Northwest Nazarene University
Nampa, Idaho · Private Nonprofit · 64.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 41/100 · Poor Value
Northwest Nazarene University scores 41 (Poor Value) on the CampusROI scale. The core tension: a 70.8% completion rate (sub-score 80) is meaningfully above average -- NNU actually graduates most of its students -- but $29,580 average net price against $35,000 median six-year earnings creates a 15.5-year payback period that sinks the score. Median debt of $23,750 yields a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.679. The problem is cost, not completion. Registered Nursing is the largest program at 56 graduates: $75,383 year-one, but a C+ grade because the $37,500 median debt -- more than twice the typical program -- pushes the debt-to-earnings ratio to 0.497. Religion/Religious Studies (9 graduates, F grade, debt-to-earnings 1.160) and Liberal Arts and Sciences (14 graduates, F grade, debt-to-earnings 1.042) represent the institution's worst financial outcomes. Engineering (10 graduates, $85,643 at year four) is the strongest earner on the list, but year-one data and debt metrics are not reported by Scorecard. NNU's Nazarene Christian mission shapes its programming; students here are choosing a faith-community context, and the financial outcomes reflect a price structure that exceeds what most of its graduates can comfortably service.
The data raises concerns about Northwest Nazarene University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score41/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period15.5 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Northwest Nazarene University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $40,794/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $40,794/yr |
| Average net price | $29,580/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $118,320 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $51,719 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $35,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,750 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $252 |
| Estimated payback period | 15.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 70.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,024 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Northwest Nazarene University is $40,794/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $29,580/year, or roughly $118,320 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $28,732/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $34,800/year.
The median graduate leaves with $23,750 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $252 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $51,719 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.68 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $28,732 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $30,626 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $35,166 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $33,413 |
| $110,001+ | $34,800 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $28,732 per year at NNU -- nearly the same as the $29,580 average net price. This is unusually high for a low-income student, suggesting NNU's aid model does not substantially discount for families with incomes below $30,000. The 30001-48000 bracket actually increases to $30,626. For low-income students, NNU represents a financially strained choice at nearly $115,000 over four years against $35,000 median earnings. The Pell grant clearly is not offsetting the full cost at this institution.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $35,166 -- the highest on the income schedule, representing near full price for many middle-income families. The 75001-110000 bracket drops to $33,413. The income schedule is nearly flat and high across all brackets, indicating NNU's institutional aid does not meaningfully differentiate by income. Middle-income families at any point on this schedule are paying near sticker price, which requires a specific faith-community rationale to justify given the earnings outcomes.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $34,800 -- virtually the same as middle-income families. NNU's aid model provides minimal price variation across the income spectrum. Higher-income families are not penalized but also not rewarded with substantially lower prices. At $34,800 per year and $35,000 median six-year earnings, the financial case is negative -- the institution's value is primarily non-financial for families at this income level.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Northwest Nazarene University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $76,250 | C+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $49,132 | - |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $70,953 | C+ |
| Social Work | $44,782 | - |
| Teacher Education | $45,537 | C |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $33,265 | F |
| Accounting | $70,899 | C |
| Engineering, General | $85,643 | - |
| Religion/Religious Studies | $23,836 | F |
| Biology | $33,875 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is NNU's largest program at 56 graduates, with $75,383 year-one and $76,250 at year four. The C+ grade reflects a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.497 against $37,500 median debt -- the highest debt load of any program at NNU, reflecting the cost of the nursing curriculum. Monthly payments on $37,500 debt run roughly $398. Against a $75k first-year salary, this is serviceable but not comfortable. Students considering NNU's nursing program should compare debt outcomes against Boise State's or Idaho's public nursing alternatives.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (14 graduates) earns $46,499 year-one and $70,953 at year four, with a C+ grade and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.503. Median debt of $23,375 is moderate. At NNU's $29,580 net price, Business produces adequate returns for students who build careers in the Nampa/Boise regional economy. The four-year jump to $70k is the more meaningful signal -- students who stay in business careers through the first several years post-graduation reach manageable financial outcomes.
Religion/Religious Studies
Religion/Religious Studies earns an F ROI grade: 9 graduates, $23,836 year-one, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.160 against $27,650 median debt. Graduates owe more than an entire year of earnings in student loans. Students who enter ministry, chaplaincy, or church careers typically do so with the understanding that compensation is below market. NNU's students in this program should carry eyes open into the financial trade-off -- the F grade is a financial signal, not a moral one.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 68.2% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 74.5% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 73.8% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 80.3% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 64.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 490-610 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 515-630 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 22-27 |
| Enrollment | 1,024 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 29.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,760 |
At 64.7%, NNU is moderately selective. SAT Math 490-610 and Reading 515-630 describe above-average but not highly selective academic preparation. ACT 22-27 composite is the parallel signal. The faith mission and Nazarene affiliation mean admissions weighs character and community fit alongside academics. The financial picture should factor heavily into enrollment decisions at this institution -- with a 15.5-year payback period, students who are not committed to the institution's specific mission and community are better served by lower-cost alternatives in Idaho.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Northwest Nazarene (ROI 41) sits in the Poor Value tier. Named peers include The College of Idaho, a secular liberal arts institution in Caldwell that likely scores higher on ROI due to lower net pricing relative to earnings. Geneva College and Dominican University New York are also named peers. Among small Nazarene and evangelical Christian universities in the Pacific Northwest, NNU's completion rate of 70.8% stands as a genuine strength -- most comparable institutions complete 50-60% of enrolled students. The ROI penalty comes entirely from NNU's price relative to the regional labor market's salary levels for its predominantly non-technical graduate pool.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Nazarene University (this school) | 41 | $29,580 | $51,719 |
| Clear Creek Baptist Bible College | 41 | $10,949 | $41,623 |
| Westminster College | 41 | $24,314 | $52,199 |
| Southwestern Adventist University | 41 | $22,778 | $52,946 |
| Hobe Sound Bible College | 40 | $12,074 | $39,863 |
| Eastern Nazarene College | 40 | $25,381 | $54,727 |
Who Thrives Here
Northwest Nazarene admits 64.7% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 490-610 Math and 515-630 Reading; ACT composite 22-27 -- solidly average preparation. Enrollment is 1,024 undergraduates in Nampa, Idaho. Pell grant rate of 29.8% reflects a mixed-income student body, leaning toward working-class and lower-middle-income families connected to the Nazarene Church community. Students at NNU are primarily motivated by the faith environment, not ROI maximization -- but they should be clear-eyed that $29,580 in net annual price creates financial strain when median six-year earnings are $35,000.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Northwest Nazarene University. With a net cost of $29,580 per year and median graduate earnings of only $51,719 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 15.5 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Key strengths include a 70.8% graduation rate. However, the data also shows weak earnings relative to cost and high debt relative to what graduates earn and a long payback period.
Median debt of $23,750 against $51,719 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.