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Colleges of Distinction: Washington
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2022-2023 Christian Colleges of Distinction

Northwest University

Kirkland, Washington

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Northwest University (NU) is located near Seattle, Washington, a region that offers a thriving economy, technological innovation, and natural beauty. Established in 1934, NU is a regionally accredited, Christian institution awarding associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. As a liberal arts college, NU meets the needs of an ever-changing society and offers multiple ways for students to achieve their academic goals—including online courses that can be taken anywhere, anytime.

Get to know Northwest University

756
Degree-Seeking Undergraduates
Enrolled female students
65%
 
Enrolled male students
35%
 
Gender Ratio
Full-time students
97%
 
Part-time students
3%
 
Full-time to Part-time Ratio
-0%1%2%3%4%5%6%7%8%9%10%11%12%13%14%15%16%17%18%19%20%21%22%23%24%25%26%27%28%29%30%31%32%33%34%35%36%37%38%39%40%41%42%43%44%45%46%47%48%49%50%51%52%53%54%55%56%57%58%59%60%61%62%63%64%65%66%67%68%69%70%71%72%73%74%75%76%77%78%79%80%81%82%83%84%85%86%87%88%89%90%91%92%93%94%95%96%97%98%99%100%
Retention rate
Full-time faculty
27%
 
Adjuncts
73%
 
Faculty Ratio
8:1
Student/teacher ratio
$34,500
Full-time tuition cost
-0%1%2%3%4%5%6%7%8%9%10%11%12%13%14%15%16%17%18%19%20%21%22%23%24%25%26%27%28%29%30%31%32%33%34%35%36%37%38%39%40%41%42%43%44%45%46%47%48%49%50%51%52%53%54%55%56%57%58%59%60%61%62%63%64%65%66%67%68%69%70%71%72%73%74%75%76%77%78%79%80%81%82%83%84%85%86%87%88%89%90%91%92%93%94%95%96%97%98%99%100%
6-year graduation rate
Aug. 1
Application deadline
-0%1%2%3%4%5%6%7%8%9%10%11%12%13%14%15%16%17%18%19%20%21%22%23%24%25%26%27%28%29%30%31%32%33%34%35%36%37%38%39%40%41%42%43%44%45%46%47%48%49%50%51%52%53%54%55%56%57%58%59%60%61%62%63%64%65%66%67%68%69%70%71%72%73%74%75%76%77%78%79%80%81%82%83%84%85%86%87%88%89%90%91%92%93%94%95%96%97%98%99%100%
Acceptance rate
-0%1%2%3%4%5%6%7%8%9%10%11%12%13%14%15%16%17%18%19%20%21%22%23%24%25%26%27%28%29%30%31%32%33%34%35%36%37%38%39%40%41%42%43%44%45%46%47%48%49%50%51%52%53%54%55%56%57%58%59%60%61%62%63%64%65%66%67%68%69%70%71%72%73%74%75%76%77%78%79%80%81%82%83%84%85%86%87%88%89%90%91%92%93%94%95%96%97%98%99%100%
Out-of-state students
-0%1%2%3%4%5%6%7%8%9%10%11%12%13%14%15%16%17%18%19%20%21%22%23%24%25%26%27%28%29%30%31%32%33%34%35%36%37%38%39%40%41%42%43%44%45%46%47%48%49%50%51%52%53%54%55%56%57%58%59%60%61%62%63%64%65%66%67%68%69%70%71%72%73%74%75%76%77%78%79%80%81%82%83%84%85%86%87%88%89%90%91%92%93%94%95%96%97%98%99%100%
Full-time faculty w/ terminal degree

College Highlights

Engaged Students
Great Teaching
Vibrant Communities
Successful Outcomes
Admission & Aid
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Engaged Students

EDUCATION THROUGH GLOBAL EXPERIENCES
As an institution, NU believes that each student has been uniquely created to impact his or her world for God. This belief is put into practice through international trips—a requirement of many majors. NU students have served in places like Cambodia, India, Guatemala, Korea, Prague, Italy, and other locations around the world. These trips are designed to broaden students’ cultural perspectives and help them to see their connection to all of humanity, regardless of nationality, location, creed, or color.

