Faith in Our Future

We have had an excellent fall here at Northwest Nazarene University.  This is due to many factors but some of these key factors include:

1. Northwest Nazarene has an all-time record enrollment. A record number of new students enrolled this fall including 316 first-time freshmen and 80 new transfer students.
2. We are making extraordinary progress on the new $10 million Thomas Family Health and Science Center.  This  50,000 sq. ft. facility can be viewed on the webcam at www.nnu.edu/healthandscience.
3. There are 60 areas of undergraduate study at NNU. The undergraduate programs list can be found at www.nnu.edu/academics/areas-of-study/. Some of our largest programs include nursing, education, business administration, Christian ministries and biology/pre-med. NNU has two undergraduate accelerated degree programs: STEP, a bachelor of science in business administration; and, ACE, an Accelerated Certification for Educators. NNU recently developed programs in journalism, criminal justice, cultural studies and men's soccer, and we offer concurrent (college credit) courses to over 2,000 high school students.

What About The Economy and Attending NNU Next Fall?

Economic conditions in many walks appear to have unpredictable outcomes in the days ahead.  Certainly, we cannot provide answers to all the economic challenges but we can clearly tell you what is happening at Northwest Nazarene University.

NNU Is Well Managed Financially

NNU has a solid history of operating budgets in the black.  We have a consistent practice of being conservative in our financial practices.  One reason why we are healthy this year includes:

• Our fall enrollment targets were met and exceeded.  This plays an important role in finances.
• We had a commitment to help families more than ever this year with scholarships and loans.  Our need-based resources were expanded to help with this effort.
• Our retention rate was strong this year.  For students eligible to return, 95% returned from last spring.
• This fall, we have our lowest tuition increase in many years.  This lower tuition was determined because of the economic times.  Our institution offers an extraordinary value and it is fairly priced.  
• NNU endowments have decreased like other colleges in the country but we are making plans to replace the endowed scholarships with alternative resources for fall 2009.   
• We have stable cash reserves and our debt ratios are very modest.  Capital donations have made new buildings possible, and we have not practiced extensive borrowing for these new buildings.

What About Financial Aid?

We understand you may have apprehensions about the economy and what is in store for the future.  Don’t assume there will be high tuition costs and less financial aid.  We encourage you to take the next step and apply for all available financial aid, and you will discover that we are here to help you.  Be careful about any quick assumptions and seek help from our financial aid office.  We are making plans to do our best to have adequate financial aid and loan resources in this coming year’s budget.  You may contact our financial aid office anytime at financialaid(at)nnu.edu and they will be happy to work with you and your family in the days ahead.   

What Is the Status of Available Loans?

The federal student loan programs continue to be accessible for many families.  Alternative loans have seen the most restrictions.  Here is what else we know about loans at this time:

• New federal government monies have been provided to make more resources available to families.
• Information concerning parent (PLUS) loans can be obtained at www.nnu.edu/plusloans.

We have consistently provided a reputable listing of lenders to families and each of the lenders has maintained a solid reputation.  Because of NNU’s standing in the community, we continue to have a reasonable amount of options for accessing student loans.

We Believe in the Value of a Christian College Education

A presentation of this value has been developed for your viewing. The presentation illustrates very well how the first two years of a college education is significant to a person’s foundation for life.  Go to: http://www.nnu.edu/downloads.  You can download the presentation to your personal computer.

The value of a Christian college education is a very important consideration.  NNU’s values include:

• Personal attention and small class sizes
• A community that is supportive and spiritually focused
• A social environment that is nurturing and caring
• High-quality education that will not depreciate in value
• Christian teachers with terminal degrees (not teaching assistants)
• Residence life staff available and serving full time
• Campus safety personnel on duty 24 hours a day
• Job placement that is unmatched

We Anticipate a Bright Future In The Days Ahead

Our strategic processes in the days ahead include plans for continuing campus improvements.  Included is a master plan company commissioned to guide us in preparing for our Centennial in 2013.  We have built and/or acquired eight buildings in the past decade, and continue to construct a campus that is a hallmark of Christian universities in the country.  We believe that the economy will once again be stable.  So, we will act cautiously with our resources in the interim but make strategic plans for expanding the campus. Northwest Nazarene is a place where students seek Christ-like character, demonstrate academic excellence, creative engagement and social responsiveness.  With these outcomes, our students are making a difference across the globe in their chosen professions.   We hope you will join us this fall as a new student.  Take a step of faith and enjoy the journey of obtaining a valuable education at Northwest Nazarene University! If you have any questions about the enrollment or admissions process at NNU, we want to help. Feel free to contact us at admissions(at)nnu.edu. We count it a privilege to stay in dialogue with you about your economic concerns in the days ahead.

Sincerely,

David Alexander
President