Graduate & Professional Studies
Tuition + Financial Aid
Graduate & Professional Studies
Graduate & Professional Studies
Standout value, affordable tuition.

Affordable education with real value.

Affordable education with real value.

Affordable education with real value.

Northwestern College offers competitive tuition for its online and graduate programs—backed by financial aid, scholarships, and flexible payment options. We strive to offer our quality programs at an affordable cost. Whether you’re earning your master’s or finishing your degree online, our costs are transparent and designed to fit your goals and budget.




No application fee for online programs. Ever.

No application fee for online programs. Ever.

No application fee for online programs. Ever.




Tuition rates by program

Tuition rates by program

Tuition rates by program

Program tuition 

2024-25

2025-26

Master of Business Administration

$610/credit

$590/credit

Master of Arts Clinical Mental Health Counseling
(View program page for specific cost estimates + fees)

$590/credit

$590/credit

Master of Arts School Counseling
(View program page for specific cost estimates + fees)

$590/credit

$590/credit

Master of Education/Education Endorsements/Graduate Education Certificates

$360/credit

$360/credit

Bachelor of Arts Early Childhood 

$360/credit

$360/credit

Bachelor of Science Nursing

$360/credit

$360/credit

Coaching Authorization

$350/total

$350/total

Coaching Endorsement

$545/credit

$360/credit

Certificate in Legal/Medical Interpreting

$220/credit

$220/credit

Master of Physician Assistant Studies
(View program-specific cost estimates & fees)

$810/credit

$810/credit

Program tuition 

2024-25

2025-26

Master of Business Administration

$610/credit

$590/credit

Master of Arts Clinical Mental Health Counseling
(View program page for specific cost estimates + fees)

$590/credit

$590/credit

Master of Arts School Counseling
(View program page for specific cost estimates + fees)

$590/credit

$590/credit

Master of Education/Education Endorsements/Graduate Education Certificates

$360/credit

$360/credit

Bachelor of Arts Early Childhood 

$360/credit

$360/credit

Bachelor of Science Nursing

$360/credit

$360/credit

Coaching Authorization

$350/total

$350/total

Coaching Endorsement

$545/credit

$360/credit

Certificate in Legal/Medical Interpreting

$220/credit

$220/credit

Master of Physician Assistant Studies
(View program-specific cost estimates & fees)

$810/credit

$810/credit

Program tuition 

2024-25

2025-26

Master of Business Administration

$610/credit

$590/credit

Master of Arts Clinical Mental Health Counseling
(View program page for specific cost estimates + fees)

$590/credit

$590/credit

Master of Arts School Counseling
(View program page for specific cost estimates + fees)

$590/credit

$590/credit

Master of Education/Education Endorsements/Graduate Education Certificates

$360/credit

$360/credit

Bachelor of Arts Early Childhood 

$360/credit

$360/credit

Bachelor of Science Nursing

$360/credit

$360/credit

Coaching Authorization

$350/total

$350/total

Coaching Endorsement

$545/credit

$360/credit

Certificate in Legal/Medical Interpreting

$220/credit

$220/credit

Master of Physician Assistant Studies
(View program-specific cost estimates & fees)

$810/credit

$810/credit

Online Program Fees
RN-BSN Out-of-Pocket Fees



Financial aid + resources

Financial aid + resources

Financial aid + resources

Investing in Your Future: Financial Aid for Bachelor's, Master's & Certificate Programs
Continuing your education is an investment in your future—and we’re here to help make it affordable. Explore the financial aid resources below to help fund your bachelor’s degree, master’s program, teaching endorsement, or graduate certificate at Northwestern College. 

Financial aid questions? Contact our financial aid experts!

Financial Aid Office

Investing in Your Future: Financial Aid for Bachelor's, Master's & Certificate Programs
Continuing your education is an investment in your future—and we’re here to help make it affordable. Explore the financial aid resources below to help fund your bachelor’s degree, master’s program, teaching endorsement, or graduate certificate at Northwestern College. 

