2026 Rankings for Northwestern College

What ranking badges has NWC earned? Every College Factual accolade NWC has earned will be listed on this page.

NWC was awarded 16 ranking badges across College Factual’s 2026 rankings.

Top Rankings for NWC:



#5 out of 7	#14 out of 16	#14 out of 20	#36 out of 46

NWC also offers graduate programs. See its [graduate-school rankings](/graduate-schools/northwestern-college-iowa/rankings/) for its graduate rankings.

How NWC Ranks in College Factual’s Best Quality Rankings

#629 Best Colleges

Top Ranked Majors

NWC has 95 top ranked majors, led by its placement in the Best Secondary Education Bachelor's Degree Schools in Iowa Ranking.

The best rankings are listed below:

Ranking Name	Rank	Out Of	Details
Best Physician Assistant Schools in Iowa	1	5	View Report
Best Allied Health Professions Schools in Iowa	2	19	View Report
Best General Special Education Schools in Iowa	3	3	View Report
Best Early Childhood Education Bachelor's Degree Schools in Iowa	3	4	View Report
Best Early Childhood Education Schools in Iowa	3	5	View Report
Best Accounting Bachelor's Degree Schools in Iowa	4	13	View Report
Best Accounting Bachelor's Degree Schools in Iowa	4	13	View Report
Best Special Education Schools in Iowa	4	5	View Report
Best General Business Administration and Management Bachelor's Degree Schools in Iowa	5	23	View Report
Best Business Administration & Management Bachelor's Degree Schools in Iowa	5	24	View Report
Best Business, Management & Marketing Bachelor's Degree Schools in Iowa	5	27	View Report
Best General Educational Leadership & Administration Schools in Iowa	5	5	View Report
Best Physician Assistant Schools in the Plains States Region	5	24	View Report
Best Registered Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in Iowa	5	19	View Report
Best Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in Iowa	5	19	View Report
Best Accounting Schools in Iowa	6	17	View Report
Best Accounting Schools in Iowa	6	18	View Report
Best Educational Administration Schools in Iowa	6	7	View Report
Best Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa	6	35	View Report
Best Nursing Schools in Iowa	6	35	View Report
Best General Business Administration and Management Schools in Iowa	7	39	View Report
Best Business Administration & Management Schools in Iowa	7	40	View Report
Best Business, Management & Marketing Schools in Iowa	8	43	View Report
Best Allied Health Professions Schools in the Plains States Region	8	106	View Report
Best Health Professions Schools in Iowa	8	43	View Report
Best Elementary Education Bachelor's Degree Schools in Iowa	9	21	View Report
Best Teacher Education Grade Specific Bachelor's Degree Schools in Iowa	10	23	View Report
Best Education Bachelor's Degree Schools in Iowa	10	23	View Report
Best Early Childhood Education Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region	11	24	View Report
Best Elementary Education Schools in Iowa	11	26	View Report
Best Health Professions Bachelor's Degree Schools in Iowa	11	25	View Report
Best Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region	12	34	View Report
Best Teacher Education Grade Specific Schools in Iowa	12	32	View Report
Best General Special Education Schools in the Plains States Region	13	35	View Report
Best Education Schools in Iowa	13	32	View Report
Best Special Education Schools in the Plains States Region	16	46	View Report
Best General Educational Leadership & Administration Schools in the Plains States Region	17	42	View Report
Best Educational Administration Schools in the Plains States Region	20	49	View Report
Best Accounting Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region	26	76	View Report
Best Accounting Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region	27	79	View Report
Best General Business Administration and Management Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region	28	130	View Report
Best Accounting Schools in the Plains States Region	30	97	View Report
Best Business Administration & Management Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region	30	139	View Report
Best Business, Management & Marketing Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region	31	160	View Report
Best Accounting Schools in the Plains States Region	32	107	View Report
Best General Business Administration and Management Schools in the Plains States Region	35	189	View Report
Best Business, Management & Marketing Schools in the Plains States Region	35	236	View Report
Best Business Administration & Management Schools in the Plains States Region	36	201	View Report
Best Elementary Education Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region	37	96	View Report
Best Health Professions Schools in the Plains States Region	38	258	View Report
Best Elementary Education Schools in the Plains States Region	39	107	View Report
Best Teacher Education Grade Specific Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region	41	112	View Report
Best Registered Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region	45	108	View Report
Best Teacher Education Grade Specific Schools in the Plains States Region	46	137	View Report
Best Education Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region	47	124	View Report
Best Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region	48	114	View Report
Best Registered Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region	56	201	View Report
Best Education Schools in the Plains States Region	58	171	View Report
Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region	60	208	View Report
Best Physician Assistant Schools	72	254	View Report
Best Health Professions Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region	73	143	View Report
Best Allied Health Professions Schools	129	1080	View Report
Best Early Childhood Education Bachelor's Degree Schools	153	275	View Report
Best General Special Education Schools	160	336	View Report
Best Special Education Schools	207	463	View Report
Best General Educational Leadership & Administration Schools	210	415	View Report
Best Early Childhood Education Schools	212	492	View Report
Best Educational Administration Schools	240	486	View Report
Best Accounting Bachelor's Degree Schools	256	689	View Report
Best Accounting Bachelor's Degree Schools	264	718	View Report
Best General Business Administration and Management Bachelor's Degree Schools	281	1213	View Report
Best Business Administration & Management Bachelor's Degree Schools	296	1276	View Report
Best Accounting Schools	297	820	View Report
Best Elementary Education Bachelor's Degree Schools	303	579	View Report
Best Elementary Education Schools	343	693	View Report
Best Business, Management & Marketing Bachelor's Degree Schools	350	1511	View Report
Best Accounting Schools	355	1049	View Report
Best Teacher Education Grade Specific Bachelor's Degree Schools	394	797	View Report
Best General Business Administration and Management Schools	423	1936	View Report
Best Business Administration & Management Schools	436	2027	View Report
Best Business, Management & Marketing Schools	461	2327	View Report
Best Education Bachelor's Degree Schools	484	970	View Report
Best Teacher Education Grade Specific Schools	536	1208	View Report
Best Registered Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools	584	1011	View Report
Best Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools	605	1046	View Report
Best Education Schools	625	1574	View Report
Best Health Professions Schools	759	2577	View Report
Best Registered Nursing Schools	955	1899	View Report
Best Nursing Schools	986	1956	View Report

