In the early 1870s, Dutch immigrants in Pella, Iowa, moved to northwest Iowa and named their main settlement "Orange City" after the Dutch royal house. A decade later, the town's residents, led by local businessman Henry Hospers and the Rev. Seine Bolks, the first pastor of First Reformed Church, started a Christian classical academy to prepare students for college and ultimately the ministry. Northwestern Classical Academy was formally incorporated on July 19, 1882.[9] Enrollment grew from 25 students in the first year to approximately 70 within a decade. Zwemer Hall, the first permanent building, was erected in 1894 and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[10]
In 1928, Northwestern Junior College was established. It became a four-year teacher-training college in 1961, the same year the academy ceased operation. Four years later, the board of trustees approved the development of a liberal arts program. Enrollment doubled to more than 760 in the 1960s, and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools granted Northwestern College full accreditation in 1970.[11]
During the past two decades, Northwestern’s enrollment has grown approximately 30%.[12] Twice, a member of Northwestern’s faculty was named Iowa Professor of the Year[13] by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE): Spanish professor Piet Koene in 2004,[14][15] and theatre professor Jeff Barker in 2006.[16][17] Academic offerings have expanded to include online and graduate degree programs, and more than $50 million has been invested in new construction and other campus improvements since 2013.[18]
Northwestern’s fall 2023 enrollment[3] totaled 1,715 students, of whom 1,162 were undergraduate students, 543 were graduate students, and 10 were enrolled in the Northwestern NEXT program. Traditional undergraduate students came from 25 states, with 42% from outside of Iowa. 52% are men and 48% are women. 11% are students of color, and another 3% are international students from 23 countries. Students, faculty and staff come from more than 40 Christian denominations.
Bachelor’s degree programs provide the choice of majors,[5]minors,[5] pre-professional programs,[5] and career concentrations,[27] as well as the online options of an RN-to-BSN program[28] and a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education.[29] Graduate programs leading to master’s degrees include online programs in education,[30] mental health counseling[31] and school counseling,[32] as well as a 27-month in-person physician assistant program.[33]
Study abroad
Northwestern offers two study abroad programs: the Oman Semester[34] and the Romania Semester.[35] Through NWC’s partnerships with other institutions and organizations—including the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU)[36]—Northwestern students can take advantage of more than 20 additional off-campus study programs[37] in countries that include Costa Rica, England, France, Italy, Jordan, Spain and Uganda, as well as U.S. programs based in Los Angeles, Nashville, Baltimore and Michigan.
Northwestern NEXT
Northwestern offers a two-year program for students with intellectual or developmental disabilities[38][39] that is recognized as a comprehensive transition program (CTP)[40] by the U.S. Department of Education.
Campus
Northwestern College is located in Orange City, Iowa, a community of more than 6,000 residents[41] in Sioux County, Iowa. Orange City has been ranked the fourth-most livable small town in America by TheTravel.com[42] and one of the 100 Best Small Towns in the U.S. by Livability.com. Northwestern’s 100-acre campus[3] is a few blocks south of Orange City’s downtown at the intersection of Highway 10 and Albany Avenue and features a campus green[43] that stretches from the DeWitt Family Science Center to De Valois Stadium. More than $50 million has been invested in new construction and other improvements since 2013.[44]
Academic facilities
Northwestern’s DeWitt Family Science Center,[45] built in 2019 for $24.5 million, anchors the west edge of campus. Lining either side of the campus green are Van Peursem Hall, where the majority of classes are held; the DeWitt Learning Commons, the college’s library; and the DeWitt Music Hall, with rehearsal and practice rooms for NWC’s band, vocal and orchestra students. Connected to DeWitt Music Hall is Christ Chapel, a 900-seat auditorium where chapel and concerts are held. Anchoring the east end of campus are the Korver Visual Arts Center, home of the Te Paske Gallery, and the DeWitt Theatre Arts Center, with two performance spaces: the England Proscenium Theatre and the Allen Black Box Theatre.
