Northwestern College

https://www.nwciowa.edu

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2024 Undergraduate Tuition

$36,400

4% growth from 2023

2024 Average Net Price

$26,347

After Financial Aid

2024 Acceptance Rate

80.4%

1,497 Applicants

2024 Enrolled Students

1,705

68.8% Full-Time

2024 Graduation Rate

66.1%

179 Graduates

About

Northwestern College is a higher education institution located in Sioux County, IA. In 2024, the most popular Masters Degree concentrations at Northwestern College were General Educational Leadership & Administration (88 degrees awarded), Early Childhood Education & Teaching (31 degrees), and Physician Assistant (29 degrees).

In 2024, 638 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Northwestern College. 67.2% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 32.8% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (570 degrees), 38 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (15 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Northwestern College is $36,400, which is $12,400 more than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,000).

Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs Masters Colleges and Universities

Costs

In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at Northwestern College is $36,400, which is $12,400 more than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,000).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $26,347.

In 2024, 97% of undergraduate students attending Northwestern College received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 56% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$36,400

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Northwestern College was $36,400. The cost of tuition at Northwestern College is $12,400 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,000).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Northwestern College (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$26,347

2024 Value

6.51%

1 Year Growth

In 2024 Northwestern College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $26,347. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of Northwestern College grew by 6.51%.

This chart compares the average net price of Northwestern College (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$10,700

Room and Board

$1,100

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Northwestern College was of $10,700 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 4.9% between 2023 and 2024.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,100. The cost of books and supplies decreased by 4.35% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Northwestern College (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

97%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

56%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

97% of undergraduate students at Northwestern College received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a growth of 1.04% with respect to 2023, when 96% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Northwestern College (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Admissions

Northwestern College received 1,497 undergraduate applications in 2024, which represents a 29.6% annual growth. Out of those 1,497 applicants, 1,203 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 80.4% acceptance rate.

There were 1,705 students enrolled at Northwestern College in 2024. 8% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Northwestern College has an overall enrollment yield of 27.2%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

80.4%

Acceptance Rate in 2024

1,203

Accepted Out of 1,497

In 2024, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Northwestern College was 80.4% (1,203 admissions from 1,497 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2023, which was 87%. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of applicants grew by 29.6%, while admissions grew by 19.7%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Northwestern College (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

Submission Percentage (2021)

Scores Submitted (2021)

8% of enrolled first-time students at Northwestern College in 2021 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Northwestern College had a total enrollment of 1,705 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at Northwestern College is 1,173 students and the part-time enrollment is 532. This means that 68.8% of students enrolled at Northwestern College are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Northwestern College, both undergraduate and graduate, is 83.6% White, 4.99% Hispanic or Latino, 1.23% Asian, 1.23% Two or More Races, 1.17% Black or African American, and 0.176% American Indian or Alaska Native.

Students enrolled at Northwestern College in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (42%), followed by White Male (39.1%) and Hispanic or Latino Male (3.7%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (63.4%), followed by White Male (20.2%) and Hispanic or Latino Male (0.42%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

68.8%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Northwestern College in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 1,705 students. The full-time enrollment at Northwestern College is 1,173 and the part-time enrollment is 532. This means that 68.8% of students enrolled at Northwestern College are enrolled full-time compared with 67.1% at similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Northwestern College (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

73%

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. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Northwestern College was 73%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Masters Colleges and Universities (73%), Northwestern College had a retention rate approximately the same as its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Northwestern College (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
1,426 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
85 enrolled students
Asian
21 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Northwestern College is 83.6% White, 4.99% Hispanic or Latino, 1.23% Asian, 1.23% Two or More Races, 1.17% Black or African American, and 0.176% American Indian or Alaska Native. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Masters Colleges and Universities is 47.4% White, 18.8% Hispanic or Latino, and 13.6% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 79 students (4.63%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2024, 220 more women than men received degrees from Northwestern College. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Northwestern College is white (570 degrees awarded). There were 38 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (15 degrees).

