Admissions Viewbook 2025-26

be a RAIDER

you You’re a difference-maker.

That makes you different.

Success matters.

But you care more about succeeding in ways that matter.

Want to be confident? Prepared?

Ready to lead a life that stands out?

You belong at Northwestern College.

Lead + serve.

Be smart + strong.

Courageous + faithful.

Build community + experience belonging.

Our promise: You’ll stand out here.

You’ll learn to be great— not for your glory, but for God’s.

Not for yourself, but for others.

You’ll be equipped for your career.

For God’s call on your life.

For success.

For significance.

Be a Raider.

Because #RaidersStandOut.

prepare for

significance

As a Raider, you’ll be challenged and encouraged to pursue your passions and expand your knowledge. You’ll learn from professors who are not only brilliant scholars but committed Christians. You’ll get great preparation for your career—and you’ll be empowered to lead a life of significance.

MAJORS + MINORS

Accounting Actuarial science Art Art therapy Arts administration* Biblical and theological studies Biochemistry Biology Biology–ecological science Biology–genetics, molecular and cellular Biology–health professions Biophysics Business administration Business–agricultural Business–finance Business–international Business–management Business–marketing Business education Chemistry Computer science Creative industries–visual art Criminal justice Cultural studies* Cybersecurity Data science and statistics Developmental psychology* Economics Education–elementary Education–secondary Education studies Engineering English teaching Entrepreneurship* Exercise science Graphic design Health* History Humanities Journalism*

PRE-PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS

Leadership studies* Mathematics Mathematics teaching* Medical laboratory science Mission and justice* Multimedia* Music Music–modified with elementary education Music–secondary education Nonprofit management* Nursing (BSN) Philosophy* Physical education Physics* Physics teaching Political science Project management* Psychology Public relations Social enterprise Social studies teaching Social work Sociology Software engineering Spanish Spanish-English translation and interpretation Special education teaching Sport management–business Sport management–leadership Sport management–media and marketing Strength and conditioning Teaching English as a second language* Theatre Theatre education Worship arts Writing and digital media Youth ministry and Christian formation

Athletic training Chiropractic Dentistry Law Medicine Mortuary science Music therapy Occupational therapy Optometry Pharmacy Physical therapy Physician assistant Veterinary medicine

CAREER CONCENTRATIONS Christian theatre ministries Fitness management Sport management

ONLINE ONLY

Early childhood education

GRADUATE PROGRAMS Business administration Counseling Education Physician assistant studies

UNDECIDED ON A MAJOR? THAT’S OK! Staff in our Compass Center for Career & Calling will help you explore your options.

*minor only

135+ 17 Free ACADEMIC OPTIONS

AVERAGE CLASS SIZE

PEER TUTORING (120+ TUTORS)

O U R A C A D E M I C O F F E R INGS

Raiders

stand out

Top Score

A Raider accounting grad had one of the nation’s top-40 scores (out of 86,000) on the CPA exam in 2023.

Elite

Research

NWC science students participate in SEA-PHAGES, a global effort to discover phages and sequence and annotate their DNA.

Perfect TOP 1% Our nursing grads have recorded a 100% board pass rate for 5 consecutive years.

Bravo!

Northwestern College theatre students have won national awards in dramaturgy, technology, and sound, scenic + lighting design 5 years in a row.

NWC senior business majors score in the top 1% of 5,000+ teams in the international Business Strategy Game.

100%

100% of our 2024 science grads who pursued medical school were accepted.

Impressive Outcomes Our actuarial science grads average 75% to 95% pass rates on actuarial exams.

Northwestern professors are experts in their fields of study. They’re nationally and internationally recognized for their writing and research. They’ve earned PhDs from schools like Yale and Princeton. And they’re loved by Northwestern students not only for the way they integrate faith and academics, but because of who they are. Northwestern professors want to know you, invest in you and see you succeed.

Your success matters to them—but more importantly, who you are as a person matters to them.

