Northwest University

Kirkland, Washington

Private Nonprofit Suburb: Large

Northwest University is a private nonprofit institution in Kirkland, Washington enrolling 645 students, according to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. The acceptance rate is 83.2% with an average SAT of 1,150. Graduates earn a median of $54,914 ten years after enrollment, based on U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid data. The average net price after financial aid is $22,288. This profile includes admissions data, graduation rates, program-level earnings, and cost breakdowns to help students compare colleges using official federal data.

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Northwest University

Northwest University operates as a private nonprofit institution located in Kirkland, Washington (suburb: large), with a total reported enrollment of 645 students of which 719 are undergraduates. Institution-level records in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) classify each school by Carnegie category, ownership sector, and urban/rural locale, which is how this profile’s peer group and cost cohort are determined. Northwest University is categorized as “19” under the Carnegie classification system, a meaningful signal when comparing like-to-like institutions.

Selectivity and financial signals give context to what applicants can expect. The reported admission rate is 83.2%, drawn from the most recent IPEDS Fall enrollment survey, with an average SAT of 1,150 and an ACT midpoint of 28. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $22,288, with published in-state tuition of $36,035 and a Pell grant recipient share of 25.3%. Median federal student debt at graduation is $20,891, drawn from the U.S. Treasury-matched College Scorecard file.

Outcomes reveal whether the investment pays back. The 4-year completion rate is 67.4%, and the first-year retention rate is 83.9%. Graduates earn a median of $54,914 ten years after enrolling, compared with $50,495 six years post-enrollment. Within three years of entering repayment, 74400.0% of borrowers are making progress on their federal loans, and 64.7% of graduates earn above the high-school threshold. Treating these numbers as a single snapshot alongside the cost cohort is the standard approach for evaluating ROI under the College Scorecard methodology.

Quick Facts

645
Total enrollment
83.2%
Acceptance rate
1,150
SAT average
67.4%
4-yr graduation rate
$54,914
10-yr median earnings
83.9%
First-year retention

Admissions

Admission Rate 83.2%
SAT Average 1,150
SAT Math (25th-75th) 500 – 650
SAT Reading (25th-75th) 540 – 700
ACT Average 28

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Net Price

In-State Tuition $36,035
Out-of-State Tuition $36,035
Average Net Price $22,288

Net Price by Family Income

$0 – $30,000 $17,996
$30,001 – $48,000 $14,384
$48,001 – $75,000 $17,840
Over $110,000 $28,570
25.3%
Pell Grant Rate
55.1%
Federal Loan Rate
$20,891
Median Debt
$221/mo
Monthly Payment

Student Demographics

White 59.1%
African American 5.9%
Hispanic or Latino 12.9%
Asian 5.1%
Pacific Islander 0.6%
Two or More Ethnicities 7.8%
International 5.7%
61.7%
Female
36.4%
First Generation

Outcomes

67.4%
4-Year Completion Rate
83.9%
Retention Rate
$50,495
Median Earnings (6yr)
$54,914
Median Earnings (10yr)
64.7%
Earning Over $25K
74400.0%
Loan Repayment (3yr)

Programs & Earnings

Program Credential Completers Median Earnings Median Debt
Business Administration, Management and Operations Master's 49 $107,751 $29,436
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Bachelor's 40 $89,673 $22,767
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas Master's 62 $77,641 $20,500
Education, General Master's 4 $74,550
Business Administration, Management and Operations Bachelor's 24 $72,343 $20,833
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Bachelor's 11 $58,134 $22,000
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Bachelor's $56,136
Psychology, General Bachelor's 19 $54,357 $21,514
Theological and Ministerial Studies Bachelor's 14 $52,385 $25,000
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology Master's 18 $50,851 $41,000
International/Globalization Studies Master's 6 $49,915 $29,751
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Associate's 2 $47,496 $12,000
Theological and Ministerial Studies Associate's 0 $45,166 $17,533
Marketing Bachelor's 8 $44,971
Theological and Ministerial Studies Master's 6 $39,049
Music Bachelor's 7 $37,112 $19,500
Biology, General Bachelor's 12 $21,508
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General Bachelor's 11 $25,000

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the admissions statistics for Northwest University?
Northwest University is a private nonprofit institution in Kirkland, Washington. The acceptance rate is 83.2%. The average SAT score is 1,150. Total enrollment is 645 students.
How much do Northwest University graduates earn?
Graduates of Northwest University earn a median of $54,914 ten years after enrollment. Six years after enrollment, median earnings are $50,495.
How much does Northwest University cost?
The average net price at Northwest University is $22,288. In-state tuition is $36,035 and out-of-state tuition is $36,035. Median student debt at graduation is $20,891.
What is the graduation rate at Northwest University?
Northwest University has a 4-year completion rate of 67.4%. The first-year retention rate is 83.9%.
Is Northwest University worth the student debt?
The median student debt at Northwest University is $20,891, while graduates earn a median of $54,914 ten years after enrollment. That debt represents about 38% of first-year post-graduation earnings. 74400.0% of borrowers are repaying their loans within 3 years. Estimated monthly loan payment is $221.

Data Sources

Data as of 2024-25 academic year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Primary: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. Data reflects most recent available year.

Institutional characteristics: IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) institutional characteristics file.

Earnings: Median earnings 6 and 10 years after enrollment, from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal student aid data.

Program data: Credential-level earnings from the College Scorecard Field of Study dataset.

All federal data sources used on this page

Earnings data sourced from IRS records via the U.S. Treasury–Department of Education matching used by the College Scorecard.