Northwestern records highest undergraduate enrollment since 2015

Northwestern College’s fall enrollment features the highest number of traditional undergraduate students since 2015, with 1,092. This is the third year in a row that Northwestern has exceeded its goal for new student recruitment by more than 10%.

Fall 2026 figures show a total of 317 full-time freshmen, the same as last year, and 41 transfer students, the highest number of transfers in 10 years. Northwestern’s total fall enrollment is 1,627, the fifth largest in school history. In addition to a strong year for recruiting new students, Northwestern recorded a retention rate of 83%, the highest in at least 20 years.

“It’s gratifying that record numbers of new students and their families continue to choose Northwestern, and that our students are indicating their satisfaction by returning at a high rate,” says Tamara Fynaardt, Northwestern’s vice president for enrollment and marketing. “There’s a special energy on campus when you see students from various walks of life drawn to Northwestern because they value our commitment to their spiritual, academic and relational growth. We are grateful for God’s faithfulness, especially in an environment that’s challenging for many colleges and universities whose enrollments and budgets are contracting.”