Top 10 Questions Every Parent Should Ask on a College Tour
What you ask shapes what your student sees—and what they’ll remember.
When you step onto a college campus with your teen, you’re not just touring buildings—you’re evaluating fit, culture, and safety. And while your student may be focused on the dorms, food, or vibe, your role as a parent is to ask the deeper questions.
Whether you're visiting a large state school or a private Christian liberal arts university like Northwest University, these 10 questions will help you get the answers that really matter.
1. What support systems exist for students—academically, emotionally, and spiritually?
Look beyond tutoring. Ask about counseling services, spiritual care, and faculty involvement.
At Northwest University, students have access to on-campus counselors, chapel, Life Groups, caring, Christian professors, and a vibrant community grounded in faith.
2. How accessible are the professors?
Ask if students can drop by office hours or if they’re mostly learning from TAs in large lecture halls.
NU’s small class sizes means students build real relationships with professors who teach, mentor, and pray with them.
3. What’s the campus safety plan?
Ask about 24/7 security, dorm access, emergency protocols, and how safety issues are communicated to families.
Northwest University offers 24-hour campus security, secure residence halls, and consistently ranks as one of the safest campuses in Washington.
4. What percentage of students receive financial aid—and what’s the average net cost?
Forget the sticker price. You want to know what most families actually pay and how the school helps close the gap.
At NU, 100% of students receive aid—and the average institutional scholarship last year was over $24,000.
5. How is faith integrated into student life and academics?
If faith is important to your family, don’t assume—it’s okay to ask how the college supports spiritual formation both inside and outside the classroom.
At NU, students participate in twice-weekly chapel, attend biblically integrated classes, and engage in a variety of student-led ministry and missions.
6. What does career preparation look like, and when does it start?
Ask about internships, job placement, alumni networks, and how career coaching is woven into the college experience.
Northwest students receive career coaching from their first year, internships for all majors, and job opportunities in nearby Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and others.
7. What are the top reasons students transfer out?
This is one of the most insightful—and underused—questions you can ask. If students are leaving due to cost, culture, or lack of support, you want to know.
NU’s high retention and graduation rates reflect a campus where students stay, grow, and thrive.
8. How are students encouraged to get involved?
Community is key to well-being and retention. Ask how students get plugged in early—through clubs, ministries, dorm events, or orientation experiences.
At NU, new students join Life Groups, dorm floor events, Screaming Eagles Week, and leadership development opportunities from the start.
9. What’s the spiritual atmosphere really like?
Ask students or guides directly. Is it vibrant or passive? Legalistic or life-giving? How do students talk about their faith?
Students at NU describe their faith as “deepened,” “challenged,” and “brought to life” through community, worship, and classroom discussions.
10. What happens when a student struggles?
Whether it’s mental health, faith questions, finances, or academic burnout—ask how the school supports students in crisis.
Northwest University offers holistic support, including peer mentorship, counseling, Student Development staff, and deeply caring faculty and staff.
Final Thoughts
College visits are about more than buildings—they’re about belonging. As a parent, your questions create space for your teen to think deeper about what they need and who they’re becoming.
And sometimes, the most important answers come not from the admissions office—but from watching how a community lives out what they say they believe.
Ready to visit a campus that welcomes both students and families with open arms?