Tuition & fees
The following tuition and fee rates apply to students who are enrolled in a graduate or professional studies program. We strive to offer our quality programs at an affordable cost.
Graduate & Professional Studies costs | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
| Online tuition | $ per credit | $ per credit |
| Master of Arts Counseling: Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling View program-specific cost estimate & fees | $590/credit | $590/credit |
| Master of Business Administration | $610/credit | $590/credit |
| Master of Education/Education Endorsements/Graduate Education Certificates | $360/credit | $360/credit |
| Student teaching (required for some endorsement programs) | $360/credit | $360/credit |
| Bachelor of Arts, Early Childhood | $360/credit | $360/credit |
| Bachelor of Science, Nursing (RN to BSN) | $360/credit | $360/credit |
| Coaching Authorization | $350/total | $350/credit |
| Coaching Endorsement | $545/credit | $360/credit |
| Certificate in Legal/Medical Interpreting | $220/credit | $220/credit |
| On-campus tuition & fees | ||
| Master of Physician Assistant Studies View program-specific cost estimate & fees | $810/credit | $810/credit |
| Online program fees | ||
| Technology fee | $110/semester (part-time student) $155/semester (full-time student) | $110/semester (part-time student) $155/semester (full-time student) |
| Graduation fee (one-time fee for degree programs) | $100 | $100 |
| Assessment Platform fee for medical and legal interpreting (SPA371/SPA361) - $70 onetime fee per program | $70 | $70 |
| Foundations Reading Test fee One-time test fee, taken in EDU629 and ECE326 | $139 | |
| Out-of-pocket | ||
| Onboarding portal (one-time fee, RN-BSN program only) | $70 | $70 |
| Liability insurance (yearly, RN-BSN program only) Proof of liability insurance is required for clinical sites | $120 (approximate, costs vary) | $120 (approximate, costs vary) |
| Sentinel City virtual public health experience simulation (one-time fee, RN-BSN program only) | $100 | $100 |
NO application fee for online programs
Financial aid & resources
Continuing your education is more than a time investment. Below are a few resources that may help you finance your bachelor's degree, master's degree, endorsement or certificate with Northwestern College.
Questions?
Contact our financial aid expert, Eric!
Students may be eligible for federal and/or state financial aid.
To determine your eligibility, you must:
- Complete the FAFSA. with Northwestern's institutional code: 001883.
- After acceptance into your program, Northwestern's financial aid office will put together a financial aid package for you.
Education Alumni Grant
The Education Alumni Grant is available to Northwestern College alumni who completed their undergraduate education degree through Northwestern. Alumni wishing to pursue their Master of Education degree online at NWC will receive their first class tuition-free. Students can choose from any of the M.Ed. program track offerings and are eligible if they meet the following criteria:
- Graduated from Northwestern College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in early childhood, elementary education or a secondary education endorsement.
- Pursuing a Master of Education degree (graduate-level endorsement programs or individual courses do not qualify).
Alumni Grant - Counseling Program
The Alumni Grant is available to Northwestern College alumni who completed either their undergraduate or a graduate degree through Northwestern. Alumni wishing to pursue their Master of Arts in School Counseling or Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree online at NWC can apply a tuition discount of 50% for their first course.
Alumni Grant - MBA Program
The Alumni Grant is available to Northwestern College alumni who completed either their undergraduate or a graduate degree through Northwestern. Alumni wishing to pursue their Master of Business Administration degree online at NWC can apply a tuition discount of 50% for their first course.
Students may use the VA educational benefits they are entitled to at Northwestern College. The list of programs approved is viewable on the VA web page. Contact the registrar’s office to learn more about your GI Bill ® benefits at Northwestern.
GI Bill ® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
- Contact
- Austin Nyhof
- Associate Registrar
- 712-707-7145
- anyhof@nwciowa.edu
You can either pay each semester’s tuition in full prior to the start of classes or sign up for our convenient monthly payment plan that spreads payments over the academic year. If you are using the payment plan to pay your bill for the fall and spring semesters, the totals will be divided into five payments. The summer semester total will be divided into two payments.
The monthly payment plan is an automatic withdrawal and includes a $25/semester administration fee. No interest is charged unless a payment is late. You may cancel your payment plan schedule at any time simply by paying the balance on your account.
If payment is not made on the date it's due, the entire balance becomes due and interest of 1% per month (12% per year) will be charged to the student's account. Students who fail to make payment may be denied access to classes (face-to-face and online), Blackboard, computer usage and campus facilities. Diplomas, transcripts and credentials will be withheld until all accounts are settled.
More information and the application for the monthly payment plan is available through MyNWC.
Many different lenders provide additional loan funding to help students cover college costs. Before pursuing a private loan, first consider your grants, scholarships and federal student loans. You may qualify for a private loan even if you don't qualify for a federal loan. No FAFSA is required to apply.
Educators pursuing an early childhood or special education endorsement or bachelor's program may be eligible for a T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Scholarship. For information or to apply, visit the T.E.A.C.H. website.
A TEACH Grant can help you pay for your master's degree if you teach or plan to become a teacher or school counselor in a high-need field in a low-income area. Our master's programs are approved for the TEACH Grant. You’ll be required to teach for a certain length of time in a high-need area, so it's important to understand your obligation.
For more information about the grant requirements, visit the TEACH Grant website.