Financial aid questions? Contact our financial aid experts!

Financial Aid Office

Investing in Your Future: Financial Aid for Bachelor's, Master's & Certificate Programs
Continuing your education is an investment in your future—and we’re here to help make it affordable. Explore the financial aid resources below to help fund your bachelor’s degree, master’s program, teaching endorsement, or graduate certificate at Northwestern College. 

Financial aid questions? Contact our financial aid experts!

Financial Aid Office




Ways to pay for your education

Ways to pay for your education

Ways to pay for your education

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Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA)

Students may be eligible for federal and/or state financial aid. To determine your eligibility, you must: 

  1. Complete the FAFSA using Northwestern's institutional code: 001883.
  2. After acceptance into your program, Northwestern's financial aid office will put together a financial aid package for you.

FAFSA

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Alumni Grant

Alumni Grant - Master of Education Programs
Available to Northwestern College alumni who completed their undergraduate education degree through Northwestern. Alumni wishing to pursue their Master of Education degree online at NWC will receive their first class tuition-free. Students can choose from any of the M.Ed. program track offerings and are eligible if they meet the following criteria:

  • Graduated from Northwestern College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in early childhood, elementary education or a secondary education endorsement.
  • Pursuing a Master of Education degree (graduate-level endorsement programs or individual courses do not qualify).

Alumni Grant - Counseling Program 
Available to Northwestern College alumni who completed either their undergraduate or a graduate degree through Northwestern. Alumni wishing to pursue their Master of Arts in School Counseling or Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree online at NWC can apply a tuition discount of 50% for their first course. 

Alumni Grant - MBA Program 
The Alumni Grant is available to Northwestern College alumni who completed either their undergraduate or a graduate degree through Northwestern. Alumni wishing to pursue their Master of Business Administration degree online at NWC can apply a tuition discount of 50% for their first course. 

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Military benefits

Students may use the VA educational benefits they are entitled to at Northwestern College. The list of programs approved is viewable on the VA web page. Contact the registrar’s office to learn more about your GI Bill ® benefits at Northwestern.

View Approved programs

GI Bill ® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Contact Austin Nyhof, registrar, at anyhof@nwciowa.edu to learn more about your military benefits at Northwestern.

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T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Scholarship

Educators pursuing an early childhood or special education endorsement or bachelor's program may be eligible for a T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Scholarship. For information or to apply, visit the T.E.A.C.H. website.

T.E.A.C.H.

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TEACH Grant

A TEACH Grant can help you pay for your master's degree if you teach or plan to become a teacher or school counselor in a high-need field in a low-income area. Our master's programs are approved for the TEACH Grant. You’ll be required to teach for a certain length of time in a high-need area, so it's important to understand your obligation. For more information about the grant requirements, visit the TEACH Grant website.

TEACH Grant

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Payment plans

You can either pay each semester’s tuition in full prior to the start of classes or sign up for our convenient monthly payment plan that spreads payments over the academic year. If you are using the payment plan to pay your bill for the fall and spring semesters, the totals will be divided into five payments. The summer semester total will be divided into two payments.

The monthly payment plan is an automatic withdrawal and includes a $25/semester administration fee. No interest is charged unless a payment is late. You may cancel your payment plan schedule at any time simply by paying the balance on your account.

If payment is not made on the date it's due, the entire balance becomes due and interest of 1% per month (12% per year) will be charged to the student's account. Students who fail to make payment may be denied access to classes (face-to-face and online), Blackboard, computer usage and campus facilities. Diplomas, transcripts and credentials will be withheld until all accounts are settled.

More information and the application for the monthly payment plan is available through MyNWC.

MyNWC

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Private Loans

Many different lenders provide additional loan funding to help students cover college costs. Before pursuing a private loan, first consider your grants, scholarships and federal student loans. You may qualify for a private loan even if you don't qualify for a federal loan. No FAFSA is required to apply. 

Preferred lenders