Northwestern College

In 2022, tuition for full-time Northwestern College students was $35,000 a year.

In 2023, tuition increased 2.94%–from $34,000 the previous year. On average, colleges raise tuition about 3% each year.

If this makes attending the college of your dreams seem daunting, remember, the "sticker price" of tuition doesn't mean much if you plan to use financial aid to help pay for college. Many students pay way less than the sticker price after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts kick in. Plus, student loans can make theactual cost of attending college more manageable until you're done with college.

Northwestern College meets 96% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student at Northwestern College is around $34,823 a year.

Graduates in the class of 2023 had an average of $33,657 in student loans per borrower.

Does Northwestern College Offer In-State and Out-of-State Tuition?

Northwestern College is a private, religious institution, so it has the same tuition for residents of Iowa as it does for students who live in other states.

Public colleges and universities receive funding from the state government. Public, state schools can offer lower tuition for students who meet the requirements for in-state residency.

Choosing a college where you qualify for in-state status can cut the cost of college tuition. Take the time to check your state's criteria for in-state tuition. Each state has different requirements to qualify as in-state resident. Most states require students to have resided in the state for a certain period of time before qualifying. There may be other criteria as well, depending on the state you and your parents currently reside in.

Explore other Iowa colleges

Do International Students Pay More to Go to Northwestern College?

Tuition at Northwestern College is the same for each student.

Students from outside of the U.S. usually do not qualify for for loans or grants from the U.S. government, but may be eligible for private or Northwestern College-specific aid and scholarships. International students who demonstrate financial need may be eligible for the following types of financial support at Northwestern College:

•On-campus jobs •Athletic Awards •Northwestern College-specific scholarships

---

Northwestern College Room, Board, Fees, and More

---

In addition to tuition, there are other costs associated with college, like room and board, facility fees, and books and supplies. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Northwestern College.

Room and Board Costs at Northwestern College

Housing and campus dining at Northwestern College costs $10,700 a year. This covers the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, plus a dining plan that allows you to eat all or some of your meals the school dining halls.

Meal-plan costs vary based on on how many meals are included in the plan you choose.

Cost of Books at Northwestern College

The cost of books often surprises first-year college students. The real cost of books and supplies depends on the courses you take and the materials required. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy used textbooks and materials.

Annual Fees

Most schools also have fees to help cover the cost of facilties, like the computer labs and libraries, athletic facilities, and more.

There may be optional fees associated with participating in special activities, like Greek Life, or playing on an intramural sports team. Most colleges offer resources so that those who may struggle to participate because of cost can find ways to lower or eliminate these fees.

Transportation costs

The cost of getting around in college depends on a few key factors. Will you take a subway, car or an airplane to get to school? Will you need to pay to park on-campus? Is the campus easy to get around on foot? Do you plan to bring a car or will you need to use busses, subways, or other modes of transportation? All of these factors can make a big difference in your estimated cost of transportation. Keeping in mind, first-year students are allowed to park a car on campus.

A school's location can impact your transportation budget. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the other hand getting around in a city may be costly, but there may be more trains, busses or affordable flights to actually get to school. Northwestern Collegeis in a town in Iowa.

Other Costs

When budgeting for college, be sure to leave some room in your budget for the cost of things like entertainment, clothes, furnishings and toiletries.

---

The Full Cost of Attending Northwestern College

---

Now, let’s do a rundown of all of the costs associated with college, to get a better idea of the actual cost of attending Northwestern College.

How Much Does Northwestern College Cost?

What will the cost of attending Northwestern College be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2023 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition	$35,000
Room and Board	$10,700
Other expenses	$1,850

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus	$47,850
Off-Campus	$35,300

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

Northwestern College’s tuition and fees change based on: •Course load for part-time students

---

Northwestern College Financial Aid

---

The majority of Northwestern College undergrads use financial aid to help pay for school. In 2023, 816 of the 1,169 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Northwestern College meets 96% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $34,823 a year. Around 75% of Northwestern College undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Northwestern College graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $33,657 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$23,564
Northwestern College-Specific Loans	$3,004
Private Loans	$28,176

Most Common Loans for Northwestern College Students
Federal Loans	75%
Institutional Loans	2%
Private loans	26%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Northwestern College financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Northwestern College

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2023, Northwestern College awarded 748 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $9.8 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $11.58 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Northwestern College Net Cost

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Northwestern College students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Northwestern College was $34,823 in 2023. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Northwestern College seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus	$13,027
Off-Campus	$477

What will attending Northwestern College really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families get a better idea of the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Northwestern College's net cost calculator on their website.

Northwestern College Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Northwestern College does not have guaranteed tuition.

Northwestern College offers an Installment Payment Plan, which allows students to pay tuition in a series of smaller chunks instead of one lump sum.

Northwestern College Tuition Waivers

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups, to reduce the total cost of attendance. Some schools offer tuition waivers for employees and their family members, underrepresented students, or military students. Even if you qualify for a waiver, other expenses and fees are the responsibility of the student.

Northwestern College has some full or partial tuition waivers available for: - Employees or Children of Employees

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

Northwestern College's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and supporting students.

Northwestern College's endowment was valued at $63.2 million in 2023, compared to a national average of $905 million.

---

Learn More About Northwestern College

---

To learn more about Northwestern College, choose from the options below:

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Admissions

See what others are saying about Northwestern College in the College Confidential forums