Tuition + fees $97,955
Class of 2028 (cohort beginning summer 2026); full program
A closer look
A 27-month Iowa PA program with a 32-student class and 500 required patient-care hours before program start.
Mission & approach
To equip faith-filled providers with exceptional medical education to serve in all communities, with emphasis on rural and underserved populations, with excellence, integrity, and compassion.
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Admissions insights
What this program looks for in applicants
Interview assesses understanding of the PA profession, understanding of the NWC PA Program, interpersonal skills, commitment to learning, self-awareness, critical thinking/problem solving, cultural competency
Summarized from the program’s admissions information. Confirm current selection criteria with the program.
Program admissions informationHow this program interviews
Interview day includes both individual and group interviews plus a campus tour, a didactic student panel, and a clinical panel, all held in person on the Orange City, Iowa campus. For 2026, interview dates are September 11, 18, and 25, with admission decisions communicated within six weeks of the interview.
Source checked Aug 1, 2026. Interview formats and dates can change between cycles.
Program interview informationAdmissions & prerequisites
Admission requirements
Prerequisite coursework
semester credit hours; minimum three eachReview each course, its lab, and the program’s policies. Your links are planning records; the program decides equivalency.
| Course | Credits | Lab | Min grade |
|---|---|---|---|
Human Anatomy1 course(s)Course notes & alternativesLab encouraged, not mandatory; within five years of enrollment unless approved waiver. | 3semester credit hours; minimum three each | Not required | B- |
Human Physiology1 course(s)Course notes & alternativesLab encouraged, not mandatory; within five years unless approved waiver. | 3semester credit hours; minimum three each | Not required | B- |
Microbiology1 course(s)Course notes & alternativesLab encouraged, not mandatory; within five years unless approved waiver. | 3semester credit hours; minimum three each | Not required | B- |
| Organic Chemistry1 course(s) | 3semester credit hours; minimum three each | Not required | B- |
Biochemistry1 course(s)Course notes & alternativesOne course cannot fulfill both Biochemistry and Genetics. | 3semester credit hours; minimum three each | Not required | B- |
Genetics1 course(s)Course notes & alternativesOne course cannot fulfill both Genetics and Biochemistry. | 3semester credit hours; minimum three each | Not required | B- |
| Psychology1 course(s) | 3semester credit hours; minimum three each | Not required | B- |
| Statistics1 course(s) | 3semester credit hours; minimum three each | Not required | B- |
Policies that can change your plan
- Minimum grade
- B- or higher in all eight courses.
- Labs
- Not required; encouraged for preparation.
- Recency
- Anatomy, physiology and microbiology within five years of enrollment; waivers considered for coursework up to 10 years old.
- Completion
- At least five of eight courses complete by application; all before program start.
- AP/CLEP
- AP only Psychology and Statistics; CLEP only Psychology, with assigned transcript credit.
- One course, one requirement
- A single course cannot satisfy multiple subject requirements.
- Location
- Prerequisites from regionally accredited U.S. institution; international degree can be evaluated separately.
Five-year rule applies to anatomy, physiology, and microbiology only; case-by-case waivers may extend to ten years.
Dates & application steps
The 2026 cycle required CASPA verification by September 1, 2026; that date has passed. The date for the next cycle has not been confirmed.
2026 cycle only; not an upcoming deadline.
Applies to the 2026 cycle only.
The 2027 class starts in May; the exact date is not published.
Know what the total includes
Published cost estimate
Class of 2028 (cohort beginning summer 2026); full programTuition only, from the school’s published rates for this cohort. Rates can change.
Class of 2028 (cohort beginning summer 2026): full-program tuition is $93,960 ($810 per credit x 116 credits (17 + 55 + 44)). Rates can change for later cohorts, so confirm with the program. Required fees for the same cohort total $3,995: Northwestern's published program fees of $4,095 (technology, lab supplies, clinical onboarding, eValue, site supervision, exams and certifications, PANCE prep, liability insurance, memberships, medical resources, graduation) minus the $100 application fee it also lists there. Tuition plus required fees = $97,955. Not included: the $100 application fee, books, housing and other costs not paid to the college.
Curriculum & clinical training
Didactic education
In-person classroom and laboratory study uses systems, cases, cadaver anatomy and simulation.
Clinical education
Three clinical blocks each provide 16 weeks of rotations and a campus assessment week. Faculty arrange sites; professional and capstone coursework continues online.
The Orange City program is 27 months, seven consecutive terms and 116 credits. Clinical experiences are mainly in person; behavioral health may primarily use telemedicine.
The admitted class
Published class statistics describe the named cohort or population. They are not admission minimums or acceptance probabilities.
The program’s track record
Graduate outcomes
PANCE pass rates
See first-time program performance with clearly dated national context.
- First-time PANCE pass rate: 100%
Class of 2025: 100% of first-time takers passed (29 of 29). Earlier classes: 2024 97% (30 of 31), 2023 100% (29 of 29), 2022 88% (21 of 24). No five-year average yet because only four graduating classes are reported; together they are 96% first-time (109 of 113).
- Five-year first-time PANCE pass rate: Not available yet
Five-year first-time results are not yet available.
Accreditation history
ContinuedSources you can open
Links to the program’s own pages and the official directories we use.
- ARC-PA currently accredited programs — sponsoring-institution directory
- Program program page
- Northwestern College curriculum and clinical training
- Northwestern College PA current requirements
- Northwestern College PA published cohort costs
- Program program page
- Program contact page
About the U.S. News rank
The U.S. News PA rank uses the 2025 PA edition, matched to the listed program and campus. It reflects peer-assessed reputation, not admissions odds or a personal fit score. Programs without a separate entry are labeled “Unranked.”
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