Moderately selectiveReviewed for the 2025-2026 cycle

Northwest Nazarene University acceptance rate and admissions profile

With an acceptance rate near 65%, Northwest Nazarene University is a moderately selective private college in Idaho. Because it admits more applicants than it rejects, admission turns on the strength of your whole profile rather than any one number.

Use this page to see what Northwest Nazarene University weighs, where it ranks among Idaho schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1150, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
65%
Moderately selective
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1150
of admitted students
Type
Private
Idaho
Selectivity in state
#2
of 6 in ID
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Will I get into Northwest Nazarene University?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Northwest Nazarene University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Northwest Nazarene University?

Northwest Nazarene University admits most qualified applicants (around 65%), but that overall rate is not your personal chance. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Northwest Nazarene University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Northwest Nazarene University hard to get into?

Northwest Nazarene University is moderately selective: it admits more applicants than it rejects, with about a 65% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Northwest Nazarene University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Northwest Nazarene University, but admitted students often present roughly a 3.2 to 3.7 GPA. Northwest Nazarene University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

What SAT score do you need for Northwest Nazarene University?

Northwest Nazarene University does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1150. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at Northwest Nazarene University.

Calculate your chances at Northwest Nazarene University

What Northwest Nazarene University looks for

What Northwest Nazarene University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

In its review, Northwest Nazarene University leans most on rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and application essay. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Northwest Nazarene University's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Considered
Application essay
Important
Recommendations
Important
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Talent / ability
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Important
First-generation status
Considered
Religious affiliation / commitment
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Considered

SAT score positioning at Northwest Nazarene University

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Northwest Nazarene University
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200Above the admitted 75th percentile
1100Below the middle, makes the rest of the profile matter more
Colleges for a 1150 SAT →Colleges for a 23 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How Northwest Nazarene University compares in Idaho

Northwest Nazarene University ranks #2 most selective of 6 schools in Idaho in our database.

Among the 6 Idaho schools we track, Northwest Nazarene University ranks #2 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like College of Idaho (49%) and University of Idaho (76%) sit nearby, which makes Idaho a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.

College of Idaho
49%acceptance · ID
University of Idaho
76%acceptance · ID
Boise State University
87%acceptance · ID
Lewis-Clark State College
88%acceptance · ID
Idaho State University
97%acceptance · ID
See all Idaho schools →

Similar to Northwest Nazarene University

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

Build around Northwest Nazarene University with peers at a comparable selectivity, such as Bryant University, Sacred Heart University, and University of Dayton. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Bryant University
65%acceptance · RI
Sacred Heart University
65%acceptance · CT
University of Dayton
65%acceptance · OH
Cedarville University
65%acceptance · OH
Chapman University
65%acceptance · CA
Claflin University
65%acceptance · SC

Frequently asked questions

What does Northwest Nazarene University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Northwest Nazarene University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and application essay most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Northwest Nazarene University consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. Northwest Nazarene University's full factor profile is charted on this page, and CollegeCalcAI models a legacy effect scaled to a school's selectivity.

How can I improve my chances at Northwest Nazarene University?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Northwest Nazarene University specifically.

What are the admission requirements for Northwest Nazarene University?

Northwest Nazarene University reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.