Northwood Technical College

505 Pine Ridge Drive
Shell Lake, WI 54871
Top Ranked (2024-25): View Rankings
  • Learning is our passion. As Northwest Wisconsins leader in technical education, Northwood Technical College creates dynamic opportunities for career preparation and personal effectiveness. We are committed to making each and every experience with us meaningful and professional.

School Highlights

Northwood Technical College serves 2,656 students (34% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 5:1 is lower than the state community college average of 10:1.
Minority enrollment is 98% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the state average of 97%.

Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • Enrollment: 2,656 students
  • In-state tuition: $4,448
  • Out-state tuition: $6,463
  • Student:teacher ratio: 5:1
  • Minority enrollment: 98%
  • Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

Northwood Technical College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Wisconsin for:

School Overview

The teacher population of 533 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Northwood Technical College
(WI) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associates Colleges
Associates Colleges
Institution Level
At least 2 but less than 4 years
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Public
Public
Total Faculty
533 staff
419 staff
This chart displays total faculty of Northwood Technical College and community college average number of faculty in Wisconsin by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Student Body

The student population of Northwood Technical College has declined by 10% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 5:1 has decreased from 6:1 over five years.
The Northwood Technical College diversity score of 0.15 is less than the state average of 0.49. The school's diversity has declined by 11% over five years.
Total Enrollment
2,656 students
2,549 students
This chart displays the total enrollment of Northwood Technical College and community college average number of enrollment of Wisconsin by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
5:1
10:1
This chart displays the student staff ratio of Northwood Technical College and community college average student staff ratio of Wisconsin by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
# Full-Time Students
897 students
701 students
This chart displays the total number of Full-time students enrollment of Northwood Technical College and average number of community college Full-time students enrollment of Wisconsin by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
# Part-Time Students
1,759 students
1,848 students
This chart displays the total number of Part-time students enrollment of Northwood Technical College and average number of community college Part-time students enrollment of Wisconsin by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the Full-time students and Part-time students enrollment breakdown of Northwood Technical College.
This chart displays community college average Full-Time students and Part-Time students enrollment breakdown of Wisconsin.
# Enrollment Undergraduate
203 students
293 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
897 students
701 students
This chart displays the total number of Full-time undergraduate students enrollment of Northwood Technical College and average number of community college Full-time undergraduate  students enrollment of Wisconsin by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
# Full-Time Graduate Students
n/a
27 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
1,759 students
2,390 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
n/a
47 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
n/a
148 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
1%
4%
This chart displays the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan students in Northwood Technical College and the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan community college students in Wisconsin by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Asian
1%
8%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Northwood Technical College and the percentage of Asian community college students in Wisconsin by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hispanic
n/a
n/a
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Northwood Technical College and the percentage of Hispanic community college students in Wisconsin by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
% Black
3%
9%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Northwood Technical College and the percentage of Black community college students in Wisconsin by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% White
2%
3%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Northwood Technical College and the percentage of White community college students in Wisconsin by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hawaiian
92%
70%
This chart displays the percentage of Hawaiian students in Northwood Technical College and the percentage of Hawaiian community college students in Wisconsin by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Two or more races
1%
5%
This chart displays the percentage of Two or more races students in Northwood Technical College and the percentage of Two or more races community college students in Wisconsin by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Unknown races
n/a
1%
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Northwood Technical College.
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Wisconsin.
Diversity Score
0.15
0.49
This chart displays the diversity score of Northwood Technical College and the community college average diversity score of Wisconsin by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
0.5811%
0.4571%
This chart displays completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of Northwood Technical College and community college average completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of Wisconsin by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
n/a
0.2395%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$33,500
$34,300
This chart displays average graduate earnings (10 Years) of Northwood Technical College and community college average graduate earnings (10 Years) of Wisconsin by year, disaggregated by student subgroups with the latest 2012-13 school year data.

