Accreditation & Student Success
The University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Other programs such as education, business, nursing and social work have specialized accreditations from national organizations. These include the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), and the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). The Charles Morton Share Trust Division of Nursing's programs are approved by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing.
HLC's Open Pathways to Accreditation
For its next accreditation, Northwestern Oklahoma State University will be taking part in the Higher Learning Commission’s Open Pathways Ten Year Cycle. The chart that presents this cycle is provided below, as well as at the link. The graphic also will take you to a print quality PDF. Note the activities that are due each year as well as the reviewers who will be reviewing them.
Student Success Data
Retention Rates
| Retention Rates - Fall to Fall | FY18 | FY19 | FY20 | FY21 | FY22 |
| First Time Freshmen | 54.8% | 56.3% | 60.9% | 61.3% | 56.4% |
| First Time Full-time Freshmen | 60.2% | 56.4% | 69.0% | 61.7% | 56.7% |
Graduation Rates
| Graduation Rate/Degrees Granted - Based on full-time fall status | FY18 2012 Cohort) |
FY19 (2013 Cohort) |
FY20 (2014 Cohort) |
FY21
(2015
Cohort)
|
| Graduation Rates | 30.44% | 30.82% | 25.81% | 30.92% |
Number of Degrees
| FY18 | FY19 | FY20 | FY21 | |
| Certificates | 39 | 28 | 36 | 29 |
| Associates | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bachelors | 328 | 358 | 330 | 301 |
| Master | 48 | 48 | 49 | 52 |
| Doctoral | 0 | 0 | 7 | 12 |
Licensure Pass Rate for Nursing
| NCLEX-RN | ||||
| FY18 | FY19 | FY20 | FY21 | |
| Alva | 62.5% | 88.89% | 81.8% | 50% |
| Enid | 76.47% | 88.89% | 88.8% | 88% |
| Woodward | 0% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Ponca City | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Cumulative | 70.96% | 92% | 88.46% | 88% |
| AANP Family Nurse Practitioner Certification | ||||
| FY20 | FY21 | |||
| First-time pass rate | 85.71% | 100% | ||
Office of Educational Quality and Accountability Reports
Quality Initiative Report
The Open Pathway requires an institution to designate one major improvement effort it has undertaken during its 10-year accreditation cycle as its Quality Initiative. The Quality Initiative is intended to allow institutions to take risks, aim high and learn from only partial success or even failure.
NWOSU Qualitiy Initiative Proposal
Multi-Location Report
Institutions with three or more off-campus additional locations are required to undergo a Multi-Location Visit every five years. The purpose of the Multi-Location Visit is to confirm the continuing effective oversight by the institution of its additional locations.
Assurance Argument
HLC conducts an Assurance Review to determine whether an institution on the Standard or Open Pathway continues to meet teh Criteria for Accreditation. On the Open Pathway, the Assurance Review is conducted by itself in Year 4 and is a part of the comprehensive evaluation that occurs in Year 10.