Northwest Technical College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Bemidji, Minnesota. It enrolls 751 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.
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
65/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes50
Value54
Affordability44
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Northwest Technical 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 Technical 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 $10,996 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$10,996
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
32%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
33%
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
$6,254
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,216
Books & Supplies
$1,600
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,000
Total Cost of Attendance
$16,905
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
$6,638
$30,001 – $48,000
$7,948
$48,001 – $75,000
$10,641
$75,001 – $110,000
$13,654
Over $110,000
$16,137
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.
$2,00010%percentile
$3,60425%percentile
$15,000Medianpercentile
$13,75075%percentile
$21,18390%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 $10,961
↓ $4,039
No Pell $8,312
↓ $6,688
Dependent students $6,750
↓ $8,250
Independent students $12,396
↓ $2,604
Female students $10,250
↓ $4,750
Male students $8,837
↓ $6,163
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($15,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
37% of full-time students who enrolled at Northwest Technical College graduate within six years, and 65% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
37%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
65%
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 Technical College earn a median of $42,930 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$42,930
Earning > $25K
68%
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
$34,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$44,000
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)
$40,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$48,600
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $10,000, about 23% 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 ↑
15.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 72% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Northwest Technical College is home to 751 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 59% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
751
Part-Time
59%
First-Generation
27%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 58.6%440
Other 17.3%130
Black 16.9%127
Hispanic 4.4%33
Asian 1.5%11
International 0.7%5
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Northwest Technical College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteBemidji, Minnesota
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
46%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Northwest Technical College offers
a varied set of programs:
21 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 Northwest Technical College is 18:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
18:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$6,783
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$72,986
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
20 instructional faculty across 1 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
Instructors
20
100%
$72,986
Pros & Cons of Northwest Technical College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Northwest Technical College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Open admissions
Tight-knit, close community feel
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Northwest Technical College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; working adults or students needing part-time study options; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Northwest Technical College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Northwest Technical College.
Is Northwest Technical College hard to get into?
Northwest Technical College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Northwest Technical College?
Northwest Technical College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Northwest Technical College cost?
The average net price after aid at Northwest Technical College is $10,996 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Northwest Technical College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $42,930 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $10,996 per year. That's roughly 3.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Northwest Technical College known for?
Northwest Technical College is best known for its programs in Nursing, Electrical and Power Transmission Installers, Electrical and Power Transmission Installers. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Northwest Technical College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Northwest Technical College are $42,930, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Northwest Technical College accredited?
Yes. Northwest Technical College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Northwest Technical College?
Northwest Technical College enrolls 751 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Northwest Technical College?
Northwest Technical College graduates 37% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Northwest Technical College a public or private college?
Northwest Technical College is a Public institution.
Where is Northwest Technical College located?
Northwest Technical College is located in Bemidji, Minnesota.
What programs does Northwest Technical College offer?
Northwest Technical College offers 21 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Electrical and Power Transmission Installers, Electrical and Power Transmission Installers.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Northwest Technical College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Northwest Technical College is 18:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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