Do Students Succeed at Western Nebraska Community College?
A data-driven look at student outcomes at Western Nebraska Community College — completion rates, transfers, and enrollment status.
Student Success at Western Nebraska Community College at a Glance
Western Nebraska Community College is a public institution offering at least 2 but less than 4 years programs located in Scottsbluff, NE. Current enrollment is 1,569 students.
- 36.6% overall graduation rate (IPEDS)
- 36% of all entering students earn their award within 8 years
- 75% of exiters from its largest program (Basic Nursing Assistant) were employed within 6 months — verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
- DOL-verified median earnings of $4,665 per quarter after exiting Basic Nursing Assistant
- 317 graduates across 83 programs in 2025
- VA-approved for GI Bill benefits — 61 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 Western Nebraska 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Nursing Assistant | 67% | 75% | 72% | $4,665 |
| Medication Aide - Nebraska State Medication Aide Licensure | 80% | 75% | 75% | $6,323 |
| Nursing - Associate Degree - Nursing (ADN); NCLEX-RN Licensure | 25% | 78% | 53% | $16,348 |
| Nursing (LPN) - Diploma | 25% | 82% | 72% | $9,737 |
| Business Administration - Associate of Arts | 16% | 54% | 63% | $9,568 |
| Class A CDL Training - Certificate of Completion | 59% | 51% | 40% | $11,679 |
| Emergency Medical Technician - Certification | 54% | 75% | 63% | $7,526 |
| Pre-computer Science - Associate of Science | 23% | 49% | 42% | $12,066 |
| Powerline Construction & Maintenance Technology - Associate of Applied Science | 56% | 67% | 60% | $11,776 |
| Health Information Technology - Associate of Applied Science | 26% | 48% | 38% | $10,122 |
| Surgical Technology - Associate of Applied Science Degree | 19% | 88% | 94% | $11,393 |
| Human Services (transfer program) - Associate of Arts | 16% | 61% | 52% | $7,826 |
| Information Technology - Associate of Arts | — | 61% | 53% | $8,712 |
| Powerline Construction & Maintenance Technology - Certificate | 57% | 50% | 45% | $15,593 |
| Aviation Maintenance - Associate of Applied Science | 30% | 41% | — | $3,720 |
| Emergency Medical Services - AAS | — | 85% | 78% | $16,117 |
| Paramedic Certificate | — | 67% | 71% | $8,137 |
| Welding Technology - Associate of Applied Science | 40% | 43% | — | $17,622 |
| Basic Welding Technology - Certificate | 61% | 71% | 67% | $6,138 |
| Phlebotomy Technician - Certification | 29% | 79% | 73% | $7,638 |
| Social Work - Associate of Arts | — | 87% | 75% | $10,069 |
| Medical Laboratory Technician - AAS | — | 50% | 60% | $10,143 |
| Automotive Technology - Powertrain and Chassis Repair - Certificate | — | 80% | 78% | $4,590 |
| Coding Technician - Diploma | 50% | 56% | 57% | $7,517 |
| Human Services - Associate of Applied Science, Licensure | — | 80% | 60% | $5,899 |
| Business Technology - Information Technology Technical Support Option - Associate of Applied Science | — | 60% | — | $8,077 |
| Welding Technology - Diploma; Basic and Advanced Welding Certifications | — | 71% | — | $11,169 |
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 Western Nebraska Community College?
Unlike the program-level results above, the figures below cover all students at Western Nebraska Community College, tracked over eight years by the federal IPEDS survey.
Overall Completion Rate
36%
Working Student Success
36.4%
Transfer Out Rate
20.7%
Still Enrolled Rate
1.1%
How Western Nebraska Community College Compares
Western Nebraska Community College's 36% completion rate is right in the typical band for trade and vocational schools — most peer institutions land somewhere in the 30–50% range. Another 21% transfer out and 1% remain enrolled; these together usually account for the bulk of the cohort, with only a smaller share leaving without a clear next step.
What Happens After Students Enroll at Western Nebraska Community College?
Eight-Year Student Outcomes
Eight-year outcomes for students who entered Western Nebraska 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.
Combined completion and transfer rate of 56.1% indicates strong student success pathways.
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 Western Nebraska 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
Transfer students outperform first-time students by 23.0 percentage points, suggesting the institution provides strong support for transfer pathways and recognizes prior learning effectively.
Combined 22.5% 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 Western Nebraska Community College?
What does this mean for you? These completion rates show how different types of students succeed at this institution. Notably, part-time students have a higher success rate here (36.4% vs 35.8% for full-time), which is great news if you plan to work while studying. This pattern is common at trade colleges where programs are designed to accommodate working adults. First-time students are those new to college, while transfer students have attended another institution before.
What Are the Cohort Outcomes Over Time at Western Nebraska Community College?
Tracking outcomes for the 2015-16 cohort of 1,769 students
After 4 Years
After 6 Years
After 8 Years (Final)
Final Student Status
Completion Breakdown by Cohort
Part-time First-time Transfer Students
All First-time Transfer Students
Full-time First-time Transfer Students
Full-time Non-first-time Transfer Students
All Full-time Students
All Part-time Students
All Non-first-time Transfer Students
Part-time First-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.