Northwest Indian College
Northwest Indian College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Northwest Indian College at a Glance
Northwest Indian College is a public tribal land-grant community college in Bellingham, Washington, United States. It was established by the Lummi Nation and is the only accredited tribal college or university serving reservation communities of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
1973
53 years old
1,000
100
Identity
How to Apply to Northwest Indian College
Official admissions page$50
Fee waiver available
Fee waiver
Is Northwest Indian College Worth It?
Northwest Indian College delivers solid financial returns for its graduates. At $3,136/year, it's priced 85% below average, while graduates go on to earn $35,447 — near the national average.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.4 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 22% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 2 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
How Northwest Indian College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #7 of 19 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | North Florida College | 100 | $804 | $33,929 |
| #2 | Alpena Community College | 100 | $3,320 | $36,442 |
| #3 | Haskell Indian Nations University | 90 | $3,134 | $37,043 |
| #4 | American Samoa Community College | 89 | $3,386 | $30,087 |
| #5 | Bay Mills Community College | 74 | $3,073 | $30,048 |
| #6 | University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma | 64 | $6,624 | $41,913 |
| #7 | Northwest Indian College | 62 | $3,136 | $35,447 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Northwest Indian College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at Northwest Indian College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Northwest Indian College. When evaluating whether to attend, research outcomes for your specific major using the Department of Education's College Scorecard or ask the admissions office for placement rates.
As a general rule: STEM, nursing, accounting, and computer science programs tend to deliver the strongest ROI regardless of institution. Humanities and arts programs can still be worthwhile, but require more intentional career planning to achieve financial payoff.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $3,136/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Similar Colleges in WA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Bellingham, WA
- Student Body
- 629 students
- Graduation Rate
- 22%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $3,136
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $35,447