Northwest University 
The information on this page was last updated 1/14/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Northwest University is a regionally accredited, Christian institution awarding associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. Located in Kirkland, Washington, we have been preparing students to lead in their careers since 1934 and offer a variety of degree programs to meet the needs of an ever-changing society.
Our traditional undergraduate experience includes over 70 majors and programs-as well as off-campus internships-to equip students for success in their careers. Our online degree programs provide the flexibility of classes that can be accessed anytime, anywhere.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Northwest University
PO Box 579
Kirkland, WA 98083-0579
Website: northwestu.edu
Phone: 425-822-8266
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 910615846
CEO/President: Dr. Joseph Castleberry
Chairman: Dr. Barbara Petty
Board size: 22
Founder: Northwest Ministry Network / Assemblies of God
Ruling year: 1955
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 05/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1997
Purpose
The vision of Northwest University is to Carry the Call, with heart, head, and hand.
Heart
The founders of Northwest University built a community of faith and learning, focused on serving people who are pursuing God's call on their lives. We are convinced that God continues to call every man and woman to a life of faithful, devoted service. Northwest University is committed to being a college of choice for students passionate about confirming and clarifying God's call.
Head
We believe that the best response to God's call is to develop exceptional character and competence. A commitment to scholarship and discipleship grows out of a worldview anchored in Scripture. Northwest University integrates Faith and Truth with powerful, effective teaching in Ministry, Arts, Sciences and the Professions. The entire University community strives to engage biblical Christianity with every aspect of life.
Hand
Northwest University finds its crowning joy in thousands of alumni serving in nearly every profession around the world. They are people showing Christ's love through hands of compassion. Our faculty model lives of wholehearted service. Our students make an impact for the Kingdom in numerous outreaches and ministries. Northwest University is committed to preparing people for service and leadership, doing God's work in God's world.
Mission statement
We, the people of Northwest University, carry the call of God by continually building a learning community dedicated to spiritual vitality, academic excellence, and empowered engagement with human need.
Statement of faith
We believe:
The Bible is the inspired and only infallible and authoritative written Word of God.
There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
In the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, in His personal future return to this earth in power and glory to rule a thousand years.
In the blessed hope-the rapture of the Church at Christ's coming.
The only means of being cleansed from sin is through repentance and faith in the precious blood of Christ.
Regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for personal salvation.
In water baptism by immersion.
The redemptive work of Christ on the cross provides healing in the human body in answer to believing prayer.
The baptism in the Holy Spirit, according to Acts 2:4, is given to believers who ask for it.
In the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a holy life.
In the resurrection of both the saved and the lost, those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment.
Articles
Donor confidence score
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To understand our donor confidence score, click here.
Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Colleges/Universities
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 418 of 1420 | 37 of 155 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 496 of 1420 | 56 of 155 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 893 of 1420 | 91 of 155 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 276 of 1421 | 28 of 155 |
According to the organization's Form 990, it received $285,869 in government grants in 2025.
To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 13% | 9% | 17% | 19% | 13% | 12% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 2% | 1% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 1% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 15% | 17% | 10% | 11% | 12% | 12% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 1% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 85% | 83% | 90% | 89% | 88% | 88% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 84% | 82% | 83% | 81% | 84% | 85% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 96% | 93% | 107% | 103% | 96% | 92% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 81% | 76% | 89% | 84% | 80% | 79% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 4% | 7% | -7% | -3% | 4% | 8% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | 11% | -11% | -5% | 7% | 12% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 14% | 16% | 15% | 17% | 14% | 13% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.53 | 0.79 | 0.88 | 0.81 | 0.78 | 0.74 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 2.73 | 3.91 | 5.50 | 3.79 | 2.90 | 2.68 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.45 | 3.09 | 4.86 | 3.06 | 2.26 | 1.98 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 8.18 | 2.89 | 2.46 | 3.10 | 3.78 | 4.39 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.12 | 0.35 | 0.41 | 0.32 | 0.26 | 0.23 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 6.96 | 2.54 | 1.46 | 2.66 | 3.91 | 4.69 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 20% | 44% | 47% | 47% | 47% | 47% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 10% | 33% | 38% | 37% | 36% | 37% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 148% | 71% | 60% | 66% | 68% | 71% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Cash | $11,608,467 | $3,753,310 | $3,471,062 | $8,593,728 | $11,709,642 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $2,550,859 | $2,795,886 | $2,286,257 | $2,308,834 | $1,962,288 |
