SHELDON, IA – – Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon has set a record Fall enrollment of 1,907 students, making this the largest fall class since the college’s founding in 1966. This figure represents a 6.42% increase from the Fall 2023 enrollment of 1,792 students, which was the previous second-highest in NCC’s history.
While this record-breaking fall enrollment is a notable achievement, NCC operates with multiple terms and start dates throughout the academic year. Another key metric is the total unduplicated headcount for the full academic year. In August 2024, at the conclusion of the 2023-2024 academic year, NCC recorded a total of 2,778, a 2.85% increase over the 2022-2023 academic year of 2,701 enrolled students.
Kristin Kollbaum, Director of Marketing & Communications, says NCC is thrilled to see the fall enrollment reach new heights. She says the enrollment figure is a direct reflection of NCC’s hard work as well as their commitment to providing high-quality, affordable, and accessible education. She says steady growth over the past decade shows programs meet the evolving needs of Northwest Iowans and align with industry demands.
NCC holds the highest student success rate in Iowa at 61.2%, significantly higher than the statewide average of 52.8%. NCC’s graduation rate is 55.4%, outpacing the state average of 42.1%. NCC’s combined credit and non-credit student penetration rate ranks 6th in the state at 9.9%, according to the 2023 Iowa Department of Education Profile Report.