15:1 1 STUDENT-TOFACULTY RATIO

2

FULBRIGHT SCHOLARS

IOWA PROFESSOR OF THE YEAR

87%

HAVE THE HIGHEST DEGREE IN THEIR FIELD

personable profs

O U R S TA N D O U T P R O F E S SO RS

Wherever you are in your faith journey, there’s a place for you at Northwestern. At Iowa’s Standout Christian College, you’ll have many opportunities to learn + worship as you develop a deeper relationship with Christ. You’ll be encouraged to live out your faith, and you’ll be challenged to pursue God’s redeeming work in the world.

You’ll grow in your faith through:

• Academics rooted in biblical truth • Chapel worship • Christian clubs • Discipleship groups + Bible studies • Justice + Service ministry teams

• Ngage series + NEDTalks • Short-term mission trips • Spiritual retreats • Sunday night Praise + Worship

400+ 12+ Best STUDENTS MEET WEEKLY FOR SMALLGROUP MINISTRIES

CHURCHES IN ORANGE CITY FOR OFF-CAMPUS WORSHIP

FOR SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT

– Christianity Today

pursue Christ

FA I T H -BA S E D L E A R NING

you’ll

love i t here

Safest

COLLEGE CAMPUS IN IOWA – Niche.com

You’ll love life in Raider Nation—both on campus and in the Orange City community.

Northwestern’s exceptional community starts in your residence hall.

You’ll live with freshmen and upperclassmen who will embrace you and want you to grow + succeed. You can join decades-long dorm traditions—like Hospers Hall’s cardboard-and-duct-tape battle— or start new ones. Each residence hall is located near the center of campus, making your walk to class, activities and dining easy.

You’ll also be embraced by the Orange City community. The residents here love the Raiders! Home to 6,200 people, Orange City is known for friendliness, cleanliness, safety and its charming Dutch downtown. It’s been recognized as one of the nation’s Top 10 Christian College Towns. You’ll have easy access to stores, restaurants and coffee shops, the movie theatre, parks and trails.

9in10 STUDENTS FEEL A SENSE OF BELONGING

#1

DORMS IN IOWA – Niche.com

5

RESIDENCE HALLS (plus apartments for upperclassmen)

A H O M E AWAY F R O M H O ME

life in Raider Nation

College is the time of your life, and there’s always something happening at Northwestern. From dorm traditions to annual events, your social calendar can be as full as you want it to be. Cheer on the Raiders at athletic events, enjoy music concerts + theatre productions, participate in game show-like competitions, take part in bingo + trivia contests …

Simply put, life in Raider Nation stands out. That’s why we have better student satisfaction scores than our competitors for school spirit, belonging, personal attention and academic reputation.

50+

STUDENT CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS

3

CAMPUS DINING OPTIONS

20+ INTRAMURAL OPPORTUNITIES

C A M PU S LIF E

explore + serve

Love to travel? NWC has options. Spend a semester across the globe taking classes while immersing yourself in a new culture. (If you don’t want to be away for so long, take a threeweek summer study abroad course led by a Northwestern professor.)

Hoping to intern? Staff in Northwestern’s Compass Center for Career & Calling will help you secure a great gig. Hands-on experience stands out on a resume, so they’ll help you build your professional network and impress potential employers. You can intern locally or through offcampus programs.

Looking to serve? We offer opportunities for that too. Sign up for a Spring Service Partnership (SSP) and spend spring break serving in one of 12+ locations. Or spend a portion of your summer volunteering with one of Northwestern’s mission partners either stateside or abroad.

40+ 105+ 190+ STUDENTS STUDY OFF CAMPUS EACH YEAR

STUDENTS INTERN ANNUALLY

STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN SHORT-TERM MISSIONS EACH YEAR

S T U D Y A BR O A D A N D S E R V IC E

Raiders

win 10

TEAM NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Raider athletes set records and take home trophies. Like you, Raiders love to win. But more than that, our athletes and coaches care about developing character, confidence, perseverance and resilience.

Raiders compete to honor Christ.

Northwestern competes in 23 varsity sports and is part of the Great Plains Athletic Conference:

• Baseball • Basketball (m+w) • Cheer (coed) • Cross country (m+w) • Dance

11

SPORTS QUALIFIED FOR NATIONALS IN 2024–25

• Esports (coed) • Football • Golf (m+w) • Soccer (m+w) • Softball

3.4

AVERAGE GPA FOR RAIDER ATHLETES IN 2024–25

• Tennis (m+w) • Track & field (m+w) • Volleyball (w) • Wrestling (m+w)

10

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 2024–25 AT H L E TIC S

If you love to perform, join one or more of our music or theatre ensembles, directed by professors who are master performers themselves. Raiders take the stage to create beautiful works that reflect the beautiful work of God. They perform in Northwestern’s award-winning music and theatre facilities, and they also tour across the U.S. and around the world.