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

The public in-state tuition of $4,448 is more than the state average of $4,194. The in-state tuition has declined by 5% over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $6,463 is more than the state average of $6,373. The out-state tuition has declined by 6% over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$4,448
$4,194
This chart displays tuition fees for an in-state student of Northwood Technical College and the public community college average tuition fees for an in-state student of Wisconsin by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Out-State Tuition Fees
$6,463
$6,373
This chart displays tuition fees for an out-of-state student of Northwood Technical College and the public community college average tuition fees for an out-of-state student of Wisconsin by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
76%
76%
This chart displays the percent of students who is receiving some financial aid in Northwood Technical College and the percent of community college students who is receiving some financial aid in Wisconsin by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Median Debt for Graduates
$8,250
$11,250
This chart displays median debt for students who have completed a certificate or degree in Northwood Technical College and average median debt for community college students who have completed a certificate or degree in Wisconsin by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Median Debt for Dropouts
$5,440
$5,500
This chart displays median debt for students who have not completed a certificate or degree in Northwood Technical College and average median debt for community college students who have not completed a certificate or degree in Wisconsin by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Acceptance Rate
n/a
88%
ACT Composite
n/a
21
ACT English
n/a
19
ACT Math
n/a
20
Source: 2023 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) , School Administrators

School Notes

  • Northwood Technical College is the college of choice for students who wish to pursue associate degrees or technical diplomas, and for those presently employed who wish to advance in their careers through continuing education. In many cases, area employers contract with the college for customized training consisting of specific courses that are developed and taught by Northwood Tech instructors at an employer's work site. The college offers 53 technical career programs. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a part of the Wisconsin Technical College System, with four campus locations (Ashland, New Richmond, Rice Lake and Superior), three branch locations (Hayward, Ladysmith and Balsam Lake), a Learning Center in Spooner, and our Health Education Center in Shell Lake. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission to grant degrees and certificates.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Northwood Technical College cost?
Northwood Technical College's tuition is approximately $4,448 for In-State students and $6,463 for Out-State students.
What is Northwood Technical College's ranking?
Northwood Technical College ranks among the top 20% of community college in Wisconsin for: Average community college minority breakdown.

Recent Articles

What are Community Colleges Doing with Labor Department Grants?
What are Community Colleges Doing with Labor Department Grants?
The article explores how community colleges are utilizing Labor Department grants, particularly the TAACCCT program, to develop workforce training programs. It highlights various initiatives across different states, focusing on industry-specific training and skill development in emerging sectors.
For-Profit Universities Looking to Partner with Community Colleges
For-Profit Universities Looking to Partner with Community Colleges
This article examines the trend of for-profit universities, particularly the University of Phoenix, seeking partnerships with community colleges. It discusses the potential benefits and controversies surrounding these collaborations, focusing on transfer agreements and workforce training programs.
New Analysis Shows How California Community Colleges Could Cut Millions in Spending
New Analysis Shows How California Community Colleges Could Cut Millions in Spending
The article discusses a California Watch analysis revealing potential savings in California's community college system through administrative consolidation. It explores the implications of such cost-cutting measures and the challenges in implementing them within the state's education system.

Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • Enrollment: 2,656 students
  • In-state tuition: $4,448
  • Out-state tuition: $6,463
  • Student:teacher ratio: 5:1
  • Minority enrollment: 98%
  • Source: Verified school update

Related School Videos

Did You Know?

For Wisconsin public community colleges, the average tuition is approximately $4,194 per year for in-state students and $6,373 for out-of-state students. For private community colleges, the average yearly tuition is approximately $13,728 per year. Read more about average community college tuition costs across the country.

The average community college acceptance rate in Wisconsin is 85%. Read more about national community college acceptance rates.

Wisconsin community colleges have a diversity score of 0.49, which is lower than the national average of 0.75. The most diverse community college in Wisconsin is Milwaukee Area Technical College. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.

Quick Links