Points of Pride
This is a list of some of the unique and impressive distinctions at Northwest Missouri State University, along with some facts and figures that will help you in your conversations about the University. It includes honors, achievements, accolades and useful facts about students, faculty, staff and the University as a whole. The list is updated regularly.
Overview
- Founded in 1905, Northwest Missouri State University is a fully accredited, coeducational, primarily residential, regional university.
- Northwest is a 370-acre campus complimented by 315 acres of lakefront and a 448-acre laboratory farm 90 miles north of Kansas City, 100 miles south of Omaha and 120 miles south of Des Moines.
- Northwest is a close family of approximately 6,500 diverse students representing 44 states and 29 countries.
Academics
- Northwest offers more than 100 undergraudate majors and 39 master’s programs.
- Academic programs are enhanced by hands-on learning, service learning, class projects and internships.
- 70% of Northwest’s faculty hold the highest degrees in their fields.
- Many blended courses feature face-to-face, online and Interactive Television delivery.
- Primary textbooks for undergraduate students covered in a unique loan program.
- The most popular areas of study include education, business, agriculture, biology and mass communications.
Student Body
- The average class size is 27 students with a 22:1 student-faculty ratio which translates into small classes for a more personal learning environment.
- 96.6% of our undergraduates find employment or continue their education after graduation.
- 88% of Northwest’s freshmen live on campus, enjoying new housing options.
- Northwest’s freshman success rate is 72 percent, leading all moderately selective universities in Missouri.
- 92% of all freshmen return for their second semester.
- Northwest has the highest student-athlete graduation rate among all Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association schools at 80 percent.
- Nearly half of all Northwest freshmen ranked in the top 25% of their high school class, and 44% had a 3.50 GPA or higher.
Quality
- Northwest is a leader in continuous quality improvement, winning the Missouri Quality Award three consecutive times: 1997, 2001 and 2005.
- Northwest is the only university in Missouri to win the Christa McAuliffe Award for Excellence in Teacher Education.
Financial Aid
- Northwest offers more than $10 million annually in scholarships and need-based grants to assist students in financing their education, in addition to offering an extensive student employment opportunity that involves career pathing.
- 80% of freshmen receive some type of merit-based scholarship aid.
- Northwest awards scholarships based on ACT scores that range from $500 to $3,000 per year, in addition to offering out-of-state and non-resident awards that equal the value of the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition.
- Northwest’s American Dream Grant is unique in the nation in assisting low-income, high-need students.
- The average undergraduate financial aid award was $9,504 in 2005-2006.
Computer Technology
- A laptop computer is provided to each student living on campus.
Student Satisfaction
- Northwest students rank the University first in variety of aspects on satisfaction survey, including academic advising, campus climate, campus life, support services, student centeredness, service excellence and safety and security.
Student Life
- There are more than 170 student organizations.
- There are 10 social fraternities, and eight social sororities.
Intercollegiate Athletics
- Northwest competes in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
- Northwest has won two national championships in football, 1998 and 1999, and finished runner-up in 2005 and 2006.
Academic Support
- Northwest implements numerous services to help students succeed. The following services are free: The Talent Development Center offers a variety of services to students, including tutoring; an Early Alert System is in place for faculty concerned about student academic progress; Northwest’s Supplemental Instruction program uses student facilitators to assist other students enrolled in difficult courses; the Writing Center, a branch of the English Department, helps students become better writers; the Math Lab is staffed with tutoring services for all levels of math; the Advisement Assistance and Resource Office assists students with academic questions and informs them of additional resources; Freshman Seminar, a course designed to introduce students to Northwest, covers topics such as adjusting to university life, what skills are necessary to make the most of the university experience, and academic programs and advisement; Student Support Services is a program designed to assist students with special needs; the Office of Residential Life’s Academic Resource Consultant in Hall (ARCH) works with one Freshman Learning Center to facilitate academic progress and promote an environment of intellectual inquiry by providing programming and resources for students and staff; the Student-Athlete Success Program provides Northwest student-athletes with academic advising, academic progress reports, mentoring and career development.
Student Employment/Career Pathing Program
- Nearly 1,000 Northwest students are employed each trimester at the University.
Missouri Academy
- Northwest is home of the Missouri Academy of Science, Mathematics and Computing, a residential program for academically talented high school juniors and seniors.