Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Northwest University #1181 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $58,404, placing Northwest University in the 33.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Northwest University sits in the 61.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Northwest University #1181 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Kirkland, Washington, Northwest University enrolls roughly 645 undergraduates. Retention is 83.9% and the six-year graduation rate is 70.8%, reflecting solid student persistence through degree completion. Northwest University performs strongest on return on investment. Azimuth ranks Northwest University #797 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $58,404, and earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Northwest University in the 61.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's program portfolio centers on Health, a field where employers actively recruit and where early-career earnings tend to be competitive. Access and affordability shape the remaining pillars of the composite. Northwest University sits in the 7.0 percentile for access and the 55.9 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 25.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 36.4% are first-generation college students. As a private institution with a health-focused mission, Northwest University serves a student body with meaningful financial need alongside strong career-focused outcomes in nursing, allied health, and related fields.
Published cost of attendance is $50,501. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $17,996, middle-income families pay around $17,840, higher-income families pay approximately $28,570. Azimuth ranks Northwest University #629 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 55.9 percentile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,891; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $17,284. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $58,404, median federal debt projects to a monthly payment of about $236 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Northwest University is a strong fit for students interested in health-focused programs who want a private nonprofit university experience in Kirkland, WA. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $58,404, placing Northwest University in the 33.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 61.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations. The university serves a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 25.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 36.4% are first-generation. The published cost of attendance is $50,501 with need-based aid available to help close the gap. Fit depends on program alignment — health fields represent 16% of degrees — and the 83.2% admit rate. Students pursuing health careers will find strong outcomes relative to the WA no-degree baseline of $36,819.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Northwest University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
40 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
24 graduates
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
11 graduates
Psychology, General
19 graduates
Theological and Ministerial Studies
14 graduates
Northwest University's program mix is anchored in health sciences and applied professional fields, reflecting the institution's mission-driven identity as a private nonprofit in the Pacific Northwest. Nursing is the largest program with 40 graduates, followed by Business Administration, Psychology, General, Theological and Ministerial Studies, and English Language and Literature, General.
The dominant program family—Health—accounts for a substantial share of the institution's degree output, positioning the university as a pipeline into healthcare and wellness-adjacent careers. Median earnings four years after enrollment vary meaningfully across the program portfolio.
Nursing graduates earn $89,673, while Business Administration graduates reach $72,343, and Teacher Education graduates earn $58,134. Psychology, General and Theological and Ministerial Studies round out the higher-earning programs with graduates earning $54,357 and $52,385 respectively.
This earnings spread reflects the institution's concentration in health professions—a field family where licensing, specialization, and geographic labor-market conditions shape early-career compensation. Several of Northwest University's programs follow grad-school-dependent pathways where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory because meaningful shares of graduates continue to graduate or professional school—particularly in fields like nursing, psychology, and biology where advanced credentials unlock higher-earning roles.
Others, such as business and applied health-sciences 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 dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market demand in healthcare and related sectors.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Published cost of attendance is $50,501. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $17,996, middle-income families pay around $17,840, higher-income families pay approximately $28,570.
Azimuth ranks Northwest University #629 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 55.9 percentile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,891; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $17,284.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $58,404, median federal debt projects to a monthly payment of about $236 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Graduates of Northwest University earn median 4-year earnings of $58,404, placing Northwest University in the 33.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Northwest University in the 61.7 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Northwest University #797 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern is anchored in health and allied health fields, which dominate Northwest University's degree output and drive strong financial outcomes.
Nursing is the largest program with 40 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $89,673, performing at 1.0x the national benchmark for the field [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). The Business Administration program graduates 24 students with median 4-year earnings of $72,343, also exceeding its national benchmark at 1.1x.
Psychology, General and Theological and Ministerial Studies round out the core program portfolio, with 19 and 14 graduates respectively, both delivering solid earnings outcomes in the healthcare and professional services sectors. This concentration in Health reflects the institution's clear academic focus and translates directly into consistent, predictable financial outcomes for graduates entering stable, in-demand fields.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ohio Wesleyan University Similar quality tier (#31688 ranked) | OH | 56% | $55,624 | #31688 | Compare |
Franklin College Similar quality tier (#31685 ranked) | IN | 70% | $55,376 | #31685 | Compare |
Doane University Similar quality tier (#31684 ranked) | NE | 98% | $53,316 | #31684 | Compare |
Quincy University Similar quality tier (#31683 ranked) | IL | 51% | $50,369 | #31683 | Compare |
Life Pacific University Similar quality tier in West (#31681 ranked) | CA | 96% | $43,299 | #31681 | Compare |
