University Of Northwestern-St Paul

University of Northwestern-St Paul's published cost of attendance is $51,325. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $26,696, families in the lower-middle income band pay around $23,884, middle-income families pay about $21,689, families in the upper-middle income band pay approximately $25,267, and higher-income families pay around $31,348.

Azimuth ranks University of Northwestern-St Paul #1016 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.

The university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the institution's aid structure is need-based.

Institutional aid and scholarships help close the gap between sticker price and what families pay, though the spread across income bands reflects the institution's aid capacity relative to its cost structure. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,325, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $28,694; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures.

For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $57,471, median federal debt of $21,325 projects to a monthly payment of about $241 under standard ten-year repayment. In a downside earnings scenario anchored on lower-earning program clusters, four-year earnings of $45,910 would shift the real monthly burden substantially.

For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning and income-driven repayment options — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of University of Northwestern-St Paul earn median 4-year earnings of $57,471, placing the institution in the 32.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,175 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Northwestern-St Paul in the 48.7 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks University of Northwestern-St Paul #781 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects University of Northwestern-St Paul's concentration in theology and religious studies.

Bible/Biblical Studies is the largest program with 192 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $51,761, performing at 1.2x the national benchmark for the field. The Nursing program graduates 84 students with median 4-year earnings of $78,661, also at 0.9x benchmark.

Business Administration and Psychology, General round out the primary offerings, with 34 and 32 graduates respectively earning $68,086 and $46,555 four years after enrollment. As a specialized institution anchored in Theology, University of Northwestern-St Paul serves students pursuing careers in ministry, religious leadership, and faith-based vocations — fields where earnings reflect the mission-driven nature of the work rather than market-rate compensation typical of secular professions.

University of Northwestern-St Paul's program mix is anchored in theological and religious studies — a signature shaped by the institution's faith-based identity and mission. Bible/Biblical Studies is the largest program with 192 graduates, followed by Nursing, Business Administration, Psychology, General, and Engineering.

Across 33 programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, reflecting a concentrated portfolio aligned with the institution's theological and ministerial focus. The earnings pattern reflects the nature of faith-based professional pathways.

Nursing graduates earn median earnings of $78,661 four years after enrollment, while Accounting graduates earn $77,128. Business Administration and Bible/Biblical Studies round out the highest-earning programs with graduates earning $68,086 and $51,761 respectively.

These outcomes reflect both the specialized nature of theological education and the labor-market positioning of graduates entering ministry, chaplaincy, religious education, and faith-based nonprofit leadership roles. Many of University of Northwestern-St Paul's programs are grad-school-dependent pathways where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory because a meaningful share of graduates continue to seminary, graduate divinity programs, or advanced professional study in related fields.

The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how faith-based and nonprofit-sector careers align with broader labor-market trends. For students discerning vocational pathways in ministry or religious leadership, the institution's concentrated program portfolio and outcomes reflect outcomes specific to that calling rather than general workforce preparation.