At $4,545/yr net price, Northwest Shoals Community College graduates earn $33,828/yr within 10 years of enrollment.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $4,545 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $18,180 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $33,828/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | $-172/yr |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 32.8% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $10,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $2,155/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $3,208/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $6,433/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $8,603/yr |
| $110,001+ | $8,125/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Associate | $43,922 | $11,900 |
The Risk Factor
32.8% of students at Northwest Shoals Community College graduate within 6 years. Fewer than half of students complete their degree. If you don't graduate, the financial investment may not pay off.
Analysis
Northwest Shoals Community College keeps your costs low. At $4,545 a year in net price and a $10,000 median debt load, you take on less than one year of typical earnings to finish here. That's the strong side of the ledger.
The weak side is the payoff. Ten years out, median earnings sit below what a full-time job at $17 an hour brings in. The 32.8% graduation rate is the bigger risk. Two of every three students who start don't finish, and if you leave with debt but no credential, the low sticker price stops helping you.
Nursing is the clear winner here. The associate nursing program pays about $10,000 more per year than the school-wide median, and it carries you into a licensed field with steady demand across the Shoals region and Alabama hospitals. The tradeoff is the highest debt of any program listed, near $11,900, but the earnings justify it. No other program has published earnings data, so treat anything outside nursing as unproven on the money side.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families most. If your family earns under $30k, you pay about $2,155 a year. Between $48k and $75k, that jumps to $6,433, and above $75k you pay roughly $8,000 to $8,600. Middle and upper-income families lose most of the cost advantage that makes this school worth it.
This is a good financial fit if you're headed into nursing, or if you plan to finish here cheaply and transfer to a four-year school for a higher-paying degree. It's a poor fit if you enroll without a clear program and risk landing in the two-thirds who don't graduate. Pick nursing or a transfer path before you enroll, and the low cost works in your favor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Northwest Shoals Community College worth the cost?
Northwest Shoals offers decent value with a low net price of $4,545 per year and manageable debt of $10,000. However, the 33% graduation rate is concerning, and 10-year earnings of $33,828 are modest compared to other options.
What are the highest paying programs at Northwest Shoals Community College?
Nursing programs at Northwest Shoals lead to the best financial outcomes, with graduates earning around $43,922 annually. Other programs typically result in much lower earnings that may not justify even the low tuition cost.
How much debt do Northwest Shoals Community College graduates have?
Northwest Shoals graduates carry a median debt of $10,000, which is manageable compared to four-year schools. The low debt load helps offset the relatively modest post-graduation earnings for most programs.
What is the graduation rate at Northwest Shoals Community College?
Only 33% of students graduate from Northwest Shoals Community College. This low completion rate means many students leave without a degree but may still have accumulated debt and lost income from time out of the workforce.