Northwestern College’s traditional undergraduate enrollment has reached its highest level since 2015, with 1,092 students attending the Orange City college this fall.
The college’s total enrollment for fall 2026 is 1,627, the fifth largest in school history. Northwestern also reported its highest student retention rate in at least 20 years, at 83%.
The incoming class includes 317 full-time freshmen, matching last year’s total, and 41 transfer students—the most transfers in 10 years. This marks the third consecutive year Northwestern has exceeded its new-student recruitment goal by more than 10%.
Tamara Fynaardt, Northwestern’s vice president for enrollment and marketing, said the figures reflect both families choosing the college and current students deciding to return.
“There’s a special energy on campus when you see students from various walks of life drawn to Northwestern because they value our commitment to their spiritual, academic and relational growth,” Fynaardt said.
The enrollment report highlights strength in both recruitment and retention, with the decade-high transfer count accompanying a freshman class equal in size to last fall’s.
Fynaardt said the results come amid financial and enrollment pressures elsewhere in higher education.
“We are grateful for God’s faithfulness, especially in an environment that’s challenging for many colleges and universities whose enrollments and budgets are contracting.”