How NWC Ranks for Value

Top Value Majors

NWC has 95 best-value majors, including its placement in the Best Value General Educational Leadership & Administration Schools in Iowa Ranking.

The best rankings are listed below:

Ranking Name	Rank	Out Of	Details
Best Value General Educational Leadership & Administration Schools in Iowa	4	6	View Report
Best Value Physician Assistant Schools in Iowa	4	4	View Report
Best Value Educational Administration Schools in Iowa	5	7	View Report
Best Value General Special Education Schools in Iowa	5	5	View Report
Best Value Special Education Schools in Iowa	5	5	View Report
Best Value Early Childhood Education Bachelor's Degree Schools in Iowa	6	6	View Report
Best Value Accounting Bachelor's Degree Schools in Iowa	11	13	View Report
Best Value Accounting Bachelor's Degree Schools in Iowa	11	13	View Report
Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in Iowa	13	13	View Report
Best Value Secondary Education Bachelor's Degree Schools in Iowa	14	16	View Report
Best Value Physician Assistant Schools in the Plains States Region	14	20	View Report
Best Value Accounting Schools in Iowa	15	17	View Report
Best Value Accounting Schools in Iowa	16	18	View Report
Best Value Registered Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in Iowa	16	18	View Report
Best Value Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in Iowa	16	18	View Report
Best Value Allied Health Professions Schools in Iowa	17	17	View Report
Best Value General Business Administration and Management Bachelor's Degree Schools in Iowa	20	23	View Report
Best Value Elementary Education Bachelor's Degree Schools in Iowa	20	23	View Report
Best Value Teacher Education Grade Specific Bachelor's Degree Schools in Iowa	20	23	View Report
Best Value Education Bachelor's Degree Schools in Iowa	20	23	View Report
Best Value Business Administration & Management Bachelor's Degree Schools in Iowa	21	24	View Report
Best Value Health Professions Bachelor's Degree Schools in Iowa	21	24	View Report
Best Value Secondary Education Schools in Iowa	22	24	View Report
Best Value Business, Management & Marketing Bachelor's Degree Schools in Iowa	23	27	View Report
Best Value Elementary Education Schools in Iowa	29	32	View Report
Best Value Teacher Education Grade Specific Schools in Iowa	29	32	View Report
Best Value Education Schools in Iowa	29	32	View Report
Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa	32	34	View Report
Best Value Nursing Schools in Iowa	32	34	View Report
Best Value General Business Administration and Management Schools in Iowa	36	39	View Report
Best Value General Educational Leadership & Administration Schools in the Plains States Region	36	46	View Report
Best Value Business Administration & Management Schools in Iowa	37	40	View Report
Best Value Educational Administration Schools in the Plains States Region	38	48	View Report
Best Value Health Professions Schools in Iowa	38	41	View Report
Best Value Business, Management & Marketing Schools in Iowa	39	43	View Report
Best Value General Special Education Schools in the Plains States Region	39	43	View Report
Best Value Special Education Schools in the Plains States Region	41	46	View Report
Best Value Early Childhood Education Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region	44	53	View Report
Best Value Secondary Education Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region	44	57	View Report
Best Value Accounting Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region	57	76	View Report
Best Value Secondary Education Schools in the Plains States Region	57	70	View Report
Best Value Accounting Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region	58	77	View Report
Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools in the Plains States Region	60	70	View Report
Best Value Accounting Schools in the Plains States Region	80	99	View Report
Best Value Registered Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region	80	102	View Report
Best Value Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region	81	105	View Report
Best Value Elementary Education Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region	83	108	View Report
