NorthWest Arkansas Community College

One College Drive
Bentonville, AR 72712
Top Ranked (2025): View Rankings
  • NWACC is a comprehensive, learning-centered two-year college dedicated primarily to meeting the educational needs of its service area. NWACC offers a comprehensive education program including, but without limitation, technical occupational programs, freshman and sophomore programs for students to transfer to four-year colleges, specialty courses, professional continuing education courses, community enrichment classes, and business and industry training to meet the needs of the emerging and existing workforce. Part-time and full-time students are valued equally.

School Highlights

NorthWest Arkansas Community College serves 10,832 students (23% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 20:1 is higher than the state community college average of 13:1.
Minority enrollment is 37% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the state average of 39%.

Quick Stats (2025)

  • Enrollment: 10,832 students
  • In-state tuition: $4,663
  • Out-state tuition: $4,738
  • Acceptance Rate: 100%
  • Student:teacher ratio: 20:1
  • Minority enrollment: 37%
  • Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

NorthWest Arkansas Community College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Arkansas for:

Category
Attribute
Community Size

School Overview

The teacher population of 539 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
NorthWest Arkansas Community College
(AR) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional
Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Career & Technical-High Traditional
Institution Level
At least 2 but less than 4 years
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Public
Public
Total Faculty
539 staff
162 staff
This chart displays total faculty of NorthWest Arkansas Community College and community college average number of faculty in Arkansas by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Student Body

The student population of NorthWest Arkansas Community College has grown by 29% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 20:1 has increased from 14:1 over five years.
The NorthWest Arkansas Community College diversity score of 0.56 is less than the state average of 0.58. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Total Enrollment
10,832 students
1,611 students
This chart displays the total enrollment of NorthWest Arkansas Community College and community college average number of enrollment of Arkansas by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
20:1
13:1
This chart displays the student staff ratio of NorthWest Arkansas Community College and community college average student staff ratio of Arkansas by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
# Full-Time Students
2,467 students
595 students
This chart displays the total number of Full-time students enrollment of NorthWest Arkansas Community College and average number of community college Full-time students enrollment of Arkansas by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
# Part-Time Students
8,365 students
1,058 students
This chart displays the total number of Part-time students enrollment of NorthWest Arkansas Community College and average number of community college Part-time students enrollment of Arkansas by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
This chart displays the Full-time students and Part-time students enrollment breakdown of NorthWest Arkansas Community College.
This chart displays community college average Full-Time students and Part-Time students enrollment breakdown of Arkansas.
# Enrollment Undergraduate
108 students
217 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
2,467 students
595 students
This chart displays the total number of Full-time undergraduate students enrollment of NorthWest Arkansas Community College and average number of community college Full-time undergraduate  students enrollment of Arkansas by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
# Full-Time Graduate Students
n/a
15 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
8,365 students
1,058 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
n/a
38 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
n/a
160 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
1%
1%
This chart displays the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan students in NorthWest Arkansas Community College and the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan community college students in Arkansas by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
% Asian
3%
2%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in NorthWest Arkansas Community College and the percentage of Asian community college students in Arkansas by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hispanic
20%
11%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in NorthWest Arkansas Community College and the percentage of Hispanic community college students in Arkansas by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
% Black
3%
18%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in NorthWest Arkansas Community College and the percentage of Black community college students in Arkansas by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% White
63%
61%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in NorthWest Arkansas Community College and the percentage of White community college students in Arkansas by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hawaiian
1%
1%
This chart displays the percentage of Hawaiian students in NorthWest Arkansas Community College and the percentage of Hawaiian community college students in Arkansas by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
% Two or more races
5%
4%
This chart displays the percentage of Two or more races students in NorthWest Arkansas Community College and the percentage of Two or more races community college students in Arkansas by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Non Resident races
1%
1%
This chart displays the percentage of Non Resident students in NorthWest Arkansas Community College and the percentage of Non Resident community college students in Arkansas by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
% Unknown races
3%
1%
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in NorthWest Arkansas Community College.
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Arkansas.
Diversity Score
0.56
0.58
This chart displays the diversity score of NorthWest Arkansas Community College and the community college average diversity score of Arkansas by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
0.2488%
0.3818%
This chart displays completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of NorthWest Arkansas Community College and community college average completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of Arkansas by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
n/a
0.3095%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$37,000
$28,600
This chart displays average graduate earnings (10 Years) of NorthWest Arkansas Community College and community college average graduate earnings (10 Years) of Arkansas by year, disaggregated by student subgroups with the latest 2012-13 school year data.

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

The public in-state tuition of $4,663 is more than the state average of $2,994. The in-state tuition has grown by 13% over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $4,738 is less than the state average of $4,750. The out-state tuition has grown by 6% over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$4,663
$2,994
This chart displays tuition fees for an in-state student of NorthWest Arkansas Community College and the public community college average tuition fees for an in-state student of Arkansas by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
Out-State Tuition Fees
$4,738
$4,750
This chart displays tuition fees for an out-of-state student of NorthWest Arkansas Community College and the public community college average tuition fees for an out-of-state student of Arkansas by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
Tuition Notes
Calculated on 30 cre
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
66%
94%
This chart displays the percent of students who is receiving some financial aid in NorthWest Arkansas Community College and the percent of community college students who is receiving some financial aid in Arkansas by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Median Debt for Graduates
$8,750
$9,750
This chart displays median debt for students who have completed a certificate or degree in NorthWest Arkansas Community College and average median debt for community college students who have completed a certificate or degree in Arkansas by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Median Debt for Dropouts
$4,500
$5,300
This chart displays median debt for students who have not completed a certificate or degree in NorthWest Arkansas Community College and average median debt for community college students who have not completed a certificate or degree in Arkansas by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Acceptance Rate
100%
100%
This chart displays the percent admitted of NorthWest Arkansas Community College and the community college average percent admitted of Arkansas by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
SAT Reading
n/a
540
SAT Math
n/a
520
SAT Writing
n/a
515
ACT Composite
n/a
22
ACT English
n/a
22
ACT Math
n/a
21
Source: 2024 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

School Notes

  • The NorthWest Arkansas Community College District was authorized on August 15, 1989, when voters in the Rogers and Bentonville public school districts passed a 3-mil tax. The first classes were attended by just more than 1,200 students in the fall of 1990 at high schools, chambers of commerce, municipal and leased facilities throughout the district. Burns Hall opened its doors to just more than 2,400 students in August 1995. Northwest Arkansas Community College is now the largest community college in Arkansas serving over 15,000 students annually in credit and non-credit programs. The collegeis accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and was most recently granted continued re-accreditation for 10 years by the HLC in 2012.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does NorthWest Arkansas Community College cost?
NorthWest Arkansas Community College's tuition is approximately $4,663 for In-State students and $4,738 for Out-State students.
What is the acceptance rate of NorthWest Arkansas Community College?
The acceptance rate of NorthWest Arkansas Community College is 100%, which is equal to the state average of 100%.
What is NorthWest Arkansas Community College's ranking?
NorthWest Arkansas Community College ranks among the top 20% of community college in Arkansas for: Largest student body.

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • Enrollment: 10,832 students
  • In-state tuition: $4,663
  • Out-state tuition: $4,738
  • Acceptance Rate: 100%
  • Student:teacher ratio: 20:1
  • Minority enrollment: 37%
  • Source: Verified school update

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