About NNU
Northwest Nazarene University, a nonprofit Christian university, offers over 60 areas of study, master’s degree programs in eleven disciplines, accelerated degree programs, concurrent credit for high school students, and a variety of continuing education credits. In addition to its 90-acre campus located in Nampa, Idaho, the University also offers programs online as well as in Boise, Twin Falls, Idaho Falls, and in cooperation with programs in 10 countries.
Founded in 1913, the university now serves over 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students, more than 6,000 continuing education students, and 2,300 high school students through the concurrent credit program. Our mission is to encourage a habit of mind that enables each student to become God’s creative and redemptive agent in today’s world. We believe that the education obtained from NNU prepares graduates to be global Christians through academic excellence, social responsiveness, and creative engagement.
NNU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, and has been rated by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top masters-level universities in the west as well as recently featured in the Princeton Review’s Book The Best Western Colleges.
The Historical Story of NNU
A desire to educate their own children led the founders of Northwest Nazarene University (NNU), under leadership of Eugene Emerson, to organize an elementary school in 1913. In the ensuing two years both high school and college courses were added to the curriculum. Thus began Northwest Nazarene University, a fully-accredited, co-educational, Christian comprehensive University of the arts, humanities, sciences, and professions.
In 1915, the first student graduated from high school, and a year later Dr. H. Orton Wiley was elected President. The first degrees were conferred upon a class of four graduates in 1917.
Academic progress has been notable, including accreditation as a junior college in 1931 and as a four-year college in 1937. Master’s programs were added in the mid-sixties. The name of the institution was changed from Northwest Nazarene College to Northwest Nazarene University in 1999. NNU changed from quarters to semesters, May, 2000.
The university presently offers undergraduate majors in 29 areas and master’s programs in eleven disciplines. In addition to programs on its home campus, NNU students may study in cooperative programs in 10 countries around the world. Northwest Nazarene serves approximately 1,900 undergraduate and graduate students, and more than 10,000 continuing education students each year, as well as 1,900 high school students through the concurrent credit program. The President of the University is Dr. David Alexander, who became President in 2008.
Mission
The mission of Northwest Nazarene University is the transformation of the whole person. Centered in Jesus Christ, the NNU education instills habits of heart, soul, mind and strength to enable each student to become God’s creative and redemptive agent in the world.
Northwest Nazarene University is a Christian university of the liberal arts, professional and graduate studies. The University is grounded in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition and is an educational expression of the Northwest region of the Church of the Nazarene.
Northwest Nazarene University is founded upon belief in and relationship with the One Triune God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Therefore, we seek to build our lives and the practices of the University upon the Kingdom of God as revealed in Jesus.
Values
Transformation—We believe education fosters transformation. NNU engages and affects all domains of life—intellectual, social, physical and spiritual—thereby advancing the transformation of the individual, the church and the world.
Truth—We believe education pursues truth. NNU explores knowledge, the wonder of God’s creative activity, the story of human civilization and the achievements in the arts, sciences and professions. Ultimately, we believe Jesus is the truth incarnate; therefore, we pursue Christ.
Community—We believe education flourishes in community. NNU provides a learning and faith community that teaches, challenges and encourages each other through intellectual and spiritual practices. Within covenantal relationships we express our love for God and others.
Service—We believe education cultivates service. NNU teaches the importance of a life of servanthood as modeled by Jesus Christ. We learn to lead by giving of ourselves to God and humankind.
Vision 2025 – A More Excellent Way
Guided by a vision of the Kingdom of God, Northwest Nazarene University seeks a more excellent way, to be a transformative learning community expressing the love of Jesus by forming scholars, nurturing disciples, serving the Church, shaping the culture, redeeming the world.
Five vision imperatives give focus to NNU VISION 2025
- Forming Scholars—Pursuing Truth, Seeking Wisdom
- Nurturing Disciples—Living in the Great Commandments
- Serving the Church—Covenant Partners in the Great Commission
- Shaping the Culture—God’s Creative Agents
- Redeeming the World—God’s Redemptive Agents
See more information about the NNU vision, including videos explaining each of the NNU vision imperatives.