NorthWest Arkansas Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Bentonville, Arkansas. It enrolls 4,953 students (a mid-sized 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.
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.
Good
62/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes27
Value76
Affordability44
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, NorthWest Arkansas 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 NorthWest Arkansas 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 $7,196 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$7,196
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
23%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
11%
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)
$3,342
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$5,238
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,000
Books & Supplies
$1,240
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,490
Total Cost of Attendance
$12,157
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
$5,722
$30,001 – $48,000
$5,751
$48,001 – $75,000
$8,300
$75,001 – $110,000
$10,231
Over $110,000
$11,719
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.
$1,75010%percentile
$2,75025%percentile
$9,506Medianpercentile
$12,50075%percentile
$24,00090%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 $5,812
↓ $3,694
No Pell $4,820
↓ $4,686
Dependent students $4,000
↓ $5,506
Independent students $9,267
↓ $239
Female students $5,500
↓ $4,006
Male students $5,500
↓ $4,006
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $4,955, less than completers ($9,506), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
15% of full-time students who enrolled at NorthWest Arkansas Community College graduate within six years, and 62% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
15%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
62%
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 NorthWest Arkansas Community College earn a median of $43,505 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$43,505
Earning > $25K
69%
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
$33,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$44,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$33,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$39,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$46,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,200, about 25% 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 ↑
11.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 68% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
NorthWest Arkansas Community College is home to 4,953 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 52% are first-generation college students, 65% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
4,953
Part-Time
65%
First-Generation
52%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 53.1%2,631
Hispanic 30.9%1,528
Other 5.0%247
Asian 3.5%173
Black 3.0%150
International 0.4%22
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at NorthWest Arkansas Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityBentonville, Arkansas
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
18%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
NorthWest Arkansas Community College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
42 distinct programs across
15 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 NorthWest Arkansas Community College is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,733
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$9.8M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$57,254
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
156 instructional faculty across 5 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
30
19%
$63,539
Associate Professors
10
6%
$57,639
Assistant Professors
7
4%
$55,949
Instructors
18
12%
$63,402
No Rank
91
58%
$54,024
Pros & Cons of NorthWest Arkansas Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how NorthWest Arkansas Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Reasonable class sizes
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, NorthWest Arkansas Community College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about NorthWest Arkansas Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about NorthWest Arkansas Community College.
Is NorthWest Arkansas Community College hard to get into?
NorthWest Arkansas Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at NorthWest Arkansas Community College?
NorthWest Arkansas Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does NorthWest Arkansas Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at NorthWest Arkansas Community College is $7,196 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is NorthWest Arkansas Community College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $43,505 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $7,196 per year. That's roughly 6.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is NorthWest Arkansas Community College known for?
NorthWest Arkansas Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Health Sciences. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do NorthWest Arkansas Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering NorthWest Arkansas Community College are $43,505, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is NorthWest Arkansas Community College accredited?
Yes. NorthWest Arkansas Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend NorthWest Arkansas Community College?
NorthWest Arkansas Community College enrolls 4,953 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at NorthWest Arkansas Community College?
NorthWest Arkansas Community College graduates 15% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is NorthWest Arkansas Community College a public or private college?
NorthWest Arkansas Community College is a Public institution.
Where is NorthWest Arkansas Community College located?
NorthWest Arkansas Community College is located in Bentonville, Arkansas.
What programs does NorthWest Arkansas Community College offer?
NorthWest Arkansas Community College offers 42 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Health Sciences.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at NorthWest Arkansas Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at NorthWest Arkansas Community College is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Arkansas
Other colleges in Arkansas share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Liberal Arts
Allied Health Diagnostic
Liberal Arts
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