Northwestern College’s 2025 bachelor’s degree graduates achieved a 100% placement rate within six months of graduation. A survey of class members revealed that 83.2% are employed, 16.4% are in grad school, and 0.4% are intentionally engaged in service opportunities.
Data was collected by the college’s Compass Center for Career and Calling using the First-Destination Survey of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)—and following NACE guidelines and protocols. Northwestern’s survey response rate of 100% far exceeds the national standard of 65% set by NACE.
“Northwestern graduates continue to enter the world with clarity of purpose and confidence in their calling,” says Dr. Elizabeth Pitts, director of the Compass Center. “Our 2025 alumni point to their academic and co-curricular experiences as shaping both their professional readiness and their understanding of vocation as a faithful response to God in every role of life.”
Compassion International, Wells Enterprises, Nebraska Medicine, Pella Corporation, Interstates and Wells Fargo are just a few of the more than 155 companies and organizations that hired Northwestern’s recent graduates.
Members of the class of 2025 now work in a wide range of roles, including accountant, data scientist, marketing associate, police officer, recruiting coordinator, software engineer, donor relations specialist, preschool teacher and child protection worker.
The average reported salary for graduates who are employed full time was $52,595. The maximum salary reported was $85,250.
Approximately 16.4% of the cohort are continuing their education in graduate programs ranging from law and medicine to social work and business management. They are studying at schools such as Des Moines University, Iowa State, Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ohio State, Western Theological Seminary, Worcester State University, and the universities of Iowa, South Dakota and Kansas Medical Center.
Last year’s graduates are now living and working in 23 states; Washington, D.C.; and two other countries. Iowa is where 56% live and/or work.
For more information about the 100% placement rate of the class of 2025, visit nwciowa.edu/2025-outcomes.