Administrative facilities
The Vogel Welcome Center, located just inside Northwestern’s main entrance, is a first stop for visitors, including prospective students and their parents. A main boulevard leads toward Zwemer Hall, which houses the offices of the president and vice president for academic affairs; business, registrar’s, advancement and human resources offices; Graduate & Professional Studies staff; and print room. West of Zwemer Hall is the Ramaker Center, where the student life, campus ministry, Compass Center for Career & Calling[46] and Bridge Center for Intercultural Development[47] are located.
Student facilities
Student eating options include the DeWitt Cafeteria, the Hub Raider Grille in the Rowenhorst Student Center (RSC), and Common Grounds café in the DeWitt Learning Commons.[48] Also located in the RSC are the Northwestern bookstore,[49] mailroom, and Wellness Center.[50]
86% of Northwestern’s traditional undergraduate students live on campus.[51] Residence halls are staffed by professional resident directors and student resident assistants and mix first-year students with upperclassmen/women. Each residence hall maintains a number of hall-specific traditions. There are also two student apartment complexes for juniors, seniors and some sophomores.
Bolks Apartments
Christy Suites (women, opening in fall 2024)
Colenbrander Hall (men, closing in fall 2024)
Courtyard Village Apartments
Hospers Hall (men)
North Suites (men)
Smith Hall (men)
Stegenga Hall (women)
Athletic facilities
Northwestern’s athletic facilities[52] include the Bultman Center, Juffer Athletic Fieldhouse,[53] DeWitt Fitness Center, and De Valois Stadium. De Valois Stadium seats 3,100 for Northwestern football games and home track meets. The Bultman Center contains coaches’ offices, athletic training facilities, classrooms and locker rooms, as well as a 2,200-seat gymnasium. The Juffer Athletic Fieldhouse features an indoor practice arena for the baseball, softball and soccer teams, as well as the Korver Athletic Performance Center weight room for Raider athletes and a golf practice room. Northwestern students work out in the DeWitt Fitness Center and compete on intramural teams that play in the center’s 4-court area.
Student life
Northwestern College is part of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities,[54] an association of more than 185 Christian institutions around the world. While students aren’t required to sign a statement of faith to enroll at Northwestern. All faculty and staff must profess faith in Jesus Christ in accordance with the CCCU’s membership requirements.[55] Students are required to earn a minimum number of Christian Formation credits by attending chapel, special Christ-centered NED Talks, and/or the college’s monthly Ngage discussion series.
Northwestern is an accredited member[56] of MissionWorks,[57] an organization that helps schools, churches and organizations do short-term mission well, from preparation through follow-up. Each year, more than 150 Northwestern students, faculty and staff participate in Spring Service Partnerships[58] as members of a dozen teams that travel and serve throughout the U.S. and overseas. The college also offers Summer of Service,[59] a short-term mission opportunity in which students serve for five to eight weeks with mission partners throughout the world.
Northwestern students can choose to be involved in a wide variety of activities, organizations and opportunities. The Student Activities Council[60] plans events throughout the school year. Student clubs[61] provide a way to pursue a special interest, work toward a common cause, or gain leadership skills. There’s also a Student Government Association and “The Beacon,” a weekly student newspaper. Twelve music ensembles[62] are open, by audition, to all students regardless of major. Theatre options[63] include three to four mainstage productions, an annual children’s show, the student dance show RUSH, the touring Drama Ministries Ensemble, and the Black V student improv team.
Northwestern competes in 22 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and wrestling; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, dance, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball; and co-ed sports include cheerleading and eSports.
Facilities
Outdoor sports such as football and track are played at DeValois Stadium. The stadium has a capacity of 3,100 and also hosts track and field events including conference championships,[64] NAIA football playoff games,[65] and marching band events.[66]
Deb Remmerde-Leusink, a 2008 Northwestern College graduate, holds numerous NAIA records, as well as the record for most consecutive in-game free throws in the history of organized basketball. Her 133-shot free-throw streak ended in February 2006.[68] Remmerde later appeared on "The Early Show," where she completed 580 of 585 free throws live in front of a CBS television crew and crowd in Northwestern's Bultman Center gym.[69][70]
Notable people
Alumni
Bob Boerigter (1970) – college athletic director and commissioner
^"2004: Professor of the Year State Winners". The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
^"2006 U.S. Professor of the Year State Winners". The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
