National Park College
- Graduation Rate
- 36% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $32,444 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $12,720 B-
- 26% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,789
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 15.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $15.0 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $15.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $710,034.
What The Data Says
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A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduate earnings fall 20% below the national college median.
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Graduation of 36% — 38% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $15.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About National Park College
National Park College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 1,789
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Humanities, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Precision Production
Why students choose National Park College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $12,720 a year after grants and scholarships — 26% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $32,444 ten years after enrolling — 20% below the typical college, against $10,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 0.69 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Nearly half of National Park College's students receive Pell Grants, highlighting its commitment to making education accessible for low-income families. With an enrollment of 1,789, this public college caters to a diverse student body seeking practical career paths.
According to recent data, graduates from National Park College earn a median salary of $32,444 a decade after graduation. While the graduation rate stands at 36%, the college serves as a stepping stone for many students looking to boost their economic mobility. The opportunity to advance in fields such as Health Professions and Business & Marketing is significant, especially for those in the bottom 20% of income distribution.
The net price for attending National Park College is $12,720, and students graduate with a median debt of $10,500. This financial landscape makes it a feasible choice for many. Students who thrive here are often those pursuing hands-on careers in technical fields or health services, where they can quickly transition into the workforce with practical skills.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective National Park College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into National Park College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
National Park College, located in Hot Springs, Arkansas, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 36%.
- Retention Rate
- 51%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $5,411
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 14:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.55
- First-Gen Students
- 46%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend National Park College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at National Park College is $7,280, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,720. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,368 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,600
- Out-of-State
- $7,280
- Avg Net Price
- $12,720
- Median Debt
- $10,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 48%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 22%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $12,368
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $12,953
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $13,349
- Family Income $110K+
- $9,541
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at National Park College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is National Park College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of National Park College report median earnings of $32,444, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $28,337
- 8 Years
- $29,539
- 10 Years
- $32,444
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.32x
- Earning > $25K
- 41%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (63)
- 14%
- 100% (63)
- 14%
- 100% (63)
- 14%
- 100% (63)
- 14%
How National Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is National Park College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, National Park College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $12,720/year ($50,880 total). Graduates earn $32,444 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $760,914 in total earnings — a net gain of $710,034 (15.0× your investment). The median debt is $10,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 36% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $50,880
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $760,914
- Net Return
- $710,034
- ROI Multiple
- 15.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $12,720
- Median Debt
- $10,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 36%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $1,640,823
- Federal Grants
- $2,372,954
- Investment Income
- $28,339
Top Programs
The fields National Park College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 24% $63,028 early-career
- Humanities 21%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 18% $33,980 early-career
- Precision Production 15%
- Business & Marketing 7%
- Criminal Justice 5% $37,196 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 4%
- Computer Science & IT 3% $50,714 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for National Park College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into National Park College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
National Park College, located in Hot Springs, Arkansas, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 36%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend National Park College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at National Park College is $7,280, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,720. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,368 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,500 in federal student loans.
Is National Park College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of National Park College report median earnings of $32,444, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is National Park College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at National Park College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.69, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to National Park College.
- Fletcher Technical Community CollegeSchriever, LA · Close peer27% grad $32,189 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Georgia Piedmont Technical CollegeClarkston, GA · Close peer39% grad $34,619 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Oconee Fall Line Technical CollegeSandersville, GA · Close peer54% grad $30,899 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Arkansas State University-BeebeBeebe, AR · Close peer40% grad $36,603 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
- Southeastern Community CollegeWest Burlington, IA · Close peer43% grad $36,882 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
- Edgecombe Community CollegeTarboro, NC · Close peer45% grad $33,267 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is National Park College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at National Park College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.69, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note