Northwestern College

A private liberal arts institution, Northwestern College affiliates with the Reformed Church. Approximately 85% of NWC's 1,200 students live in on-site residence halls and apartment complexes. The 100-acre campus in Orange City also offers state-of-the-art facilities for academics, athletics, physical fitness, theater performance, and worship. Dozens of student clubs and organizations provide additional engagement opportunities. NWC students can customize their education through dozens of undergraduate majors, minors, career concentrations, pre-professional programs, and certificates. Available disciplines include criminal justice, public relations, art therapy, and education. Undergraduates who need additional flexibility to achieve their goals can craft a unique, student-initiated major. Learners can complete several programs entirely online, including an RN-to-BSN degree, five master of education options, and seven education endorsements. Prospective undergraduates must supply a completed application, either online or through the mail, along with official high school transcripts and ACT, SAT, or CLT test scores.
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Admissions Breakdown
Acceptance Rate Insight
19% of students
were accepted during the 2020-2021 school year. Sometimes schools
with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but
are still accessible to many students who apply.
Retention Rate Insight
81% of full-time
students stayed to continue their studies the following academic
year. These students started in Fall 2019 and returned in Fall
2020.
Graduation Rate Insight
87% of students
graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their
studies in Fall 2014. Keep in mind many students who enroll are
not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners.
Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.
Application Considerations
Test scores: | Required | High school transcript: | Required |
High school rank: | Recommended | Letter of recommendation: | Required |
High school GPA: | Recommended | Open admission: | No |
Completion of college prep program: | Recommended | Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL): |
Transfer Credit Policy
Dual enrollment: Implied no
Advance placement (AP) credits: Yes
Credit for qualified life experience*:
ⓘ
*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials,
or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a
portfolio to earn credit.
Learning Environment
8:1
Student to faculty ratio
Degrees Awarded by Program
Degrees given for the 2020-2021 academic year.
# | Programs | BA | MA | Doc |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
2 | Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, And Group Studies | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
3 | Biological And Biomedical Sciences | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
4 | Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
5 | English Language And Literature/Letters | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
6 | Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
7 | History | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
8 | History | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
9 | Mathematics And Statistics | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
10 | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
11 | Philosophy And Religious Studies | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
12 | Physical Sciences | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
13 | Psychology | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
14 | Social Sciences | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
15 | Visual And Performing Arts | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |