Northwest Indian College

Northwest Indian College (NWIC) in Bellingham, Washington is the only accredited tribal school in the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1973, the college now has expanded and provides students with such facilities as an Early Learning Center, NWIC Science Building, Student Center and residential halls. The school, which is located within the Lummi reservation, is just 20 miles from the border of Canada. The school has satellite locations at tribal sites in Washington and in Idaho, on the Nez Perce reservation.

The school offers associates and bachelor’s degrees as well as certificates. It also provides continuing education courses to adult learners over sixteen year old. Some of the areas of study include:

• Native American studies
• Environmental science
• Web design
• Early childhood education
• Liberal arts and general studies
• Physical sciences
• Substance abuse counseling
• Business administration
• Hospitality management
• General office training
• Casino management

In order to apply to the tribal school, you need to show proof that you belong to a Native American tribe. A tuition discount is offered to students who live in close proximity to the school or on a reservation. The schools’ cooperative extension office provides Native Americans at the school with outreach programs that will assist them educationally.

Students, whether they live in-state or out of state, pay the same tuition, which currently is set around $3,700 annually. Students enrolled at the college number around 550 and the school has a 75% retention rate. NWIC is located at 2522 Kwina Road in Bellingham, Washington. Contact them for further information at 360-676-2772.

Estimated Costs & Financial Aid

The average "out of pocket" cost of attendance, after any grants and scholarships are considered, is around $5,700. In order to calculate a more accurate and detailed cost of attendance check out their cost calculator here. There is also a $10 application fee for those applying to a program. The figures listed below are for informational purposes only and do not represent current or future tuition, fees, and expenses.

Tuition & Fees Information

• Annual tuition estimates are between $4,000-$4,800 for both state residents and nonresidents
• The estimated tuition for part time students is around $110 to $130 per unit

Financial Aid Details

The table below breaks down the types of financial aid, the percent of students receiving aid, and average amount of aid per student per year.

	Percent of Students	Average Amount
Any Financial Aid	87%	-
Receiving Grants & Scholarships	76%	$4,314

Admissions, Academics, & Student Services

Student Services

To help students and recent graduates, Northwest Indian College may offer services to students like:

• Online course work available
• Classes offered on nights and weekends
• Remedial instructional courses
• Career path counseling
• Day care

Graduation & Transfer Rates

Community colleges often times offer both career training courses and curriculum to help students transfer out to a 4-year college or university, that is why we include how this school compares for both graduation and transfer rates against other community colleges in Whatcom County and community colleges in Washington in total.

	Northwest Indian College	Whatcom County	Washington
Graduation Rate	8.9%	25.8%	29.5%
Transfer-out Rate	-	9.1%	19.5%