Do Students Succeed at NorthWest Arkansas Community College?
Success rates, completion statistics, and student outcome metrics for NorthWest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville, AR.
Student Success at NorthWest Arkansas Community College at a Glance
NorthWest Arkansas Community College is a public institution offering at least 2 but less than 4 years programs located in Bentonville, AR. Current enrollment is 8,412 students.
- 31.3% overall graduation rate (IPEDS)
- 22.5% of all entering students earn their award within 8 years
- 62% of exiters from its largest program (AS in Business Administration - Transfer) were employed within 6 months — verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
- DOL-verified median earnings of $6,848 per quarter after exiting AS in Business Administration - Transfer
- 2,079 graduates across 87 programs in 2024
- VA-approved for GI Bill benefits — 316 students used them here
Program-Level Results · Verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
Verified Program Outcomes
Completion and employment results reported to the U.S. Department of Labor for NorthWest Arkansas Community College programs on the state Eligible Training Provider List. Missing values ("—") mean the state suppressed or did not report that metric — they never mean zero.
| Program | Completion rate | Employed 6 mo after exit | Employed 1 yr after exit | Median quarterly earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AS in Business Administration - Transfer | 17% | 62% | 74% | $6,848 |
| AAS in Business Management | 13% | 67% | 73% | $7,198 |
| Technical Certificate Logistics Management | 13% | 69% | 70% | $6,788 |
| Registered Nurse | 78% | 77% | 86% | $15,361 |
| Computer Information Systems | 7% | 54% | 59% | $8,282 |
| Certified Retail Analyst with Prerequisites | 86% | 94% | 87% | $18,154 |
| Associate of Applied Science in Food Studies | 23% | 57% | 63% | $6,387 |
| Construction Technology | 24% | 72% | 84% | $10,305 |
| Emergency Medical Technology -AAS Paramedic | 22% | 76% | 68% | $16,421 |
| Agriculture Food and Life Science | 15% | 62% | 73% | $6,104 |
| Graphic Design | 28% | 59% | 74% | $5,647 |
| Paralegal | 26% | 57% | 65% | $9,889 |
| Food Studies - Culinary Arts | 47% | 51% | 55% | $6,128 |
| Criminal Justice-AAS | 14% | 61% | 83% | $7,489 |
| Computer Aided Design | 28% | 74% | 76% | $9,182 |
| Culinary Arts | 33% | 49% | 52% | $5,635 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | 63% | 83% | 85% | $8,331 |
| Medical Billing and Coding | 73% | 15% | 19% | $21,206 |
| Technical Certificate - Artisanal Foods | 19% | 50% | 48% | $10,833 |
| Technical Certificate Dental Assistant | 39% | 77% | 100% | $5,924 |
| Health Information Management | 59% | 60% | 73% | $8,504 |
| Technical Certificate Accounting Technology | 44% | 76% | 87% | $9,083 |
| Electronics Technology | 24% | 57% | 66% | $8,913 |
| Certificate of Proficiency in Graphic Design | 74% | 57% | 63% | $6,577 |
| Bicycle Assembly & Repair Technician Program | 64% | 43% | 55% | $2,869 |
| Child Advocacy Studies | 79% | 57% | 96% | $6,286 |
| Technical Certificate in Graphic Design | 53% | 59% | 65% | $7,500 |
| Food Studies- Baking Arts | 78% | 68% | 79% | $8,673 |
| Criminal Justice-Technical Certificate | 71% | 94% | 91% | $10,564 |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, WIOA participant outcomes (trainingproviderresults.gov), PY 2023.
College-Wide Statistics · IPEDS Federal Survey
What Are the Student Outcomes at NorthWest Arkansas Community College?
Unlike the program-level results above, the figures below cover all students at NorthWest Arkansas Community College, tracked over eight years by the federal IPEDS survey.
Overall Completion Rate
22.5%
Working Student Success
21.2%
Transfer Out Rate
32.7%
Still Enrolled Rate
0.9%
How NorthWest Arkansas Community College Compares
NorthWest Arkansas Community College's 23% completion rate is below the typical trade-college range (which usually falls in the 30–50% band). However, 33% transfer to continue elsewhere — for trade schools, transfer often reflects intentional pathway design. 1% are still enrolled. It's worth asking the school about retention support and program-length structure if completion matters to your decision.
What Happens After Students Enroll at NorthWest Arkansas Community College?
Eight-Year Student Outcomes
Eight-year outcomes for students who entered NorthWest Arkansas Community College. This shows what happened to students in their cohort by the end of the tracking period.
Understanding These Outcomes
Completed: Students who earned a certificate, diploma, or degree from this institution.
Still Enrolled: Students who remain enrolled at this institution after the tracking period.
Transferred Out: Students who transferred to another institution and may have completed there.
No Award: Students who left without earning a credential and are not enrolled elsewhere.
These outcomes track what happened to students eight years after they first enrolled. Completion rates include certificates, diplomas, and degrees earned at this institution. Transfer rates show students who continued their education at other colleges. Understanding these pathways helps prospective students set realistic expectations and plan their educational journey.
What Are the Transfer and Continuation Patterns at NorthWest Arkansas Community College?
Success Rates by Student Entry Pathway
Comparing completion rates across different student entry pathways helps understand which groups succeed and how transfer experience impacts outcomes.
Key Insights
First-time students have an advantage of 8.0 percentage points over transfer students, which may reflect the benefits of starting fresh at the institution.
Combined 35.5% transfer-out rate suggests this institution may serve as a stepping stone for students continuing their education elsewhere.
Cohort Composition
Understanding Student Pathways
First-Time Students: Beginning postsecondary education for the first time at this institution.
Transfer-In Students: Previously attended another postsecondary institution before enrolling here.
Continuing Students: Returned to this institution after a break in enrollment.
Completion rates tracked over 8 years from initial entry.
Different student entry pathways lead to varying success rates. First-time students enter directly from high school or are starting college for the first time. Transfer students bring prior college experience and credits. Understanding these patterns helps you identify which pathway aligns best with your situation and predict your likelihood of success.
What Are the Completion Rates by Student Type at NorthWest Arkansas Community College?
What does this mean for you? These completion rates show how different types of students succeed at this institution. Full-time students have a higher completion rate (24.2%) compared to part-time students (21.2%). Consider your work and life commitments when deciding on your enrollment status. First-time students are those new to college, while transfer students have attended another institution before.
What Are the Cohort Outcomes Over Time at NorthWest Arkansas Community College?
Tracking outcomes for the 2015-16 cohort of 2,909 students
After 4 Years
After 6 Years
After 8 Years (Final)
Final Student Status
Completion Breakdown by Cohort
All First-time Students
Full-time First-time Students
Part-time First-time Students
Full-time First-time Transfer Students
All Full-time Students
Full-time Non-first-time Transfer Students
All First-time Transfer Students
All Part-time Students
Time to Completion
About This Data
Outcome measures data tracks student cohorts over 4, 6, and 8-year periods. Data is sourced from IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) and reflects the most recent available reporting year.