CLASS SIZE
The number of sections of each class size.
2-9: 41 | 10-19: 73 | 20-29: 34
30-39: 14 | 40-49: 15 | 50-99: 2 | 100+: 2

ENROLLMENT BY ETHNICITY
Non-U.S. Citizen: 2%
Hispanic/Latinx: 8%
Black or African American, non-Hispanic: 6%
White, non-Hispanic: 67%
Native/Indigenous American or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: 1%
Asian, non-Hispanic: 5%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic: 2%
Two or more races, non-Hispanic: 7%
Race and/or ethnicity unknown: 3%

Great Teaching

PROVEN ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Northwest University is accredited at the highest institutional level possible. Professors at NU have written best-selling books and have been published in prestigious journals. NU itself has received Murdock grants to purchase state-of-the-art equipment for its science labs. And the director of NU’s Music Production program has won two Grammys and produced 30 gold records. NU offers a combination of academic rigor, spiritual vitality, and communal support that is hard to find elsewhere.

SPECIAL STUDY OPTIONS
Programs available at this institution.
Double major
English as a Second Language (ESL)
Honors Program
Internships
Student-designed major
Study abroad

Vibrant Communities

A CHRIST-CENTERED UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE
Northwest University began as a Bible College in 1934. While NU has grown into a liberal arts university offering over 70 majors and programs, the institution has not wavered from its Christian roots. Research shows that many students lose their faith while in college. But NU is not like most other universities. Here, we put Jesus First in all we do. Professors are hired not only for their academic prowess, but also for their love of students and God. NU provides a rigorous education where faith and academics intersect. As a result, nearly 90% of NU students report growing in their faith while attending the institution.

BUILDING A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY
The Student Development Department has a mission to provide an engaged, collaborative environment in which students participate, take ownership, and apply their learning to God’s call in their life. The Student Development staff work together with faculty in the unified purpose of enabling Northwest students to integrate their faith, learning, and living. From classroom to chapel, and from student center to residence hall room, Northwest University is committed to maturing and developing the whole human being.

NORTHWEST UNIVERSITY’S  LOCATION
Northwest University’s beautiful campus is a semi-wooded tract of 56 acres that overlooks Lake Washington. A view of the snow-clad Olympics graces the skyline to the west, and the world-class city of Seattle and all of its amenities are just minutes away. At NU, opportunities for fun abound, from hiking and snowboarding to watching the 2014 Super Bowl Champions, the Seattle Seahawks.

But there is more to NU’s location than recreation. Northwest University is also a neighbor to some of the most successful companies of the 21st century, including Microsoft, Google, Boeing, and Amazon. These game-changing corporations are great places at which to intern or work upon graduation. It’s no wonder why NU’s home, Kirkland, was voted by Money Magazine as the fifth best place to live in the U.S.

ATHLETICS
Northwest University teams are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) competing in the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. 

Men’s sports: basketball, cross country, soccer, and track and field
Women’s sports: basketball, cross country, softball, soccer, track and field, and volleyball

RESIDENCE LIFE
Percent of students living on campus.
First-time, first-year (freshman) students: 84%
Undergraduates: 73%

Campus housing options.
Men’s dorms
Women’s dorms
Apartments for married students
Apartments for single students

Successful Outcomes

LOCATED IN A THRIVING ECONOMY
Northwest University is located in the Pacific Northwest, home to Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing, Starbucks, and other successful companies. Students at NU are able to spend their 4 years not only developing relevant job skills, but also building their career network in a region that is booming. Additionally, nearly 70% of all majors at Northwest University offer local internships as part of their program. At NU, students find real-world experience that brings classroom teaching to life. And many are set up with jobs once they graduate.  

READY TO WORK ON DAY 1
Northwest University recently launched the Career Readiness Initiative, which will help prepare students with a list of workplace competencies and certificates to prepare students even more fully for the workplace. This initiative bridges the gap that so many employers see when new hires are not completely ready to enter the workforce after graduation.

Admission & Aid

Admission

TEST SCORES
Optional

ADMISSIONS FACTORS
Very Important
Academic GPA | Application Essay | Religious affiliation/commitment

Important
Rigor of secondary school record | Character/personal qualities

Considered
Standardized test scores | Extracurricular activities
First generation | Alumni/ae relation | Volunteer work

FRESHMAN PROFILE
SAT Composite
25th Percentile: 960 | 75th Percentile: 1205
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
25th Percentile: 495 | 75th Percentile: 620
SAT Math
25th Percentile: 490 | 75th Percentile: 590
ACT Composite
25th Percentile: 24 | 75th Percentile: 32
ACT Math
25th Percentile: 22 | 75th Percentile: 30
ACT English
25th Percentile: 22 | 75th Percentile: 35

Tuition & Cost

Tuition: $34,500
Fees: $500
Room & Board: $10,140

Contact Northwest University

Contact Admissions

www.northwestu.edu/admissions/
(425) 889-5231
admissions@northwestu.edu

Campus Location

5520 108th Ave NE
Kirkland, WA 98033

(425) 822-8266

Visit Northwest University Online

www.northwestu.edu/

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