Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) vs Whitman College
Northwest Nazarene University and Whitman College, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Northwest Nazarene University, a private Christian university in Nampa, Idaho, boasts a 98% acceptance rate and a student body that is predominantly White (79%) and female (59%). In contrast, Whitman College, a private liberal arts college in Walla Walla, Washington, has a more selective admissions process with a 58% acceptance rate and a diverse student body, with 63% White, 12% Asian, and 10% Hispanic students. While Northwest Nazarene University excels in nursing, education, and business, Whitman College is renowned for its strengths in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Both institutions offer a supportive learning environment and a strong sense of community, but their unique characteristics may appeal to different types of students. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover which institution better aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
|
![]() Northwest Nazarene University |
![]() Whitman College |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Nampa, Idaho | Walla Walla, Washington |
Campus setting | Suburb: Midsize | City: Small |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 74.0% | 89.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Evangelical | |
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 88.1% | 59.0% |
Application fees | $50 | |
SAT range | 970 - 1230 | 1295 - 1455 |
ACT range | 20 - 26 | 29 - 33 |
Students submitting SAT score | 54.0% | 21.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 31.0% | 19.0% |
Total number of applicants | 2,843 | 5,155 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,506 | 3,039 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 275 | 477 |
Yield rate | 11.0% | 15.7% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
Sticker price | $48,730 | $71,982 |
Average net price | $23,045 | $35,627 |
Tuition | $33,740 | $55,560 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,600
Meal plan:
$5,620
|
Room/dormitory:
$6,080
Meal plan:
$7,720
|
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
99.0%
Average amount $21,525 |
91.0%
Average amount $30,781 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
61.0%
Average amount $5,144 |
42.0%
Average amount $4,853 |
Students taking out private loans |
13.0%
Average amount $11,288 |
2.0%
Average amount $14,105 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
1,323
Men 42.9% Women 57.1% |
1,559
Men 43.9% Women 56.1% |
Graduate students |
721
Men 28.4% Women 71.6% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | 43.0% | 65.0% |
International students | 0.8% | 10.2% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Midsize | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 821 | 886 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Idaho Washington Oregon California Alaska | Washington California Oregon Colorado Minnesota |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 14:1 | 9:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 62.6% | 88.7% |
Dropout rate | 36.7% | 1.6% |
Transferred out | 0.4% | 8.0% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (Master's Degrees)
Social Work (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Theological and Ministerial Studies (Master's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Social Work (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Visual and Performing Arts, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.




























































































































































































