Fast Facts

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences

Founded in 2005, Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU) opened its doors to the first cohort of students within the College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2008. Subsequently the first cohort of students within the Master of Arts in Medical Sciences program matriculated in 2021 and the first cohort of School of Physical Therapy students matriculated in 2022. PNWU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).  The PNWU mission is to educate and train health care professionals, emphasizing service in rural and underserved communities, primarily in the Northwest.

    2023     2024     2025
Matriculants 197 197 247
Avg. Age 25 26 27
Age Range 21-47 20-56 20-50
% Female 52.8% 62.9% 61.5%
% Male 46.7% 37.1% 38.1%
% Undisclosed 0.5% 0.4%
% from the NW 70% 66% 70%
Alaska 2.0% 1.6%
Idaho 3.6% 4.1% 5.3%
Montana 1.5% 1.5% 2.8%
Oregon 8.6% 7.6% 6.5%
Washington 54.3% 53.3% 54.3%
% from a Rural Area 23% 13% 24%
% from a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) 29% 32% 34%
White 49.2% 38.1% 45.3%
Asian 27.9% 31.0% 19.8%
Black or African American 0.5% 2.5% 4.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 1.2%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0.5% 1.2%
Two or More Races 6.1% 7.6% 6.1%
Hispanic 15.2% 18.3% 19.8%
Undeclared 0.5% 2.5% 2.4%

Fall Enrollment as of September 1st, 2025

    2022     2023     2024     2025
622 650 665 690

 

Spring Enrollment as of January 17th, 2025

    2023     2024     2025
623 658 669

Total Degrees Conferred

Graduation Year Number of Graduates
2012 68
2013 74
2014 71
2015 71
2016 71
2017 133
2018 139
2019 135
2020 140
2021 137
2022 177
2023 159
2024 177
2025 200
Total 1,752

As part of our efforts to improve student success, including the identification and closure of equity gaps within our institution, PNWU compares disaggregated outcomes for key student indicators to the overall performance of regional and national peers.

 

University or PNWU Disaggregation Graduation within 100% of Program Length Licensure Exam First Attempt Pass Rate
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences 86.1% 87.8%
Female 87.7% 82.4%
Male 84.2% 93.8%
Prior Pell Grants 81.8% 82.0%
Underrepresented Minority* 83.3% 85.7%
Regional Peer 1 83% 89%
Regional Peer 2 81% 88%
Regional Peer 3 85% 85%
National Peer 1 83% 94%
National Peer 2 84% 92%
National Peer 3 81% 93%

 

*Underrepresented Minority includes any student who selected at least one of the following IPEDS reporting categories: American Indian or Alaska Native, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, Hispanic or Latino.

 

Updated September 2025 with AY 2024-25 graduation and licensure exam results (COMLEX Level 2-CE in this reporting period) for PNWU programs and the most recently published graduation and licensure exam results (COMLEX Level 2-CE, Part II PAM, PANCE, and NAPLEX in this reporting period) for peer institutions.