2026 NSSE Survey

National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)

April 2 – May 11

Are you a first-year student or senior? Take 15 minutes to share your thoughts. The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) is your chance to provide feedback and help make UW Bothell better!

In appreciation for participating, we will enter all students who complete the survey by May 11 into a drawing for 1 of 200 Amazon gift cards worth $25 each. Your chances of winning depend on how many complete the survey; the last time we administered this survey about 572 students responded.

To take the survey, check your UW email starting April 2 for an invitation from NSSE (nsse@nssesurvey.org), or:

  • Go to nssesurvey.org
  • Click on “don’t know your login ID”
  • Complete the easy, one-step verification process to log in

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the survey about?

NSSE collects information about first-year and senior students’ participation in programs and activities that institutions provide for their learning and personal development. The results provide an estimate of how undergraduates spend their time and what they gain from attending college.

Who can take the survey?

The NSSE survey is open to eligible* first-year students and seniors at UW Bothell.

*Eligibility is determined by NSSE. To be eligible, students must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Registered as a UW Bothell student in spring quarter 2026
  • Have completed at least one quarter of coursework at UW Bothell
  • Classified as a first-year or senior as of the end of autumn quarter 2025 (i.e., under 45 credits for first-years and more than 135 credits for seniors)

Why can only first-year students and seniors participate?

NSSE is designed to capture the perspectives and experiences of incoming and outgoing students who have spent at least one complete quarter at their institution. The survey is administered every two years, so if you are a student who is not eligible this year and will not graduate before spring 2028, you may be eligible as a senior in the next administration cycle.

How long does the survey take?

The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete. You can pause and return later at any time using the same survey link.

Is participation required?

No. Participation in NSSE is voluntary. However, responding to the survey is one of the best ways you can have your voice heard about your experience at UW Bothell, and will help UW Bothell improve the student experience for all current and future students.

Why can’t I find an email invitation from NSSE?

Survey invitations are sent to eligible students from nsse@nssesurvey.org. Because it comes from an external organization, sometimes the UW system can filter or mark the email as spam.

If you believe you meet the eligibility criteria outlined on this page but can’t find an email invitation, here are some options:

  1. Check your junk/spam folder to see if your invitation is there.
  2. Try to access the survey by going to nssesurvey.org, clicking on “don’t know your login ID”, and entering your UW email address.
  3. Contact the Office of Institutional Research directly at uwbiro@uw.edu for assistance with accessing the survey.

When I try to access the survey, I get a message saying my email couldn’t be found. What does this mean?

If you receive an error message when trying to access the survey that says your email wasn’t found in their records, here are a few things to check:

  1. Your email was spelled correctly and includes “@uw.edu”.
  2. You meet the eligibility criteria as explained on this page.
  3. You are registered as a UW Bothell student, not as a student at the Seattle or Tacoma campuses. If you are a Seattle or Tacoma student and would like to participate, please visit the tri-campus NSSE webpage to learn more about administration dates and details for Seattle and Tacoma students.

Is the survey anonymous?

The survey is confidential, but not anonymous. This means your email is collected as part of your response so that the gift card winners can receive their prize for completing the survey.

However, responses will only ever be reported and used in aggregate, meaning any identifying information (e.g., your name, student ID, email address, other unique identifiers) will never be shared in any reporting.

How will the results from this survey be used?

Survey results are reported in aggregate to campus leadership and decision-makers and are used to benchmark UW Bothell against peer institutions. These findings help inform improvements to programs, practices, and student support services for both current and future students. The results are also used for institutional accreditation and strategic planning efforts.

When and how will gift card winners be notified?

Gift card winners will be selected after the survey closes on May 11. Please allow up to one week after the survey closes for winners to be notified and for gift cards to be delivered by Amazon. All gift card-related communications, including winner notifications and distribution details, will be sent to your UW email address.

Who can I contact if I have any additional questions about NSSE?

If you have any questions about NSSE that aren’t answered on this page, contact the Office of Institutional Research at uwbiro@uw.edu.