Northwest Indian College

Northwest Indian College (NWIC), located on the Lummi Indian Reservation near Bellingham, Washington, is a tribal college serving Indigenous students across the Pacific Northwest. The main campus, situated approximately 90 miles north of Seattle, features contemporary buildings that incorporate Coast Salish architectural elements. Founded in 1983 as the Lummi Indian School of Aquaculture, NWIC has evolved into an accredited four-year institution offering both associate and bachelor's degrees, with extended campus sites across Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. The college specializes in Native American Studies, Environmental Science, and Natural Resources Management, while maintaining strong programs in tribal governance and traditional ecological knowledge. Students have access to on-campus housing in the student residence center, which opened in 2006 to accommodate both local and out-of-area tribal students.