- Northeastern Junior College is the largest residential two-year college campus in the state. It is located on the high plains of Northeastern Colorado. Approximately 65% of full time traditional age students enrolled are in transfer programs and 35% are pursuing career/technical cetificates/degrees.
School Highlights
Northeastern Junior College serves 1,826 students (39% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 11:1 is lower than the state community college average of 23:1.
Minority enrollment is 28% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the state average of 51%.
Quick Stats (2025)
- Enrollment: 1,826 students
- In-state tuition: $3,394
- Out-state tuition: $4,892
- Student:teacher ratio: 11:1
- Minority enrollment: 28%
- Source: Verified school update
Top Rankings
Northeastern Junior College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Colorado for:
Category
Attribute
Affordability
School Overview
The teacher population of 167 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Northeastern Junior College
(CO) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Career & Technical-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional
Baccalaureate/Associate's Colleges: Mixed Baccalaureate/Associate's
Institution Level
At least 2 but less than 4 years
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Public
Private, non-profit
Total Faculty
167 staff
92 staff

School Calendar
Student Body
The student population of Northeastern Junior College has grown by 31% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 11:1 has increased from 8:1 over five years.
The Northeastern Junior College diversity score of 0.45 is less than the state average of 0.69. The school's diversity has declined by 7% over five years.
Total Enrollment
1,826 students
2,252 students

Student : Teacher Ratio
11:1
23:1

# Full-Time Students
712 students
743 students

# Part-Time Students
1,114 students
1,509 students



# Enrollment Undergraduate
182 students
185 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
712 students
536 students

# Full-Time Graduate Students
n/a
95 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
1,114 students
1,509 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
578 students
307 students

% American Indian/Alaskan
n/a
1%

% Asian
n/a
6%

% Hispanic
16%
25%

% Black
2%
6%

% White
72%
49%

% Hawaiian
n/a
3%

% Two or more races
2%
4%

% Non Resident races
4%
2%

% Unknown races
3%
4%


Diversity Score
0.45
0.69

College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
0.5123%
0.636%

College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
n/a
0.2693%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$35,300
$33,300

Tuition and Acceptance Rate
The public in-state tuition of $3,394 is less than the state average of $3,735. The in-state tuition has declined by 35% over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $4,892 is less than the state average of $10,403. The out-state tuition has declined by 35% over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$3,394
$3,735

Out-State Tuition Fees
$4,892
$10,403

% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
91%
83%

Median Debt for Graduates
$10,565
$10,981

Median Debt for Dropouts
$5,500
$5,000

Acceptance Rate
n/a
98%
Source: 2024 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) , School Administrators
School Notes
- Northeastern Junior College, located in Sterling, Colorado, was established in 1941 and is Colorado's largest 2-year residential college. We are located in northeastern Colorado about 125 miles from Denver. At NJC, our students have the best of both worlds. They can take advantage of over 80 programs of study while enjoying small classes, individual instructor attention and the complete college experience. Each year, Northeastern's enrollment is approximately 4,000 learners. NJC has between a 1,000 and 1,100 full-time traditional age students (ages 17-22) who are enrolled full-time on our campus with 12 or more credit hours. NJC also serves approximately 3,000 part-time learners each year. Students attend Northeastern from many areas! On average we have traditional age students on campus from over 90% of the 63 counties in Colorado; from approximately 20 different states and several foreign countries. Northeastern Junior College is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Northeastern Junior College cost?
Northeastern Junior College's tuition is approximately $3,394 for In-State students and $4,892 for Out-State students.
What is Northeastern Junior College's ranking?
Northeastern Junior College ranks among the top 20% of community college in Colorado for: Least expensive tuition.
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