Northwest Nazarene University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Northwest Nazarene University charges a net price of $29,580/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $118,320. Graduates earn a median $51,719 ten years after entry, $3,359/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 35.2 years — a 20-year net return of -$51,140, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Northwest Nazarene University's 35.2-year payback ranks #1,153 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 10% of them, and #4 of 14 in Idaho.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $29,580/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $118,320 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $51,719 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $3,359/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $23,750 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 35.2 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$51,140 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Northwest Nazarene University's own numbers. Net price $29,580 × 4 years = $118,320 total. Median earnings $51,719 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $3,359 a year of premium. $118,320 ÷ $3,359 = 35.2 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$51,140. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Northwest Nazarene University students graduate with?
A median $23,750 in federal loans among completers, or 46% of the $51,719 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Northwest Nazarene University students graduate?
71% finish their degree. Spread the $118,320 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $166,648 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Northwest Nazarene University expensive compared with other Idaho colleges?
Its $29,580 net price runs $12,022 above the $17,558 median across the 14 Idaho colleges we profile, or $48,088 more across the full degree.