Music, theatre and worship arts opportunities and scholarships are open by audition to all Northwestern students, regardless of major.

Vocal

• A cappella Choir • Heritage Singers • Women’s Choir • Worship teams

Instrumental

• Chamber ensembles • Jazz Band • Orchestra • Raider Athletic Band • Symphonic Band • Worship teams

Theatre

• Black V improv • Drama Ministries Ensemble • Theatre production ensemble (6+ shows/year)

take the

stage

P E R F O R M I N G A RT S

success starts here

Northwestern College students excel in the classroom—and beyond. When they graduate, they find great success in their careers and graduate school. (93% of Raider alumni who pursue advanced degrees report NWC prepared them well or very well for graduate school.) The same will be true for you.

Recent Raider grads landed jobs or are studying at places like:

• Amazon • Children’s Home Society of South Dakota

• EY • Fellowship of Christian Athletes

• Google • Habitat for Humanity • Iowa State Patrol • Iowa State University

College of Veterinary Medicine

• John Deere Engine Works • Johns Hopkins University • KELOLAND Media Group • Lawrence & Schiller • Mayo Clinic • Nationwide Insurance • Northwestern University Theatre

• PayPal • POET Biofuels • Princeton Theological Seminary

• Principal Financial Group • San Diego Padres • Sanford Health • Seattle Children’s Hospital • SoundReserve Studios • Trans Ova Genetics • U.S. Department of Justice • Uganda Christian University • University of Alabama Optometry School

• University of Iowa Medical School

• University of Oregon School of Law

• University of WisconsinMadison

99.5%

OF OUR RECENT GRADUATES WERE EMPLOYED OR IN GRAD SCHOOL WITHIN 6 MONTHS

O U T C O MES

stand out

stories

Hear from more Raiders at nwciowa.edu/StandOutStories

‘‘

I’m proud to be a Raider and the reputation that comes with it. There is definitely a standard of excellence—and it’s expected in everything you do.

CADEN KLEINWOLTERINK Boyden, Iowa exercise science

‘‘

Los profesores en Northwestern son muy acogedores. Siempre que tienes una pregunta, están dispuestos a responder y trabajar contigo.

JULIAN REYES PALMA Rock Valley, Iowa elementary education

‘‘

Northwestern integrates faith into education by focusing on how what we’re learning applies to our understanding of God. EMMA KORN Sioux Falls, South Dakota exercise science

‘‘

Northwestern is a community that pushes you to be your best and wants you to thrive in ways you wouldn’t think to imagine.

MARI LANGTON Orange City, Iowa social work

‘‘

I’m most grateful for Northwestern for the opportunities I’ve had to put my education into practice and to study and perform abroad.

JOSIAH TROUTNER Marshalltown, Iowa worship arts + biblical and theological studies

‘‘

If you’re looking for professors who intentionally pour into you and a place where the Lord is the number one priority, come to Northwestern.

ALLIE OBERHELMAN Pomeroy, Iowa political science + Spanish

S T U D E N T T E S T I M O NIA LS

Visit. See why you’ll want to call Raider Nation home. Meet students + professors. Tour campus. Sit in on a class, practice or performance. Schedule an individual visit or come on a Raider Day. Apply. College is one of the best (and biggest) investments of your life.

Apply for free and find out how affordable your Northwestern College education can be.

You belong in Raider Nation: nwciowa.edu/BeARaider

$17,000

100%

OF NWC STUDENTS RECEIVE FINANCIAL AID

PER YEAR GUARANTEED IN NWC GRANTS + SCHOLARSHIPS

NWC accepts college credits you’ve earned in high school* *for courses in which you’ve earned a C or better

be a

RAIDER

BE A R A IDER

101 7th Street SW Orange City, Iowa 800-747-4757 admissions@nwciowa.edu | @nwciowa nwciowa.edu/BeARaider