


Northwest Nazarene University's reported four-year graduation rate is 59%, while its six-year rate is 71%. These measures describe the share of a defined entering cohort that completed a credential within the stated period; they are not a prediction that any particular student will graduate on time.
The reported first-year retention rate is 77%, meaning roughly three-quarters of the measured group returned the following year. Graduation and retention figures answer different questions: a student may return after the first year yet take more than four years to finish, while some students leave or transfer without completing at NNU. The standard first-time-student graduation cohort does not describe every transfer student, adult learner, or graduate student.
The difference between the four- and six-year figures is worth considering when planning a budget. Additional semesters can increase living expenses and, depending on aid eligibility, borrowing - even when the student ultimately completes the degree.
College Scorecard program figures provide a limited look at earnings measured one year after completion for federally aided completers in fields for which reportable results are available. They are not starting-salary offers, figures for every graduate, or guarantees of future income.
Reported one-year median earnings include $63,228 for registered nursing, $44,441 for accounting, and $42,965 for business administration and related programs. Education programs focused on specific levels and methods show $34,460. The field labels matter: a figure for one program should not be applied to every major within its broader discipline.
Early-career earnings reflect factors beyond the university, including occupation, location, hours worked, further study, and whether graduates have entered licensed practice. Students comparing programs should read these figures alongside typical borrowing, required credentials, and the time needed to qualify for their intended work.
Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
$44,441Biology, General
$25,354Business Administration, Management and Operations
$42,965Communication and Media Studies
$26,811Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
$22,625Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
$63,228Social Work
$27,268Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
$34,460BACHELOR’S Degree
Health Professions and Related Programs
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Public Administration and Social Service Professions
Education
Visual and Performing Arts
Engineering
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
MASTER’S Degree
Health Professions and Related Programs
Education
Public Administration and Social Service Professions
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Theology and Religious Vocations
Psychology
DOCTOR’S Degree
Education
Data 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.