North Country Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Saranac Lake, New York. It enrolls 819 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
52/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes13
Value45
Affordability50
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, North Country Community College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending North Country Community College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $11,868 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$11,868
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
39%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
20%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$6,682
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$9,370
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,796
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,796
Books & Supplies
$2,400
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,000
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,000
Total Cost of Attendance
$18,051
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$8,329
$30,001 – $48,000
$13,216
$48,001 – $75,000
$14,387
$75,001 – $110,000
$16,668
Over $110,000
$16,928
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,75010%percentile
$4,75025%percentile
$12,000Medianpercentile
$14,08875%percentile
$19,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $9,500
↓ $2,500
No Pell $9,048
↓ $2,952
Dependent students $7,500
↓ $4,500
Independent students $13,910
↑ $1,910
Female students $9,500
↓ $2,500
Male students $8,000
↓ $4,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($12,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
11% of full-time students who enrolled at North Country Community College graduate within six years, and 51% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
11%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
51%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered North Country Community College earn a median of $38,276 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$38,276
Earning > $25K
66%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$30,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$38,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$31,100
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$33,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$40,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,900, about 20% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
10.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 71% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
North Country Community College is home to 819 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 47% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
819
Part-Time
22%
First-Generation
47%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 73.0%598
Black 5.6%46
Other 3.9%32
Hispanic 1.5%12
International 0.6%5
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at North Country Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteSaranac Lake, New York
Housing
Limited on-campus housing98 beds
Adult Learners
23%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
North Country Community College offers
a varied set of programs:
17 distinct programs across
8 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at North Country Community College is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,715
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$58,629
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
42 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
5
12%
$76,356
Associate Professors
12
29%
$66,060
Assistant Professors
4
10%
$59,323
Instructors
21
50%
$50,030
Pros & Cons of North Country Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how North Country Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Open admissions
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for:
Based on the data, North Country Community College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about North Country Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about North Country Community College.
Is North Country Community College hard to get into?
North Country Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at North Country Community College?
North Country Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does North Country Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at North Country Community College is $11,868 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is North Country Community College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $38,276 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $11,868 per year. That's roughly 3.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is North Country Community College known for?
North Country Community College is best known for its programs in Nursing, Practical Nursing, Entrepreneurship. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do North Country Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering North Country Community College are $38,276, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is North Country Community College accredited?
Yes. North Country Community College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend North Country Community College?
North Country Community College enrolls 819 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at North Country Community College?
North Country Community College graduates 11% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is North Country Community College a public or private college?
North Country Community College is a Public institution.
Where is North Country Community College located?
North Country Community College is located in Saranac Lake, New York.
What programs does North Country Community College offer?
North Country Community College offers 17 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Practical Nursing, Entrepreneurship.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at North Country Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at North Country Community College is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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