The only accredited tribal college serving Washington, Oregon, and Idaho with a mission to promote Indigenous self-determination.
NWIC offers four bachelor's degrees (BA in Community Advocates and Responsive Education in Human Services, BA in Native Studies Leadership, BA in Tribal Governance and Business Management, BS in Native Environmental Science) and multiple associate degrees in business, early childhood education, public and tribal administration, and technical fields. The college operates as an open-enrollment institution requiring no standardized test scores for admission. As of 2011, NWIC was one of only seven tribal colleges in the U.S. offering a degree in tribal administration. The college provides developmental coursework for students not yet ready for college-level study.
The main campus sits on the Lummi Indian Reservation, 20 miles south of the Canadian border near Bellingham. NWIC operates five additional full-service extended campus sites serving Muckleshoot, Nez Perce, Nisqually, Port Gamble S'Klallam, and Tulalip communities. The student body is diverse, ranging from recent high school graduates to returning adult learners; over 75% identify as members of federally recognized Indian tribes. The college supports student success through advising, a math and writing center, wellness programs, student housing, athletics, and 11 student clubs.
NWIC follows an 'open door' admissions policy, primarily recruiting Native American, Alaska Native, and Canadian First Nations students. High school diploma or GED is required; no SAT or ACT scores are needed. Applicants must submit an application form, high school diploma/transcripts or GED, tribal certification (or a release form if unavailable), and official transcripts from previously attended colleges. Resident tuition rates apply to students with tribal certification or those meeting specific residency and employment criteria. Running Start programs are available for qualified high school students under 18.
NWIC's mission is to promote Indigenous self-determination and knowledge through education. The college is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities at both the associate and baccalaureate levels. It maintains partnerships with the American Indian College Fund and the NWIC Foundation for scholarship support. The college operates the Salish Sea Research Center/NICMERE and hosts paid internship programs for Indigenous undergraduates. Average graduate GPA is 3.31, and the college serves over 1,200 students annually across its seven locations.