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.
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.
Latest FE earnings field: 10-year
Lower quartile, 10-year field
How graduate earnings grow across the currently available FE horizons.
Financial justification for the investment.
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.
Program mix and student pathways explain much of the earnings story.
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 provides context for how these applied-professional fields align with regional and national labor-market trends.
Upper quartile, 10-year field
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.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
