Private not-for-profit

Small

Northwestern College SAT Scores, ACT Scores, Acceptance Rate, and Admissions Requirements

SAT RangeN/A

ACT RangeN/A

Average GPA3.61

Acceptance Rate80.3%

Northwestern College’s 80% acceptance rate means your strategy should start with fit and affordability, not just getting admitted. With an average entering GPA of 3.61, your transcript is the main signal to keep strong, and test-optional means you should submit scores only if they clearly support that record. The average merit award is meaningful, so ask early how scholarships are evaluated.

Data on this page is sourced from our college data partners and was last updated on July 9, 2026.

Northwestern College facts and stats

Quick Facts

Northwestern College enrolls about 1,187 undergraduates in a small-town campus setting. Northwestern College has a freshman retention rate of 74%, which is above the national average of roughly 70%. Its 6-year graduation rate is 66%, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 15:1.

Location

Orange City, IA

Undergrad Enrollment1,187

Freshman Retention74%

SettingSmall town

Student to Faculty Ratio15:1

Graduation Rate66%

Test PolicyTest-optional

How does your GPA compare at Northwestern College?

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Key Northwestern College application dates

Key dates

Application deadlines

Regular Decision

—

Early Action

Not offered

Early Decision

Not offered

Priority Deadline

—

Financial aid deadlines

Coming soon

Test dates

SAT test dates

August 22, 2026

Registration deadline: August 7, 2026

September 12, 2026

Registration deadline: August 28, 2026

October 3, 2026

Registration deadline: September 18, 2026

ACT test dates

September 19, 2026

Registration deadline: August 14, 2026

October 17, 2026

Registration deadline: September 11, 2026

December 12, 2026

Registration deadline: November 6, 2026

Take tests early for the best outcomes

If you choose to submit scores to test-optional Northwestern College, take your first SAT or ACT by the spring of junior year, then use the summer before senior year and October for retakes. Since Northwestern College does not offer Early Decision or Early Action, anchor your testing plan to the Regular Decision deadline and confirm whether a later fall score will arrive in time.

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What you'll actually pay

Northwestern College is a private not-for-profit, so the same rate applies to all students. Tuition and fees are $36,710, with 87% of students receiving aid and an average merit award of $20,627.

Tuition and Fees$36,710

Room and Board$11,100

Average Merit Award$20,627

Application FeeN/A

Students on Aid87%

Average Aid Package$35,091

Average Debt at Grad$36,272

At Northwestern College, tuition, fees, room, and board total about $47,810 before aid. Financial aid is common, with 87% of students receiving assistance and an average aid package of $35,091. Merit scholarships also matter, with an average merit award of $20,627. For context, average debt at graduation is $36,272.