
- 10.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $25,907
- Median Debt
- $23,249
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 65%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $787,619
- Investment Income
- $-9,515,950
Top Programs
The fields Northwestern College 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.
- Business & Marketing 23% $48,945 early-career
- Education 23% $43,983 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 11% $24,863 early-career
- Health Professions 10% $73,093 early-career
- Psychology 4%
- Visual & Performing Arts 3%
- Criminal Justice 3%
- Computer Science & IT 2%
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 Northwestern College'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
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Northwestern College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Orange City, Iowa, Northwestern College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 80%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 24. The graduation rate is roughly 65%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Northwestern College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Northwestern College is $36,710, 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 $25,907. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $27,059 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,249 in federal student loans.
Is Northwestern College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Northwestern College earn a median of $49,802, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Northwestern College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Northwestern College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.75, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Northwestern College.
- Lasell UniversityNewton, MA · Close peer56% grad $49,705 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Cornell CollegeMount Vernon, IA · Close peer67% grad $53,460 earn 80% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Anderson UniversityAnderson, IN · Close peer52% grad $48,899 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Concordia University-NebraskaSeward, NE · Close peer64% grad $52,415 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Mount Vernon Nazarene UniversityMount Vernon, OH · Close peer66% grad $49,555 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Meredith CollegeRaleigh, NC · Close peer68% grad $51,539 earn 74% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Northwestern College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Northwestern College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.75, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note