Specialized school
#3 Best colleges for NCAA Division II athletes in MichiganNorthwood University
Midland, MI · Private nonprofit · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $27,232 a year
Median debt at graduation: $20,842 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
In Michigan
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.63%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.79%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.Not reported
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.14 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$7,560
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $48,780 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 1,989 |
|---|---|
| Men and women College Scorecard, fall 2023 | Men 63% · Women 37% |
| First-generation students College Scorecard | 40% |
| First-year students from another state IPEDS, fall 2023 | 15% |
| Total students | 2,360 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $27,232 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $48,780 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $20,842 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 63% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients College Scorecard, within 6 years | 45% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students College Scorecard, within 6 years | 47% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years College Scorecard, within 3 years | 54% |
| First-year retention | 79% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $63,075 |
| Admission rate | 65% |
| Application fee IPEDS, 2023–24 | $30 |
| Typical rent HUD fair market rent, FY2026 | About $925 a month for a one-bedroom |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 26% |
Value: Good (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | |
| Business administration | |
| Public relations | |
| Finance | |
| Accounting | |
| Computing and information science | |
| Marketing | |
| International business | |
| Health administration | |
| Kinesiology and exercise science |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Broadcasting, Entrepreneurship, Hospitality management, Information science, Information technology, Insurance, Management information systems, Management science, Managerial economics, Security science.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Business | |
| Computer and information sciences | |
| Parks, recreation and fitness | |
| Health professions | |
| Communication |
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | City |
| Part-time undergraduates | 32% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 34% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $13,100 |
| Sports | NCAA Division II · Great Midwest Athletic Conference |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 14 to 1 |
| Faculty who are full-time | 22%College Scorecard, fall 2023 |
| Endowment per student | $59,130IPEDS, 2023, per student |
| Dorm space | For about 46% of studentsBeds per undergraduate; not who lives on campus |
| Nearest airport with airline service | MBS International Airport (MBS)About 12 miles away · about 30 minutes by car |
| Nearest major airport | Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)About 108 miles away |
| Town population | 42,724Census, 2020–2024 |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | DetroitAbout 105 miles away · about 2 hours 25 minutes by car |
| Typical weather | 23°F in January · 72°F in JulyNOAA, 1991–2020, from Midland, MI, about 4 miles away |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 0.00 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.00 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 0.00 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 0.00 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is Northwood University’s Compass Score?
- Very good (grade B+). It ranks in the top 34% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does Northwood University cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $27,232 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into Northwood University?
- Northwood University admitted 65% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do Northwood University’s graduates do?
- 63% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $63,075; the median federal debt at graduation is $20,842.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 171492
- Carnegie classification: Special focus: business
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
- Report an error or a newer source
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