Northwest College
- Graduation Rate
- 46% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $36,950 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $7,463 A-
- 56% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 890
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 27.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $27.9 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $27.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $804,096.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Social mobility rate of 2.18% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $27.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Northwest College Matters
Northwest College is a public community college in Powell, WY and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 890
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Humanities, Visual & Performing Arts, Education
Why students choose Northwest 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 $7,463 a year after grants and scholarships — 56% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $36,950 ten years after enrolling — 9% below the typical college, against $10,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 23% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.31 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of just 890 students, Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming, is an inviting choice for those seeking a close-knit community. It’s a great fit for individuals interested in fields like Health Professions, Humanities, Visual & Performing Arts, Education, and Business & Marketing. The smaller size means more personal attention from faculty and a chance to build meaningful connections with fellow students.
When it comes to life after graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $36,950 within ten years of completing their degree. This figure gives a sense of the financial return on investment for those who attend. While the graduation rate stands at 46%, it's important to recognize that many graduates find pathways to success in their careers. The affordability of this institution is also a significant factor, making it accessible for students from various backgrounds.
Looking at the practical aspects, the average net price after aid is $7,463, which is quite manageable. Graduates leave with a median debt of $10,000, a figure that suggests many students are able to complete their studies without overwhelming financial burdens. This combination of affordability and supportive environment tends to attract students who appreciate a more personal educational experience, paving the way for their future success.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Northwest 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 Northwest College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Powell, Wyoming, Northwest College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 46%.
- Full-Time Faculty
- 98%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,402
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.50
- First-Gen Students
- 36%
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 Northwest College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Northwest College is $11,262, 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 $7,463. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,390 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,962
- Out-of-State
- $11,262
- Avg Net Price
- $7,463
- Median Debt
- $10,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 18%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 7%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,390
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $6,822
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $7,961
- Family Income $110K+
- $7,821
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Northwest College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Northwest College report median earnings of $36,950, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $33,237
- 8 Years
- $35,250
- 10 Years
- $36,950
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.27x
- Earning > $25K
- 54%
Earnings Trajectory
How Northwest Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Northwest College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Northwest College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $7,463/year ($29,852 total). Graduates earn $36,950 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $833,948 in total earnings — a net gain of $804,096 (27.9× your investment). The median debt is $10,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 46% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $29,852
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $833,948
- Net Return
- $804,096
- ROI Multiple
- 27.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $7,463
- Median Debt
- $10,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 46%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Northwest College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Northwest College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.18%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 14% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 15.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $60,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.18%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 15.6%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 14.0%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $60,800
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $818,410
- Investment Income
- $-2,024,061
Top Programs
The fields Northwest College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Health Professions 22%
- Humanities 18%
- Visual & Performing Arts 11%
- Education 7%
- Business & Marketing 6%
- Computer Science & IT 3%
- Engineering 2%
- Criminal Justice 2%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Northwest 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 Northwest College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Powell, Wyoming, Northwest College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 46%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Northwest College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Northwest College is $11,262, 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 $7,463. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,390 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,000 in federal student loans.
Is Northwest College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Northwest College report median earnings of $36,950, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Northwest College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Northwest College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.18%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 14% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 15.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $60,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Northwest College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Northwest College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.31, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Northwest College.
- Northern New Mexico CollegeEspanola, NM · Close peer30% grad $38,112 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- University of Science and Arts of OklahomaChickasha, OK · Close peer41% grad $41,913 earn 66% acceptWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- Zane State CollegeZanesville, OH · Close peer49% grad $35,006 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Peninsula CollegePort Angeles, WA · Close peer39% grad $37,078 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Central Wyoming CollegeRiverton, WY · Close peer39% grad $34,402 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · same state
- Morgan Community CollegeFort Morgan, CO · Close peer45% grad $39,429 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Northwest College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Northwest College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.31, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note