Northwestern College PA Program: Requirements, Tuition & Stats

• Strong PANCE outcomes — A first-time PANCE pass rate of 100% is above the national average.

• Stricter prerequisite grades — A minimum of B- in prerequisites is tougher than the typical C. Recheck your transcript before you invest in the application.

• Recency matters — Prerequisites expire after 5 years for anatomy, physiology, and microbiology; up to 10 years old with waiver approval. Older science coursework may need to be retaken.

Northwestern College is located in Iowa. The details below come straight from the program and are re-checked on a rolling basis.

At a glance

• Location: Iowa

• Institution type: Private

• Program length: 27 months

• Class size: 32 students

• Start month: May

• Application deadline: September

• In-state tuition: $93,960

• Minimum overall GPA: 3.3

• Minimum science GPA: 3.3

• Minimum PCE hours: 500 hours

• Letters of recommendation: 3

• First-time PANCE pass rate: 100%

• Accreditation status: Continued

Admission requirements

• GRE: No

• CASPer: No

• TOEFL (international applicants): Yes

• Supplemental application: Yes (fee $100)

• Shadowing: Yes

• Letters of recommendation: 3 — Healthcare professionals, previous employers, academic references

• Patient care experience: 500 hours minimum

• Interview format: Interview invitations are sent for August 30th, September 6th, September 13th, and October 18th; Unsure if it is virtual or in-person interview

Prerequisites

• Minimum prerequisite grade: B-

• Prerequisite expiration: 5 years for anatomy, physiology, and microbiology; up to 10 years old with waiver approval

• In-progress prerequisites accepted: Yes

• AP or CLEP credit accepted: Yes

• Online coursework accepted: Yes

Required coursework

• Human Anatomy (BIO 221 preferred or BIO 121)

• Human Physiology (BIO 222 preferred or BIO 122)

• Microbiology (BIO 203)

• Organic Chemistry (CHE 321)

• Biochemistry (BIO/CHE 326 or BIO 327WI or BOI 355)

• Genetics (BIO 202WI or BIO 327WI)

• Psychology (PSY 100SS or PSY360)

• Statistics (MAT 116QR or MAT 208QR)

Cost

• In-state tuition: $93,960

• Supplemental application fee: $100

• Seat deposit: $500

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• Program website: Northwestern College

• Admissions page: Admissions information

• Prerequisite details: Prerequisite coursework

• Email: [email protected]

• Phone: 712-707-7000

• Address: 101 7th Street SW, Orange City, IA 51041

Program information last verified June 23, 2026. Requirements change — always confirm directly with the program before applying.