Northwest State Community College (NSCC) Introduction and History

Introduction

For students in northwest Ohio seeking a springboard to a new job or an affordable start to their college careers, Northwest State Community College is an excellent option.

Small class sizes, convenient satellite campuses and a good mix of career and academic programs make Northwest State Community College, whose main campus is located in Archbold, Ohio, a good pick. Community colleges are becoming a more popular option for many students, as the current economic climate is pressuring many workers to return to school for training to prepare them for a new career, and forcing students to look for more affordable higher education options.

Information Summary

Ranks 77th in Ohio and 2124th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	61.7
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$6,207
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	13 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	68% / 43%
Enrollment Total (all students)	2,377

History

Northwest State Community College was established as Four County Technical Institute in 1968. Four years later it moved to its current main campus and became Northwest Technical Institute. The late 1980s and 1990s were a period of growth for the college as it opened new buildings, nearly doubling in size, and changed its name to Northwest State Community College while expanding its role in preparing students for four-year colleges.

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Academics

Northwest State Community College offers career and academic classes, and has considerable resources dedicated to its health and workforce development training programs. The college is an important part of the local economy’s workforce development infrastructure, as 80 percent of NSCC students remain in the northwest Ohio area.

Altogether, the college offers more than 70 associate and career technical programs as well as more than 300 continuing education classes for lifelong learners each year. Like most colleges and universities, Northwest State Community College has been improving its distance learning options in recent years, and the school now offers 93 courses online.

Popular Majors

The most popular majors at Northwest State Community College include:

Business: 29 percent of enrollment
Health: 22 percent of enrollment
Engineering: 14 percent of enrollment
Social and Behavioral Sciences: 12 percent of enrollment
Education: 10 percent of enrollment

Respected Programs and Campus Improvements

The college recently broke ground on a new Allied Health and Public Services building. The new $5.5 million building will connect to an existing building on campus and provide a nursing lab, additional classroom and office space and a new home for the college’s Custom Training Solutions program.

The Custom Training Solutions program partners with local business to provide training specifically intended for the skill sets those particular businesses need.

A new wind turbine was also recently installed on campus to support the school’s new alternative energy degree program.

Special Programs

For students who want to pursue bachelor’s and graduate degrees but would have difficulty attending a four-year college due to work or family obligations, Northwest State Community College offers several programs that allow students to complete four-year and graduate programs on the NSCC campus. Students can pursue bachelor’s degrees in Applied Science in Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology, Organizational Management, and an MBA on the NSCC campus thanks to agreements the college has worked out with four-year schools.

The college also has programs that allow high school students to take courses at NSCC for both high school and college credit, helping them get a head start on their post-secondary education.

Accreditation

The college is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, which accredits schools in Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The association also accredits schools for the Navajo Nation.

Most Popular Fields of Study

Admissions

Northwest State Community College has an open admissions policy, meaning that any student with a high school diploma or GED will be accepted. Some programs in the college, such as the nursing programs may have other requirements, including an interview.

Students may be asked to take a COMPASS placement test to determine whether they will need to take remedial courses. The school has a rolling admissons deadline, but students applying for financial aid should turn in their documentation by June 1. Students should complete the FAFSA and turn in high school transcripts as well as test score and other relevant information.

As of Sept. 2011, the college has a $20 application fee.

Financial Aid

Students applying to Northwest State Community College are eligible for federal grants and student loans. There are also a number of grants and scholarships offered by the state of Ohio, the college itself, and other outside organizations for which students may qualify. The college’s website has a comprehensive list of scholarships and other programs, such as short-term loans, that students can use to attend class at NSCC.

The college’s office of financial aid stands ready to help students find other grants and scholarships they may be eligible for. About 73 percent of Northwest State Community College students receive financial aid of some type.

The college’s foundation recently received a $2.97 million bequest from the Fackler estate that will be used to provide scholarships for Henry County residents. The college also offers a discount for students who schedule three-hour credit classes on Fridays. The annual savings to NSCC students from this discount program is estimated to be in excess of $400,000.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 6650th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Ohio.

Students

Northwest State Community College enrolls more than 6,700 students. The college is majority white, but has a significant number of African-American students on campus. The student body is predominately male (54 percent) a rarity among college and university campuses. The average student age is 28 and 45 percent of students are over the age of 25.

Northwest State Community College’s main campus is on 77 acres of land in Archbold. The school also has satellite campuses in Bryan, Metamora, Defiance, Paulding, Scott Park and Van Wert.

The college offers a handful of student activities and clubs, including academic and professional groups and recreation organizations. The college has a fitness center with exercise equipment and basketball and volleyball courts and a horseshoe pit outside.

Campus Services

For students who are parents, the college has a child care center that accepts children from ages 3-5 and provides them with a curriculum intended to prepare them for kindergarten. Center hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The school’s student success center provides students with individual and group tutoring and classes on overcoming test anxiety.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Athletics

Northwest State Community College offers intramural sports including men’s and women’s non-tackle football, basketball, softball, bowling, table tennis and volleyball.

Northwest State Community College teams are called the Pacers.

Traditions

The college sponsors an annual chili cookout, a popular event for both NSCC staff and students and the local community.

Bibliography

“Northwest State Community College.” Northwest State Community College. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Oct. 2011. <http://www.northweststate.edu

The College Board College Handbook, 2010 . 47th ed. New York: College Board, 2009. Print.

McGrath, Anne. Ultimate college guide 2010 . 7th ed. Naperville, Ill.: Sourcebooks Inc., 2009. Print.

Northwest State Community College