Northwestern online programs receive high rankings

Northwestern College tied for 21st in the online bachelor’s degree program category in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 rankings, released on Jan. 21. This is the highest score among institutions in Iowa and members of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU). Northwestern offers online bachelor’s degree-completion programs in early childhood education.

Northwestern’s Master of Education program tied for 77th out of more than 300 schools in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Online Master’s in Education Programs ranking. The rating earns Northwestern the distinction of being the top-ranked CCCU institution, as well as placing second in the state of Iowa.

“These rankings are a humbling acknowledgment of the high-caliber, faith-integrated education and student support we seek to offer in our online programs,” says Dr. Jill Swisher, dean of Northwestern’s Graduate & Professional Studies division. “It’s a collective effort by our entire team—faculty, staff and students—to create an exceptional, accessible and relevant online learning experience in which they each live out their callings.”

Northwestern offers the M.Ed. degree in several tracks: early childhood + endorsement, educational administration + K-12 principal endorsement, master teacher, special education + endorsement, teacher leadership, and teaching history. Continuing education and certificates are also available.

The U.S. News rankings are based upon student engagement, faculty credentials and training, student services and technologies, and peer assessment.

Northwestern’s Graduate & Professional Studies division offers flexible, affordable programs designed to help adult learners meet their professional goals. Many programs have 100% online coursework, including master's degrees in education (eight tracks); school and clinical mental health counseling; business administration; graduate-level education endorsements and certificates; undergraduate degree-completion programs in early childhood education; and certificates in medical and legal interpreting.