The most common Masters Degree concentration at Northwestern College is General Educational Leadership & Administration (88 degrees awarded), followed by Early Childhood Education & Teaching (31 degrees) and Physician Assistant (29 degrees).

In 2024, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Northwestern College, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Education (367 degrees awarded), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (28 degrees), and Language & Linguistics (10 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Elementary & middle school teachers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Northwestern College are Elementary & middle school teachers (1,560,818 people), Secondary school teachers (549,828 people), Physicians (435,460 people), Education administrators (286,710 people), and Postsecondary teachers (237,956 people).

The most specialized majors at Northwestern College in 2024 are Education (367 degrees awarded), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (28 degrees), Language & Linguistics (10 degrees), Philosophy and Religious Studies (4 degrees), and Biology (20 degrees) (as of 2024).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Northwestern College are Magnetic resonance imaging technologists, Surgeons, Cardiovascular technologists and technicians, Economists, and Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents

The most specialized majors at Northwestern College are Education (367 degrees awarded), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (28 degrees), Language & Linguistics (10 degrees), Philosophy and Religious Studies (4 degrees), and Biology (20 degrees) (as of 2024).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Northwestern College are Elementary & secondary schools (2,911,330 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (657,304 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (557,477 people), Offices of physicians (228,318 people), and Outpatient care centers (187,727 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Northwestern College.

Most Common (2024)

General Business Administration & Management
60 degrees awarded
Registered Nursing
30 degrees awarded
Secondary Education & Teaching
23 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Northwestern College was General Business Administration & Management with 60 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Northwestern College according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

209

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2024

429

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2024

In 2024, 209 degrees were awarded to men at Northwestern College, which is 0.487 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (429).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Northwestern College by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2024, 48 degrees were awarded to men at Northwestern College in General Business Administration & Management, which is 4 times more than the 12 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2024, 67 degrees were awarded to men at Northwestern College in General Educational Leadership & Administration, which is 2.23 times more than the 30 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

54%

100% Completion Time

63%

150% Completion Time

In 2024, 54% of students graduating from Northwestern College completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 63% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 64% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Masters Colleges and Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
570 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
15 degrees awarded
Asian
8 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Northwestern College is white (570 degrees awarded). There were 38 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (15 degrees).

2.35% of degree recipients (15 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)

White Female
393 degrees awarded
White Female
286 degrees awarded
White Female
250 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Northwestern College is white female (393 degrees awarded). There were 1.37 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (286 degrees).

Operations

Northwestern College has an endowment valued at nearly $76.9M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 10.2M (13.2%) compared to the 9.2% average return (4.22M on 45.9M) across all Masters Colleges and Universities.

In 2024, Northwestern College had a total salary expenditure of 38M. Northwestern College employs 30 Professors, 18 Associate professors and 16 Assistant professors. Most academics at Northwestern College are Male Professor (20), Female Professor (10), and Female Assistant professor (10).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Northwestern College are: Management, with 51 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media, with 30 employees, and Service with 15 employees.

Endowment

$76.9M

2024 Endowment

10.2%

growth from 2023

Northwestern College has an endowment valued at about $76.9M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of Northwestern College grew 10.2% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $31.1M higher than than the median endowment of Masters Colleges and Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Northwestern College (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs Carnegie Classification grouping.

Salary Expenditure

$15.1M

2024 Salaries

1.94%

growth from 2023

In 2024, Northwestern College paid a median of $15.1M in salaries, which represents 39.8% of their overall expenditure ($38M) and a 1.94% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 8.73% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 2.99% growth between 2021 and 2022.

Instructional Salaries

$5.2M

Instructional Salaries

Number of Employees

In 2024, Northwestern College paid a total of $5.2M to 75 employees working as instructors, which represents 34.3% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $965k (3.13%) for similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

Occupations by Share

In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Northwestern College were Management with 51 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 30 employees, and Service with 15 employees.

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