Best Value Teacher Education Grade Specific Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region	84	110	View Report
Best Value Allied Health Professions Schools in the Plains States Region	84	98	View Report
Best Value Accounting Schools in the Plains States Region	86	105	View Report
Best Value Education Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region	90	121	View Report
Best Value Health Professions Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region	99	132	View Report
Best Value Elementary Education Schools in the Plains States Region	101	127	View Report
Best Value General Business Administration and Management Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region	102	135	View Report
Best Value Business Administration & Management Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region	103	136	View Report
Best Value Teacher Education Grade Specific Schools in the Plains States Region	108	135	View Report
Best Value Business, Management & Marketing Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region	118	157	View Report
Best Value Physician Assistant Schools	129	227	View Report
Best Value Education Schools in the Plains States Region	134	167	View Report
Best Value General Business Administration and Management Schools in the Plains States Region	158	192	View Report
Best Value Business Administration & Management Schools in the Plains States Region	162	197	View Report
Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region	169	195	View Report
Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region	170	198	View Report
Best Value Business, Management & Marketing Schools in the Plains States Region	189	232	View Report
Best Value Health Professions Schools in the Plains States Region	197	242	View Report
Best Value Secondary Education Bachelor's Degree Schools	303	404	View Report
Best Value General Special Education Schools	304	380	View Report
Best Value General Educational Leadership & Administration Schools	314	428	View Report
Best Value Educational Administration Schools	353	475	View Report
Best Value Special Education Schools	363	456	View Report
Best Value Early Childhood Education Bachelor's Degree Schools	367	446	View Report
Best Value Secondary Education Schools	408	544	View Report
Best Value Accounting Bachelor's Degree Schools	488	693	View Report
Best Value Accounting Bachelor's Degree Schools	501	708	View Report
Best Value Elementary Education Bachelor's Degree Schools	522	681	View Report
Best Value Teacher Education Grade Specific Bachelor's Degree Schools	601	789	View Report
Best Value Early Childhood Education Schools	627	723	View Report
Best Value Accounting Schools	636	849	View Report
Best Value Elementary Education Schools	671	864	View Report
Best Value Registered Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools	687	966	View Report
Best Value Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools	705	990	View Report
Best Value Education Bachelor's Degree Schools	711	960	View Report
Best Value Allied Health Professions Schools	790	1024	View Report
Best Value Accounting Schools	822	1038	View Report
Best Value General Business Administration and Management Bachelor's Degree Schools	850	1232	View Report
Best Value Business Administration & Management Bachelor's Degree Schools	866	1251	View Report
Best Value Teacher Education Grade Specific Schools	956	1192	View Report
Best Value Business, Management & Marketing Bachelor's Degree Schools	993	1477	View Report
Best Value Education Schools	1204	1542	View Report
Best Value Registered Nursing Schools	1469	1839	View Report
Best Value General Business Administration and Management Schools	1488	1938	View Report
Best Value Nursing Schools	1493	1874	View Report
Best Value Business Administration & Management Schools	1527	1982	View Report
Best Value Business, Management & Marketing Schools	1743	2276	View Report
Best Value Health Professions Schools	1782	2423	View Report

More About the Rankings

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Notes and References

The rankings above are built on federal education data, 2026 edition.

The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).

More about our data sources and methodologies.