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Student Life
Northwestern's academic requirements were recognized by the University of Minnesota and students could enter the University without entrance exams after graduating. Each dormitory at Northwestern had a student council, and staff supervised students' studies in the evening. All students were expected to "conduct themselves as Christian young ladies and gentlemen at all times." Although Northwestern did not enroll many students (178 students was the highest number in 1907), students kept active. They participated in two literary societies, Aurora and the Tegnerförbundet, and the latter was directed in Swedish. The students also participated in prayer circles, the Chorus, Band, Orchestra, Mission Study Class, Gladstone debating society, Glee Club, the Athletic Association, and the Handel Oratorio Society. Since Northwestern did not have a gymnasium and no requirements for physical fitness, students rented the gymnasium of a local high school once a week. Students practiced basketball, sometimes had two baseball teams, and played tennis on the school's two tennis courts.
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Hardships
Throughout the school's existence, Northwestern College experienced its share of struggles. The school was closed for two weeks during an influenza epidemic in 1918. In 1919 a tornado damaged the school, and a fire caused another closing of two weeks in 1924. Northwestern struggled with debt the majority of the time it was open. The school did not generate enough money from tuition and other resources to run the $40,000 property. The conference held three meetings to clear the school's debt: $20,000 was raised in 1915 and $5,000 was raised in 1924-25. In years with low enrollment, some classes were only offered every other year. One year, students had to perform janitorial duties themselves.
Closure and Aftermath
Despite donations, even $6,000 from J. J. Hill, debt eventually led to the school's closing when the conference cut off aid from the North Star Corporation of the Augustana Synod, and the Northwestern Corporation was forced to close the school. All debts were paid off, and Northwestern was sold in the 1940s for $12,500. Proceeds from the sale benefited conference charities, and a Lutheran Bible school continued education in the place of Northwestern. Later, the former Northwestern College campus became part of Lutheran Brethren Seminary (an institution of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America) and housed the institution's Seminary and Bible School departments.