Northwood University is a private institution founded in 1959 by Arthur E. Turner and R. Gary Stauffer, originally as Northwood Institute in Alma, Michigan, before relocating to its current main campus in Midland in 1961. Spanning approximately 468 acres, the university also operates satellite locations in Texas, Florida, and several international program centers, including in China, Sri Lanka, and Switzerland. Guided by its educational philosophy known as the “Northwood Idea,” the university emphasizes free enterprise, ethical leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, individual responsibility, and global awareness. With just over 1,100 undergraduate students and a smaller graduate population, Northwood primarily focuses on business-related programs such as marketing, finance, management, accounting, and cybersecurity, offering flexible learning formats including online degrees, accelerated Bachelor + MBA tracks, and specialized honors programs. The university maintains a strong career outcomes record, with 88% of graduates employed or in graduate school within six months, and supports students with approximately $19 million in scholarships annually. Home to the NCAA Division II Timberwolves competing in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, Northwood offers modern sports facilities alongside its academic resources. Economically, the university contributes an estimated $879 million annually to Michigan’s economy and actively invests in campus development, such as the renovation of the NADA Hotel and Conference Center funded partly by a $4 million gift from the Dow Foundation.