


Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) traces its origins to a school founded in Nampa, Idaho, in 1913. Its development from a small religious school into a university helps explain why Christian education remains part of its identity alongside a broad range of professional and liberal arts programs.
The institution later operated as Northwest Nazarene College and adopted the Northwest Nazarene University name after expanding its academic offerings. It remains affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene. Applicants researching older records may encounter the college name; it refers to the predecessor of today's Nampa-based university, not a separate institution.
Northwest Nazarene University offers undergraduate and graduate study across the arts and humanities, sciences, business, education, nursing, social sciences, and theology. Prospective students should compare programs by credential and delivery format: a campus-based bachelor's degree and an online graduate program can have different schedules, admission requirements, and costs.
Representative undergraduate fields include biology, business, communication, computer science, education, engineering, nursing, psychology, and social work. Graduate and professional offerings include programs in areas such as business, education, nursing, and ministry. Students considering teacher preparation, nursing, or another regulated profession should check the specific program's clinical or fieldwork requirements and the licensing rules in the state where they intend to practice.
NNU reports a student-to-faculty ratio of 14 to 1. That institution-wide figure describes staffing relative to enrollment; it does not establish the size of a particular lecture, laboratory, or online class.
Northwest Nazarene University's main campus is in Nampa, a city in southwestern Idaho's Treasure Valley, west of Boise. The setting offers access to a regional employment area while placing students in a smaller city rather than downtown Boise.
Boise Airport is the most relevant major airport for students traveling to the region. Commuters and students arranging internships should consider travel time across the Treasure Valley, especially if an opportunity is outside Nampa. First-year students may park a car on campus, although they should check current permit and parking rules before bringing one.
Northwest Nazarene University identifies itself as a Christian university in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition of the Church of the Nazarene. Its stated educational purpose connects academic learning with character development, service, and spiritual formation.
That affiliation is relevant to campus life as well as to religion courses: chapel, ministry opportunities, and faith-based programming are part of the university experience. Applicants should review current expectations for their particular program, since participation requirements can differ between traditional undergraduates and students in graduate or online formats. The mission describes NNU's institutional aims; it is not, by itself, evidence of any individual student outcome.
Name of the institution
Northwest Nazarene UniversityLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
Suburb: MidsizeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999Religious affiliation
Protestant (Church of the Nazarene)School type
UniversityMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1913Northwest Nazarene University is institutionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degree
Post-master's certificate
Doctor's degree - research/scholarship
Doctor's degree - professional practiceData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.