| Academic profile |
Four-year Christian liberal arts college with an undergraduate, co-educational, residential environment.
| Graduation rate: | 57.5 percent of Northwestern’s students graduate within five years of enrolling |
| Most popular majors: | Business, education, biology, religion (including Christian education and youth ministry), kinesiology (physical education, athletic training or exercise science) |
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| Academic programs |
Bachelor’s degree programs in more than 40 major fields
16 pre-professional programs
7 career concentrations
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| Accreditation |
Higher Learning Commission, North Central
Association of Colleges and Schools
Council on Social Work Education
National Council for Accreditation of
Teacher Education
Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education
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| Admissions |
Applicants are considered on the basis of probable success as indicated primarily by high school grades, rank in high school class, and test scores. Northwestern does not discriminate on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, gender, age or disability in any of its policies or programs.
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| Affiliation |
Reformed Church in America (RCA)
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| Alumni |
Nearly 12,000 Northwestern College alumni reside in all but one state in the U.S. and 43 other countries.
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| Athletics |
Member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC). Named an NAIA Champions of Character institution. 24 percent of students participate in intercollegiate sports
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| Board of Trustees |
Northwestern College is governed by a Board of Trustees consisting of 34 members, many of whom represent the Reformed Church in America (RCA). The board is responsible for maintaining the mission and identity of the college, approving policy and providing guidance for the future.
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| Campus life |
Clubs and organizations
Student government, Student Activities Council, Multicultural Awareness Club, student newspaper and yearbook, political groups, honor societies …
Fine arts
Theatre productions; art exhibits; performances by the A cappella Choir, Heritage Singers, Symphonette, Symphonic Band …
Ministry & service opportunities
Discipleship groups, worship teams, Summer of Service (SOS), Spring Service Projects, retreats, prison ministry …
Career & student services
Career exploration, internship and job search assistance; personal and spiritual counseling; health services; leadership opportunities …
Club sports
Lacrosse
Intramural sports
Approximately 25 percent of students participate in intramural sports
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| Degrees offered |
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.)
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| Endowment |
$41 million
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| Enrollment data |
1,315 students (61% female, 39% male)
29 states
21 countries
25 denominational backgrounds
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| Facilities |
Campus consists of 24 major buildings on approximately 100 acres. Among Northwestern’s facilities are:
- Rowenhorst Student Center, renovated in 2007
- DeWitt Theatre Arts Center, opened in 2004
- Korver Visual Arts Center, opened in 2003
- Bultman Center for Health, Physical Education and Intercollegiate Athletics, opened in 1995
- Christ Chapel and DeWitt Music Hall, opened in 1987
- Zwemer Hall, built in 1894 and restored in 1997 (listed in the National Register of Historic Places)
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| Faculty |
77 percent of Northwestern’s full-time faculty have doctorates or the highest degree in their field
Instructional staff: 82 full time; 46 part time
Student/faculty ratio: 14 to 1
Classes with fewer than 20 students: 61 percent
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| FAFSA code |
001883
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| Finances |
Northwestern has a more than 20-year history of balanced budgets and an endowment of $41 million. The college has also experienced record fund raising for both special projects and the Northwestern Fund in recent years. In 2006-07, donors gave $4.1 million to NWC.
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| Financial aid statistics |
Each year, 99 percent of Northwestern students receive financial aid. While the size of individual awards depends on each family's FAFSA results and resources, the average award—a combination of scholarships, grants, loans and work-study—is more than $16,000 per student. Northwestern’s Tuition Guarantee locks in your tuition, room and board for all four years at the rate you pay as a freshman. NWC is also a participant in the Independent 529 Plan, a national prepaid tuition plan.
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| Freshman class profile |
Average ACT score: 24.5 (national average: 21.2)
Average high school GPA: 3.54
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| Leadership |
Gregory E. Christy, president
Doug Beukelman, vice president for financial affairs
Dr. John Brogan, vice president for student development
Ron De Jong, vice president for external relations
Dr. Adrienne Forgette, dean of the faculty
John Greller, vice president for advancement
Dr. Jasper Lesage, provost
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| Location |
Orange City, Iowa
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| Majors |
More than 40
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| Memberships |
Council of Independent Colleges (CIC)
Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU)
National Association of Independent Colleges
and Universities (NAICU)
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
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| Off-campus study |
American Studies Program in Washington, D.C.
Au Sable Institute (ecological sciences) in Michigan and four other sites
Chicago Semester
Contemporary Music Center on Martha’s Vineyard
Creation Care Study Program
Los Angeles Film Studies Center in California
Summer Institute of Journalism in Washington, D.C.
Study abroad programs
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| President |
Gregory E. Christy
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| Recognition |
Ranked as a top-10 Midwestern comprehensive college by U.S. News & World Report magazine
Included in Peterson’s Guide to Competitive Colleges
Selected as one of the Princeton Review's "Best in the Midwest" colleges
15 academic departments cited in Rugg’s Recommendations on the Colleges
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| Residence life |
88 percent of students live on campus in residence halls or college-owned apartments or houses
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| SAT, ACT codes |
SAT: 6490
ACT: 1346
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| Student/faculty ratio |
14 to 1
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Student profile
Institutional research |
Average ACT score of freshmen: 24.5 (national average: 21.2)
Average high school GPA of freshman class: 3.54
83 percent of Northwestern students graduated in the top half of their high school class; 55 percent were in the top quarter of their class.
| Total students |
1,315 |
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Freshmen |
343 |
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Sophomores |
304 |
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Juniors |
305 |
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Seniors |
314 |
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Unclassified |
49 |
| Gender: |
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Men |
517 |
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Women |
798 |
| Geographic origin: |
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United States |
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Iowa |
698 |
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Minnesota |
164 |
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South Dakota |
88 |
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Nebraska |
83 |
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California |
38 |
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Wisconsin |
36 |
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Other |
173 |
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Foreign countries |
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India |
5 |
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Canada |
3 |
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Japan |
3 |
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South Korea |
3 |
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Taiwan |
3 |
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Mauritius |
2 |
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Sudan |
2 |
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Other |
14 |
| Ethnic background: |
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Caucasian |
1,236 |
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Hispanic |
18 |
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Asian American |
12 |
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African American |
12 |
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Native American |
3 |
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Non-U.S. citizen |
35 |
| Denominational preference: |
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Reformed (RCA) |
370 |
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Christian Reformed |
87 |
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Other Reformed |
9 |
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Lutheran |
129 |
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Evangelical Free |
108 |
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Non-denominational |
104 |
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Baptist |
92 |
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Methodist/Wesleyan |
92 |
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Roman Catholic |
57 |
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Presbyterian |
42 |
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Other |
178 |
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Not indicated |
47 |
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| Technology |
About 68 percent of Northwestern students bring their own computers to school. For those who don’t, the college provides computers and printers in labs located across campus. Dorms have a network connection for each student, and many of the main buildings also offer wireless network access.
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| Tuition |
Tuition for 2008-09 is based on date of enrollment.
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| Tuition guarantee |
Northwestern’s Tuition Guarantee locks in your tuition, room and board for all four years at the rate you pay as a freshman.
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| Year founded |
1882 as an academy; 1928 as a junior college; 1961 as a four-year college
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About NWC
