Northwestern Health Sciences University at a glance
- Program: Doctor of Chiropractic, 10 trimesters
- Campus: 2501 West 84th Street, Bloomington, MN
- Start dates: September and January, plus a partial online start in May
- DC enrollment: 656 students
NWHSU's published NBCE licensing results
Every CCE-accredited program has to publish student achievement data, and NWHSU reports one of the stronger 4-year records on the list. Its NBCE Licensing Exam Success Rate table, tracking the share of graduates who passed every Part or were licensed within 6 months of graduation:
| Year | NWHSU rate | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 93.1% | 148 of 159 |
| 2022 | 94.7% | 161 of 170 |
| 2023 | 94.5% | 137 of 145 |
| 2024 | 85.8% | 133 of 155 |
| 4-year total | 92.1% | 579 of 629 |
NWHSU compares its 4-year total against a cited national average of 86.2% for 2021-2024.
Degree completion alongside the boards
NWHSU also publishes a DC degree completion rate: a 4-year weighted average of 94.2% (309 of 328 students), measured at the 150th-percentile mark for students who entered between Fall 2018 and Summer 2020. Read together with the licensing table, it points to a program where most students who start also finish, and most who finish pass their boards without a lengthy delay.
Where the NBCE fits in a 10-trimester program
NWHSU runs three trimester starts a year (September, January, and a partial May online cohort), so students move through coursework faster than a two-semester calendar. Across the profession, the NBCE opens Part I to students once they reach their second year, with Part II following in year three. Part III has to be completed within nine months of graduation and Part IV within six, so a compressed trimester calendar means less time between finishing coursework and sitting the exam that covers it. Since Part IV now runs only at the NBCE's Assessment Center in Greeley, Colorado, plan travel into your final-trimester schedule early.
Studying for the boards at NWHSU
With Part I first-time pass rates hovering in the low 70s nationally, the basic-science exam is where most students feel the most pressure. NWHSU's own numbers suggest its students clear that hurdle at an above-average rate, but the exam format doesn't change: six domains, 255 questions split across two sessions, and a scaled passing score of 375. Reviewing domain by domain, rather than cramming the whole test at once, is the more sustainable path through a trimester calendar that doesn't leave much slack.
How ChiroEDU helps
ChiroEDU builds computer-based-style practice exams for every part of the boards: domain exams for Part 1 and Part 2 with four attempts each, mock exams for Part 3 with imaging questions, and Physiotherapy exams with item analysis. Interested in helping classmates at NWHSU prep? ChiroEDU is looking for student reps.
Practice with ChiroEDU
ChiroEDU's practice exams are built to feel like the real computer-based test: domain-by-domain exams for Part 1 and Part 2 with four attempts each, four mock exams for Part 3 with radiology, and PT exams with item analysis. Interested in helping classmates prep? ChiroEDU is looking for student reps at every school.
Sources: NWHSU chiropractic schools guide · Policy 56 exam and completion rates (Wayback Machine) · NWHSU blog: how NWHSU measures up. Figures as published by the university; checked September 2026. ChiroEDU is independent and not affiliated with Northwestern Health Sciences University or the NBCE.