Northwest Nazarene University

Northwest Nazarene University's published cost of attendance is $55,163. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $28,732, middle-income families pay around $35,166, and higher-income families pay approximately $34,800.

Azimuth ranks Northwest Nazarene University #1102 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

Northwest Nazarene University uses need-based aid to close portions of the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.

Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the university evaluates demonstrated financial need according to its published aid policies. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,750, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $18,696; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.

For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $60,040, median federal debt of $23,750 projects to a monthly payment of about $268 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of Northwest Nazarene University earn median 4-year earnings of $60,040, placing the institution in the 45.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,671 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Northwest Nazarene University in the 50.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks Northwest Nazarene University #817 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern centers on business and professional fields.

Nursing is the largest program with 42 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $76,250, at 0.9× the national benchmark for the field. The Business Administration program graduates 28 students earning median 4-year earnings of $70,953, also performing at 1.0× the CIP benchmark.

Biology, General and General Studies round out the top programs, with General Studies graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $33,265 at 0.6× benchmark. The Engineering program graduates 14 students earning median 4-year earnings of $85,643.

The concentration in Business aligns with stable, in-demand career pathways that support the institution's overall earnings profile.

Northwest Nazarene University's program mix centers on Business, reflecting the institution's applied-professional orientation as a private Christian university. Nursing is the largest program with 42 graduates, followed by Business Administration, Biology, General, General Studies, and Engineering.

Across 20 total programs serving roughly 260 students annually, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with strength concentrated in business and applied-professional fields. The earnings pattern reflects a career-focused portfolio.

Engineering leads with median earnings of $85,643 four years after enrollment across 14 graduates, followed by Nursing at $76,250 with 42 graduates and Business Administration at $70,953. Kinesiology graduates earn $49,132, and Communication and Media Studies reaches $48,307.

These programs cluster in business, accounting, and applied-management fields where employer demand and early-career compensation remain relatively stable. The institution's program distribution — with Business representing 17%, Arts at 6%, and Education at 5% — positions Northwest Nazarene University as a business-and-applied-professional institution rather than a research-intensive or STEM-concentrated university.

Most programs are direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these applied-professional fields align with regional and national labor-market trends.