Northwestern College Demographics & Diversity

5/10 Overall Rating
4 Year
Orange City, IA
4.0 2 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

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Racial Demographics & Diversity

Racial Diversity

Very Low

Racial Diversity Index: 25%

Racial diversity is the chance that two students chosen at random are from different racial or ethnic groups, using the U.S. Census Bureau Diversity Index. Students at Northwestern College are mostly White with a small Hispanic population. The school has very low racial diversity. 17% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.

Racial demographics of Northwestern College students
Race	Percent of Students
White	83%
Black	2%
Hispanic	5%
Asian	1%
American Indian / Alaskan	0%
Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	0%
Two or more races	2%
International	3%
Race Unknown	4%

Gender Demographics & Diversity

Gender Diversity

Very High

Gender Diversity Index: 48%

There are 51% more female students than male students enrolled at Northwestern College with a gender ratio of 60% women to 40% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, Northwestern College has a higher gender diversity than other US colleges and is very inclusive of both genders.

Male to female gender ratio for Northwestern College students
Gender	Percent of Students
Men	40%
Women	60%

Enrollment by gender for Northwestern College students
Gender	Number of Students
Men	680
Women	1,025

Geographic Diversity

Low

Geographic Diversity Index: 45%

Northwestern College draws 54 percent of students from Iowa, 44 percent from other states, and 0 percent from other countries. Geographic diversity is the share of students from outside Iowa, including other U.S. states and other countries.

Enrollment by geographic location for Northwestern College students
Origin	Percent of Students
In State	54%
Out of State	44%
Foreign	0%
Unknown Location	2%

Economic Diversity

Median Household Income

$58,600 per year

27% of students can be considered low-income as indicated by their receipt of Federal Pell Grant Aid.

Total Enrollment

Total enrollment

1,705

Share of undergraduates by age and part-time status
Segment	Percent of Students
Students Over 25 Years Old	3.2%
Part-time undergraduates	2.9%

Other Colleges to Consider

Students applying to Northwestern College often consider these colleges

Dordt University

Sioux Center, Iowa

Private 4 Year

Wheaton College

Wheaton, Illinois

Private 4 Year

Creighton University

Omaha, Nebraska

Private 4 Year

Data source: NCES / IPEDS https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=154101.

Racial and gender diversity ratings use the U.S. Census Bureau Diversity Index (Gini-Simpson): the probability that two students chosen at random belong to different groups. See the Census method note, Measuring Racial and Ethnic Diversity for the 2020 Census. Geographic diversity is the share of students from outside the college's home state (other U.S. states plus international). IPEDS does not publish enrollment by individual state of residence.

Last updated: August 2026