Public Bachelor's Strong 72/100

Northwest Indian College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Bellingham, Washington

About Northwest Indian College

Thinking about Northwest Indian College, a college in Washington where more students graduate in Liberal Arts than anything else? The four things worth knowing are what it actually costs after aid, whether you would get in, whether students finish, and what they earn after they do.

Northwest Indian College is a public institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Bellingham, Washington. It enrolls 629 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Every figure on this page is reported by the federal government, not supplied by the college, so it can be compared like for like against anywhere else you are looking.

Acceptance
—
Graduation
20.7%
Net Price
$3,136
Median Earnings (10yr)
$35,447
Enrollment
629
Student : Faculty
11:1

Accreditor Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Academic Calendar Quarter

How It Measures Up

These four scores answer one question: compared with similar colleges, is this one worth the money? Each runs 0 to 100 and is judged only against its peer group (4-Year Open / Online), so a community college is never marked down for not being Harvard. Everything is computed from federal data. Nobody can pay to move a score, and a pillar with missing data is left unscored rather than guessed.

Strong
72/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes 22
Value 96
Affordability 82
Selectivity —

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Northwest Indian College does not report an acceptance rate. Schools that do not publish one are usually open-admission, but confirm with the admissions office before you assume it.

Acceptance Rate
—
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

Ignore the sticker price. What matters is the net price, which is what a typical family pays here after grants and scholarships come off. At $3,136 a year on average, it sits well below what public colleges charge nationally. At that level cost is rarely the reason to rule a college out. Figures are College Scorecard 2023-24.

The average hides a wide spread by household income, so it is worth estimating what a family at your income would actually pay before treating this as the price.

Average Net Price
$3,136
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
52%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
0%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees
$4,365
Room & Board (on-campus)
$5,500
Room & Board (off-campus)
$17,952
Books & Supplies
$1,032
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,462
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,735
Total Cost of Attendance
$10,551

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $2,630
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $2,952
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $3,709
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $8,610
What this means: Aid reaches a meaningful share of the student body: 52% of students receive Pell grants. If your family qualifies for Pell, the real cost to you could be substantially lower than the average.

Graduation Rate & Retention

21% of students who start here finish within six years, and 54% come back after first year. Most students who start here do not finish. That is the single most important number on this page. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

Completion and earnings carry the most weight in this college's score, and how the UCD Score weighs each measure sets out exactly how they are combined.

6-Year Graduation Rate
21%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
54%
Returning for their second year
What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

Ten years after starting here, the median student earns $35,447 a year, close to the national median. Typical for most colleges, so what you study will matter more than where. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$35,447
Earning > $25K
59%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$29,000$31,000$33,000$34,000$36,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs
What this means: Strong return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$11.3 of median earnings 10 years out.

Who Studies Here

Who you would actually be sitting next to: 629 students, a small, close-knit community. Worth knowing: 47% are the first in their family to go to college.

Total Enrolled
629
Part-Time
30%
First-Generation
47%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
Other 86.0% 541
Hispanic 10.8% 68
White 2.5% 16
Black 0.3% 2
Asian 0.2% 1
International 0.2% 1
Other: 86.0% (541 students)Hispanic: 10.8% (68 students)White: 2.5% (16 students)Black: 0.3% (2 students)Asian: 0.2% (1 students)International: 0.2% (1 students)Total629

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Northwest Indian College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Midsize Suburb Bellingham, Washington
Housing
Limited on-campus housing 86 beds
Adult Learners
68% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Quarter scheduling structure

What You Can Study

After that comes the national picture for Business graduates, which shows what the field pays across every college rather than just this one.

Northwest Indian College offers a focused set of programs: 9 distinct programs across 7 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

1 Program
2 Programs
2 Programs
1 Program
1 Program

Faculty & Resources

There are 11 students for every instructor here: about average, so expect a mix of small seminars and big lectures.

Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$10,064
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$50,338
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

27 instructional faculty across 1 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
No Rank 27 100% $50,338

Pros & Cons of Northwest Indian College

No college is right for everyone. Here is where Northwest Indian College is likely to suit you and where it may not, based on the same figures shown above.

Read against a single profile these cut both ways, which is why it helps to put two colleges side by side on the same measures rather than judging one in isolation.

PROS
  • Very affordable net price after aid
  • Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
  • Tight-knit, close community feel
  • Wide reach of need-based federal aid
  • First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
  • Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • First-year retention is below typical
  • Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
  • No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for: Based on the data, Northwest Indian College is a fit for families focused on keeping net cost low; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Northwest Indian College

The questions families ask most about Northwest Indian College, answered straight from the federal data rather than from the college's own marketing.

How much does Northwest Indian College cost?
Budget around $3,136 a year. That is the net price, what families typically pay once grants and scholarships come off, not the sticker price. Your own figure depends on household income, so treat this as a midpoint rather than a quote. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Northwest Indian College worth it?
On the numbers, yes: strong return on investment. Ten years in, the median graduate earns $35,447 a year against a net price of $3,136, about 11.3 dollars of earnings for every dollar of annual cost. That ratio ignores whether you finish and what you study, which matter just as much. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Northwest Indian College known for?
Mostly Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Natural Resources Conservation and Research. Those are the fields where it awards the most degrees, which is a better guide to where the teaching strength sits than any reputation ranking. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What do Northwest Indian College graduates earn?
About $35,447 a year, measured ten years after students first enrolled. Half earn more and half earn less, and what you study moves that figure far more than where you study. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Northwest Indian College accredited?
Yes. Northwest Indian College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
How many students attend Northwest Indian College?
629 students. Small enough that you will recognize faces across campus, and small enough that course choice can be limited. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What is the graduation rate at Northwest Indian College?
21% finish within six years. That means most students do not finish in six years. Ask the school directly what support exists for students who fall behind. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is Northwest Indian College a public or private college?
It is Public. Public, so in-state students usually pay materially less than everyone else.
Where is Northwest Indian College located?
Northwest Indian College is located in Bellingham, Washington.
What programs does Northwest Indian College offer?
9 different programs, most commonly Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Natural Resources Conservation and Research. If the subject you want is not among them, check the full list before applying rather than assuming it is offered.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Northwest Indian College?
11 students per instructor. Low enough that staff are likely to know who you are. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

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