| Short-term investments | $1,523,561 | $3,821,129 | $10,761,836 | $11,943,031 | $11,703,450 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $15,682,887 | $10,370,325 | $16,519,155 | $22,845,593 | $25,375,380 |
| Long-term investments | $160,851 | $162,641 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $44,645,446 | $45,822,591 | $44,800,574 | $43,113,629 | $42,505,430 |
| Other long-term assets | $798,035 | $723,585 | $1,287,446 | $245,637 | $25,839 |
| Total long-term assets | $45,604,332 | $46,708,817 | $46,088,020 | $43,359,266 | $42,531,269 |
| Total assets | $61,287,219 | $57,079,142 | $62,607,175 | $66,204,859 | $67,906,649 |
| Liabilities | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $2,432,762 | $2,441,884 | $3,601,760 | $4,304,059 | $3,757,225 |
| Other current liabilities | $3,002,341 | $1,773,643 | $1,734,437 | $1,732,567 | $2,026,036 |
| Total current liabilities | $5,435,103 | $4,215,527 | $5,336,197 | $6,036,626 | $5,783,261 |
| Debt | $20,236,332 | $21,575,117 | $22,876,654 | $24,145,053 | $25,379,628 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $1,316,745 | $924,362 | $1,239,604 | $818,311 | $901,287 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $21,553,077 | $22,499,479 | $24,116,258 | $24,963,364 | $26,280,915 |
| Total liabilities | $26,988,180 | $26,715,006 | $29,452,455 | $30,999,990 | $32,064,176 |
| Net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Without donor restrictions | $28,298,001 | $24,049,192 | $27,632,039 | $32,219,203 | $33,430,935 |
| With donor restrictions | $6,001,038 | $6,314,944 | $5,522,681 | $2,985,666 | $2,411,538 |
| Net assets | $34,299,039 | $30,364,136 | $33,154,720 | $35,204,869 | $35,842,473 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Total contributions | $8,665,241 | $4,926,560 | $5,591,461 | $6,683,946 | $6,282,613 |
| Program service revenue | $43,125,383 | $41,303,089 | $41,982,025 | $43,767,883 | $46,554,383 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $108,591 | $523,948 | $616,432 | $2,714,031 | $1,003,248 |
| Other revenue | $479,143 | $261,853 | $756,974 | $800,528 | $491,609 |
| Total other revenue | $43,713,117 | $42,088,890 | $43,355,431 | $47,282,442 | $48,049,240 |
| Total revenue | $52,378,358 | $47,015,450 | $48,946,892 | $53,966,388 | $54,331,853 |
| Expenses | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Program services | $39,811,340 | $41,908,477 | $41,077,420 | $43,399,546 | $42,671,990 |
| Management and general | $7,909,041 | $7,695,244 | $8,362,936 | $7,308,630 | $6,755,165 |
| Fundraising | $771,438 | $824,595 | $1,076,257 | $870,403 | $725,436 |
| Total expenses | $48,491,819 | $50,428,316 | $50,516,613 | $51,578,579 | $50,152,591 |
| Change in net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $3,886,539 | ($3,412,866) | ($1,569,721) | $2,387,809 | $4,179,262 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $3,886,539 | ($3,412,866) | ($1,569,721) | $2,387,809 | $4,179,262 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Joseph Castleberry | President | $413,349 |
| Ryan Porter | CFO | $200,997 |
| Sarah Drivdahl | Provost | $195,430 |
| Vickie Rekow | Vice President | $173,838 |
| Heather Deibler | Dean | $160,230 |
| Eric Engstrom | Vice President | $154,570 |
| Robert Campbell | Dean | $152,096 |
Compensation data as of: 5/31/2025
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 1/14/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Northwest University was founded by the Northwest Ministry Network of the Assemblies of God and opened to students on October 1, 1934. The District Presbytery appointed Dr. Henry H. Ness to be the first president. The University was housed in the facilities of Hollywood Temple, Seattle, Washington, for the first twenty-five years of its existence.
Dr. C.E. Butterfield succeeded Dr. Ness in 1949, and Dr. D.V. Hurst assumed the presidency in 1966 and served through 1990. He was succeeded by Dennis A. Davis, who served from 1990 - 1998, and by Dr. Don Argue, who served from 1998 - 2007. Dr. Joseph Castleberry is the sixth president of Northwest University.
Originally known as Northwest Bible Institute, its institutional name was changed to Northwest Bible College in 1949, Northwest College of the Assemblies of God in 1962, and to Northwest University in 2005. Each change represented a stage in its curricular development.
Academically the University progressed from a three- to a four-year curriculum in 1948, and in 1955, a Liberal Arts division was organized. Milestones of academic development and progress were marked by the achievement of professional accreditation by the American Association of Bible Colleges in 1953, and in 1973 by the granting of regional accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
In May, 1992, Northwest University became the eighty-fifth college approved for membership in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, an association of Christ-centered colleges and universities of the liberal arts and sciences.
In 1958, the University secured a new thirty-five acre campus in Kirkland, in the greater metropolitan area of Seattle. Since then 21 more acres have been added to make the present fifty-six acre campus. Located at 108th Avenue N.E. and N.E. 53rd Street just ten miles from downtown Seattle, the campus is an ideal setting for study, recreation, and inspiration. The campus is also near to industry and close-at-hand employment opportunities.
Over the years, the University's graduates and former students have engaged in full-time Christian service in professional, business, or vocational occupations in fulfillment of their educational objectives at the University.