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Results of the 2021 Ruffalo Noel Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory show that Northwest outperforms its peers and national groups in student satisfaction. The survey asks students about a variety of topics, including campus life, instructional effectiveness, classroom support services and academic advising. (Photo by Lauren Adams/Northwest Missouri State University)
April 28, 2022
Eighty percent of freshmen and juniors at Northwest Missouri State University say they are satisfied with their experience at the University and would choose it again if they could repeat their college careers.
The figures are among the findings of the 2021 Ruffalo Noel Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory, which is distributed to freshmen and juniors every two years, and represent a continuation of what Northwest students and alumni have said for years as the institution consistently outperforms its peers and national groups in student satisfaction.
The B.D. Owens Library offers spaces for students to collaborate and take study breaks. (Photo by Abigayle Rush/Northwest Missouri State University)
The survey asks students about a variety of topics, including campus life, instructional effectiveness, recruitment and financial assistance, classroom support services, academic advising, safety and security, and campus climate.
On all scales and all but two questions, Northwest achieved higher student satisfaction rates than national and regional peer comparison groups. In comparison to Northwest, 78 percent of students at regional peers and 77 percent of students surveyed nationally said they would choose to attend their respective institutions again.
Backing up the numbers, Northwest has achieved enrollment growth for four consecutive years and institutional enrollment records the last two years. Northwest also maintains a high retention rate with 76 percent of last year’s freshman class choosing to return to the University for the 2021-22 academic year – and the institution projects that number to be higher next fall, based on key retention leading indicators.
Dr. Allison Hoffmann, Northwest’s assistant vice president of admissions and student success, said the report provides a snapshot of the comprehensive educational experience the University offers to students advancing their education.
“The Ruffalo Noel Levitz student satisfaction survey provides an excellent opportunity for Northwest to learn about what is important to our students and how satisfied they are with the instruction and services we offer,” Hoffmann said. “The results confirm what we see day in and day out – Northwest students feel supported both in and out of the classroom, leading to our enrollment growth, high retention and persistence.
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Northwest, which also is the home of the Missouri Arboretum, places an emphasis affordability and profession-based learning that helps graduates get a jumpstart on their careers. With textbooks and a laptop included in tuition, which is among the lowest in the nation, Northwest saves students an estimated $6,800 over four years. (Photo by Abigayle Rush/Northwest Missouri State University)
With an enrollment of about 7,800 students, Northwest is a coeducational, primarily residential four-year university that offers a broad range of undergraduate and selected graduate programs on its Maryville campus as well as its Northwest-Kansas City location and through Northwest Online.
The University places emphasis on profession-based learning to help graduates get a jumpstart on their careers. Students have opportunities to build their résumés with experiences on campus in nearly every area of study, including the Horace Mann Laboratory School, National Public Radio affiliate KXCV, the R.T. Wright Farm, Mozingo Outdoor Education Recreation Area or Knacktive, a student-driven integrated digital marketing communication agency.
Northwest’s graduation rate is in the 90th percentile among its peers, and 96 percent of Northwest bachelor’s degree earners and 99 percent of master’s degree earners secure employment or continue their education within six months of graduation. Zippia, a career website, names Northwest the best college in Missouri for getting a job.
Furthermore, Northwest’s vibrant and diverse learning community offers more than 150 student organizations, and textbooks and a laptop are included in tuition, which is among the lowest in the nation, saving students an estimated $6,800 over four years. Northwest also offers 1,200 student employment positions, allowing students to build professional skills through its internationally benchmarked student employment program.
For more information about Northwest and its performance, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/facts/.
