NWC named among most affordable colleges

Northwestern College has been ranked 13th for best value among Midwestern private colleges by GreatValueColleges.net.

Eight quality indicators were used to determine the schools included in the site’s “50 Great Affordable Colleges in the Midwest” list. Using sources such as Forbes.com, College Navigator, Princeton Review and U.S. News and World Report, the website seeks to highlight the colleges that provide students the best return on their investment based on net price—the cost of attendance minus the average financial aid package.

Factors influencing the rankings include graduation and freshman retention rates, student-to-faculty ratio, the percentage of classes taught by graduate assistants, average entrance ACT score, the number of academic programs and campus organizations, and outcomes data.

The website says Northwestern “puts just as much emphasis on an unwavering commitment to Christianity as it does to strong academics and a vibrant campus life. Northwestern is perfect for students looking to recreate an intimate small-town feel on campus. Eighty-nine percent of students live on campus, so you’ll have a chance to get to know all your classmates—and your teachers too!”

“This honor affirms that Northwestern College offers our students higher value for the higher learning we provide,” says Kenton Pauls, dean of enrollment management. “It is great to be recognized as a best-value private college in the Midwest. The honor underscores the benefits students receive from a Northwestern education: great academic experiences during college as well as outstanding job placement after graduation. That we are so affordable after financial aid is often a surprise to new students.”

Only three other Iowa private colleges were named among the most affordable: Coe, Cornell and Simpson.