NORTHWEST NEWS
NORTHWEST EARNS HIGH MARKS IN NATIONAL SATISFACTION SURVEY
Eighty percent of freshmen and juniors at Northwest say they are satisfied with their experience at the University and would choose it again if they could repeat their college careers. The figures were among the findings of the 2021 Ruffalo Noel Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory, which is distributed to freshmen and juniors every two years. On all scales and all but two questions, Northwest achieved higher student satisfaction rates than national and regional RANKINGS, RESEARCH PLACE NORTHWEST AMONG MOST AFFORDABLE A recent affordability analysis conducted by the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) – a nonprofit organization whose mission commits to closing equity gaps in postsecondary attainment for all students – listed Northwest as one of only five four-year institutions in Missouri that are classified as affordable. In fact, while NCAN reports that only 23 percent of 490 public four-year institutions nationally are considered affordable, it lists Northwest as affordable in each of the years reviewed since 2014-15.
peer comparison groups. In comparison to Northwest, 78 percent of students at regional peers and 77 percent of students surveyed nationally said they would choose to attend their respective institutions again. Dr. Allison Strong Hoffmann ’01, ’03, Northwest’s assistant vice president of admissions and student success, said the report provides a snapshot of the comprehensive educational experience the University offers to students advancing their education. “The Ruffalo Noel Levitz student satisfaction survey provides an excellent opportunity for Northwest to learn about what is important to our students and how satisfied they are with the instruction and services we offer,” Hoffmann said. “The results confirm what we see day in and day out – Northwest students feel supported both in and out of the classroom, leading to our enrollment growth, high retention and persistence.”
CHEMISTRY PROGRAM EARNS CERTIFICATION FROM INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY The American Chemical Society Committee on Professional Training has added Northwest to its listing of approved institutions, and students who complete the course curriculum now receive certification in conjunction with their degree. Northwest’s ACS-certified major in chemistry prepares up-and-coming professional chemists for careers in research institutions, industry or the pursuit of graduate studies.
MILITARY FRIENDLY FOR 11TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR Victory Media, a media entity for military personnel transitioning into civilian life, named Northwest a Military Friendly School for 2022-2023 in recognition of its commitment to embracing military service members, veterans and their family members and delivering the best experience for military students.
ONLINE MBA PROGRAM RANKS HIGH ON GLOBAL LIST Northwest’s online Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree ranks among the best in the Midwest, according to CEO Magazine’s 2022 Global MBA Rankings. The magazine, which has showcased top business schools since 2012, ranks Northwest at No. 87 in the world. It is the only Missouri institution to appear in the magazine’s Global Online MBA ranking. Accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, Northwest’s online MBA programs help students complete a general degree or specializations in business analytics, human resource management, management and marketing. Starting in the fall, Northwest will begin offering specializations in accounting, finance, geographic information systems (GIS) and healthcare administration.
NORTHWEST RECORDS HIGHEST SPRING ENROLLMENT IN INSTITUTION’S HISTORY Coming off a fall semester during which Northwest recorded its highest-ever enrollment, the University also reported the highest spring enrollment in its history. The University’s spring census showed overall enrollment increased by 5 percent from a year ago to a headcount of 7,218. In the undergraduate sector, first-time freshman enrollment was up 28.6 percent, and the number of first-time transfer students was up by 27.8 percent. Additionally, the University’s graduate student enrollment increased by 27.7 percent to 2,602 students, breaking an institutional record set last spring. Further, Northwest recorded an overall fall-to-spring retention rate of 91.6 percent, setting a new institutional high for that mark. The spring semester enrollment counts followed a semester during which Northwest reported an overall headcount of 7,870 students at its fall census, making that total the highest overall enrollment in the institution’s 116-year history. When factoring students enrolled in Online Professional courses, which offer multiple starts each semester, Northwest ended the fall 2021 semester with an all-time record enrollment of 8,022.
5,735 6,336 6,431 6,877 7,129 2018
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SPRING HEADCOUNT, 2018-2022 NORTHWEST ALUMNI MAGAZINE I SUMMER 2022
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