Northwest-Shoals Community College

800 George Wallace Blvd
Muscle Shoals, AL 35661-0000

Tel: (256)331-5200

Northwest-Shoals Community College is a single, comprehensive two-year public institution of higher education. The college is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, and the Associate in Applied Science degrees as well as certificates in occupationally specific areas.

School Highlights

Northwest-Shoals Community College serves 3,891 students (48% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 38:1 is higher than the state community college average of 28:1.
Minority enrollment is 14% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the state average of 39%.
Northwest-Shoals Community College is the only community colleges within Colbert County, AL.
The nearest community college is John C Calhoun State Community College (42.00 miles away).

	Northwest-Shoals Community College	(AL) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification	Baccalaureate / Associates Colleges	Baccalaureate / Associates Colleges
Institution Level	Less than 2 yrs	At least 2 yrs but < 4 yrs
Institution Control	Public	Public
Total Faculty	102 staff	73 staff

The student population of 3,891 has grown by 18% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 38:1 has stayed the same over five years.
The school's diversity score of 0.25 is less than the state average of 0.56. The school's diversity has declined by 5% over five years.

Total Enrollment	3,891 students	1,756 students

Student : Teacher Ratio	38:1	28:1

# Full-Time Students	1,877 students	1,004 students

# Part-Time Students	2,014 students	752 students


% American Indian/Alaskan	1%	1%

% Asian	-	1%

% Hispanic	3%	2%

% Black	9%	24%

% White	86%	61%


Diversity Score	0.25	0.56

College Completion Rate	12%	17%

Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)	$29,700	$29,700

The public in-state tuition of $4,231 is less than the state average of $5,427. The in-state tuition has grown by 5% over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $7,621 is less than the state average of $8,152. The out-state tuition has grown by 5% over four years.

In-State Tuition Fees	$4,231	$5,427

Out-State Tuition Fees	$7,621	$8,152

% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid	93%	94%

Median Debt for Graduates	$11,250	$11,500

Median Debt for Dropouts	$4,500	$6,002

Source: 2016 (or latest year available) IPEDS

Located in the Northwest corner of Alabama, our college is comprised of multiple campuses serving the counties of Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, and Lawrence, and the western portion of Winston county. Our students come from both urban and rural communities to our campus sites in the Shoals and Phil Campbell.Northwest-Shoals is unique among community colleges in Alabama in that we adhere to the comprehensive community college concept rather than providing separate technical and junior college divisions. Northwest-Shoals Community College offers a broad range of certificate and degree programs, as well as university parallel and linkage programs. A variety of special programs and services, including training for business and industry, is also available.The Community Services Division at NW-SCC provides area companies and individuals with a wide range of technical training, administrative assistance, and personal development courses in the belief that learning is a life-long experience. Consisting of Continuing Education and Training for Business, this division is the flexible division of the college in providing the services not provided in the traditional education environment.The Patriots of Northwest-Shoals are well established as leaders among Alabama intercollegiate athletes. The college holds numerous championship titles in the Alabama Junior and Community College Conference, comprising Region XXII of the National Junior College Athletic Association.