What is the acceptance rate at Northwest University?

Northwest University's acceptance rate is approximately 83% (Kirkland, WA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.

What SAT score do you need for Northwest University?

Admitted students at Northwest University typically score 1040–1350 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

How much does Northwest University cost?

At Northwest University, the average net price (after aid) is about $22,288 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.

How many undergraduates attend Northwest University?

Northwest University enrolls approximately 645 undergraduate students.

Where is Northwest University located?

Northwest University is located in Kirkland, WA.

Northwest University: Acceptance Rate, SAT & Cost — QuantAdmit

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Northwest University

Kirkland, WAprivate nonprofitwww.northwestu.edu/

Acceptance

83%

SAT 25–75

1040–1350

Avg net price

$22,288

Earnings (10 yr)

$54,914

Graduation rate

71%

Admit rate has ranged 88%–96% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.

Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.

Northwest University, a Christian liberal arts school in Kirkland, Washington, blends faith-based community with practical career preparation—81% of applicants get in, but 96% of grads land jobs or grad school spots. Its 58% four-year graduation rate outpaces many peers, and with 100% of majors offering internships, NU delivers a no-nonsense, values-driven education that prioritizes real-world readiness.

Admission requirements

Test-optional — scores considered if submitted

Required

High school transcript
Grade point average
TOEFL (non-native English)

Considered (not required)

Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program

Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.

More details

Undergrad enrollment: 645
In-state tuition: $36,035
Out-of-state tuition: $36,035
Location: Kirkland, WA
Top Majors: Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies (9%), Education (8%)
Campus Vibe: Substance-free, faith-focused community
Acceptance Rate: 81%
Median Student Debt: $20,891
4-Year Graduation Rate: 58%
Alumni Employed/Grad School: 96%

Outcomes & value

Median earnings (10 yr): $54,914
Value (earnings ÷ net price): 2.5×
Median debt at graduation: $20,891
Graduation rate: 71%
First-year retention: 84%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr): 66%
Pell (lower-income) share: 58%
First-generation share: 36%
Endowment / student: $18,270

Financial health

2.2 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard

U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.

Top-earning majors

Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$69,338
Business Administration, Management and Operations$53,775
Marketing$44,971
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$44,170
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication$39,369
Theological and Ministerial Studies

Campus & location

Campus safety

On-campus violent crimes (2024): 0
Per 1,000 students: 0.00

On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.

Climate

Pleasant days / yr: 115
Summer high: 75°F
Winter low: 35°F
Annual rain: 54.3"
Annual snow: 20"
Natural-hazard risk: Very High

Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.

Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility

Research output

Institutional h-index: 166
Scholarly works: 5,227

Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.

Economic mobility

Mobility rate: 1.4%
Bottom → top quintile: 27%
From bottom quintile: 5%

Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.

Quick answers

What is the acceptance rate at Northwest University?: Northwest University's acceptance rate is approximately 83% (Kirkland, WA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Northwest University?: Admitted students at Northwest University typically score 1040–1350 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Northwest University cost?: At Northwest University, the average net price (after aid) is about $22,288 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Northwest University?: Northwest University enrolls approximately 645 undergraduate students.
Where is Northwest University located?: Northwest University is located in Kirkland, WA.

Admissions

Northwest University’s admissions process is decidedly un-pressured, with an 81% acceptance rate (per PrepScholar) that reflects its open-arms approach—though applicants with GPAs above 3.75 make up 47% of admitted students (CollegeData). Test scores are middling: the middle 50% SAT range is 480–597 for reading and 462–577 for math (ThoughtCo), while ACT scores hover around 500–650 (CollegeData). Notably, NU lacks an open-admission policy ( 2024–2025), but its selectivity is minimal compared to the hyper-competitive 7% rate of its namesake Northwestern University (Niche).

prepscholar.com collegedata.com thoughtco.com northwestu.edu niche.com

Academics

NU’s academic offerings lean into career-ready, faith-integrated programs, with every major requiring internships (NU website). Popular majors include Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies (9% of students) and Education (8%) (U.S. News). The School of Business snagged a 2024 “Best Business Degrees” ranking from Research.com, while 90% of students report spiritual growth during their time on campus (NU blog). Unlike research-heavy Northwestern, NU emphasizes practical training—think less theoretical physics, more hands-on ministry or business practicums.

Compare Northwest University

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Northwest University

Admission requirements

Outcomes & value

Financial health

Top-earning majors

Campus safety

Climate

Research output

Economic mobility

Quick answers

Admissions

Academics

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