Fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools since 1921.
Northwest offers 127 undergraduate majors, 73 minors, 18 pre-professional programs, 40 graduate programs, five graduate certificate programs, three certificate programs, three specialist programs and a cooperative doctorate in educational leadership with the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Operates on semester academic calendar
76% freshman retention rate, considerably higher than national and regional averages
96% of undergraduates and 99% of graduates find employment or continue their education within six months of graduation.
Northwest's student loan default rate is 7.8%, compared to the Missouri average of 10.3% and national average of 10.8%
59% graduation rate, which is in the 89th percentile of Northwest's national peer group
Average class size of 27
78% of Northwest classes have fewer than 30 students, 44% have fewer than 20
261 full-time faculty members
95% of tenure and tenure-track faculty have the highest degree in their field
100% of classes taught by professionals, not graduate assistants
50% of Northwest’s regular courses are web enhanced
21-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio
Laptops and textbooks are included in tuition at Northwest, ensuring all students have access to the tools they need to be successful in the classroom. Northwest launched its textbook rental program in 1922 and the laptop rental program in 2005; the programs save students nearly $7,200 during their four-year academic career.
82% of Northwest students report they would repeat their Northwest experience, compared to 75 percent of students surveyed nationally at their respective institutions, according to results of the 2019-2020 Ruffalo Noel Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory.
41% of students live on campus
83% of students actively participate in one or more of Northwest’s 150-plus student organizations
14% of students participate in Greek Life
Students have about 1,200 opportunities to build their resumes on campus through student employment
Men’s varsity sports: football, basketball, baseball, track and field, cross country and tennis
Women’s varsity sports: basketball, volleyball, softball, soccer, track and field, cross country, tennis and golf
79% Student-Athlete Academic Success Rate
60% Student-Athlete Graduation Rate
3.2 grade-point average among all student-athletes
Led MIAA in 2016 with 112 Northwest student-athletes receiving Division II Athletics Directors Association Academic Achievement Award for earning a cumulative 3.5 grade-point average or higher for at least two years
Women's basketball team advanced to the 2011 NCAA Division II Final Four
2010, 2012 and 2013 Universal Cheerleaders Association national champions
1998, 1999, 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2016 NCAA Division II football national champions, four-time national runner-up
2017 and 2019 NCAA Division II men's basketball national champions
In 2016-17, Northwest became the first Division II institution to win national championships in football and men's basketball in the same academic year.
22 Alumni Chapters throughout the United States and one in Japan
The Northwest Foundation awarded $1.04 million in financial assistance through 1,344 scholarships during FY19.
In FY17, the Northwest Foundation raised a record $12.7 million, with 94 percent gifted as cash contributions, and awarded a record $969,000 in scholarship to 1,146 students.
The Office of University Advancement is a two-time recipient, in 2017 and 2018, of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Educational Fundraising Award, presented to superior fundraising programs at educational institutions across the country.
The Foundation’s total assets under management are valued at $36.4 million while its endowment is $25.6 million.
Prominent alumni include Jean Jennings Bartik, who helped program the world's first electronic computer.
Winner of 60 national championships since 2009 across all academic and athletic teams: forensics (42), football (4), cheerleading (3), business education (4), men's basketball (2), radio broadcasting (2), agricultural sciences (1), dance team (1), and wrestling club (1).
Winner of the 2011,2013 and 2014 Annual Recycling Awards from the Missouri State Recycling Program, which recognizes outstanding contributions in a series of recycling collection, waste or recycled content procurement.
Named Military Friendly School by Victory Media for nine consecutive years, representing the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools in the country for delivering the best experience for military students.
In 1987, Northwest became known as "The Electronic Campus" by implementing the first comprehensive networked campus in the nation at a public university.
Since 1982, Northwest has been on the cutting edge of alternative fuels. More than 50 percent of the University’s energy needs are provided through alternative fuels, such as wood chips and paper pellets, saving taxpayers more than $15 million since the program’s inception.
The Horace Mann Laboratory School and the Phyllis and Richard Leet Center for Children and Families provide a clinical experience for pre-service teachers and a diverse and interactive learning environment for children ages three through sixth grade.
The School of Agricultural Sciences offers students hands-on experience at its 448-acre R.T. Wright Farm, which is home to beef, swine, dairy, poultry and sheep herds, as well as row, silage and hay crops. Students also gain experience at the campus orchard, Horticulture Complex, a composting facility and on the campus grounds as the Missouri State Arboretum.
The School of Communication and Mass Media offers students profession-based experience through two campus radio stations, a campus TV station, a semi-independent broadcast production company, and award-winning student publications including a newspaper, yearbook and online magazine.
