Northwest Shoals Community College
Below average. Ask hard questions before enrolling. It ranks 1,097 of 1,952 certificate schools on student outcomes, with an overall score of 46.3 out of 100.
These three answers are rules of thumb from the numbers below, not advice for any one student or major.
Student reviews are coming soon
We are rebuilding how students share their experiences, so for now this page shows only the federal numbers and our written summaries. Check back soon.
Why it is good
- Debt is manageable: graduates owe a typical $8,000 in federal loans against earnings of $38,083.
- Affordable: the average student pays about $4,245 a year after grants, cheaper than 94% of certificate schools.
Why it is bad
- Only 37% of students graduate. 88% of certificate schools do better.
- Many students leave early: only 69% of first-year students return for a second year.
The numbers
What these figures measure
Graduation rate: share of all students, full-time or part-time, who finish within 8 years. Return for year 2: share of first-time, full-time students who come back for a second year. Earnings: median pay about 10 years after starting, for students who received federal aid. Debt: median federal loan debt among those who finish. Net price: average yearly cost after grants and scholarships. All from the U.S. Education Department College Scorecard, institution file dated November 2, 2026.
Programs and early earnings
Associate degrees: largest programs
| Field | Graduates a year | Earnings, 2 yrs after | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 128 | n/a | $7,995 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 66 | $43,922 | $9,000 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 43 | n/a | n/a |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | 25 | n/a | n/a |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 19 | n/a | n/a |
| Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians | 17 | n/a | n/a |
Certificates and diplomas: largest programs
| Field | Graduates a year | Earnings, 2 yrs after | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 240 | n/a | n/a |
| Precision Metal Working | 213 | n/a | n/a |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | 86 | n/a | n/a |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | 59 | n/a | n/a |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 51 | n/a | n/a |
| Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians | 47 | n/a | n/a |
Earnings are the median pay two years after completing, for graduates who were working and not enrolled again. The federal government hides figures for small programs, shown as n/a. Fields are broad groups, so a college may offer several majors inside one.
Students and reviews
Numbers cannot tell you about teaching, dorms or campus life. Student reviews and questions are coming soon to this site. In the meantime, other sources:
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The grade reflects outcomes for the average student compared with other certificate schools. Individual majors can be much better or worse.