Northwest Iowa Community College has set a fall enrollment record, welcoming 2,068 students for fall 2026.
The total is an increase of 59 students, or 2.94%, from last fall’s enrollment of 2,009. It marks the third consecutive year of enrollment growth and only the second time the college has surpassed 2,000 students in a fall semester.
A Decade of Growth
NCC’s fall enrollment has increased by 26.6% over the past decade, rising from 1,634 students in 2016 to this year’s record.
“We are grateful to see NCC’s fall enrollment reach a new record this year,” said Kristin Kollbaum, director of marketing and communications. “Three consecutive years of enrollment growth and a 26.6% increase over the past decade demonstrate the trust students and families place in NCC to provide quality, affordable, hands-on education.”
The college also reported growth in the number of students served over the full academic year. Its unduplicated headcount, which counts each student once across multiple terms and start dates, reached 2,911 for the 2025–2026 academic year that concluded in August. That compares with 2,886 the previous year, an increase of about 1%.
Completion Rate Leads Iowa Community Colleges
According to NCC, its completion rate for the most recent reported cohort was 66.8%, the highest among Iowa’s 15 community colleges. That compares with a statewide average of 45.5% and a national average of approximately 39.9% for public two-year institutions.
The college separately reported a student success rate of 69.6%, compared with 56% for Iowa community colleges and 39.9% nationally.
“Even more important, our students continue to succeed and graduate at rates above state and national averages,” Kollbaum said. “That reflects the heart of who we are—an institution committed to service, success, and meeting the needs of Northwest Iowa.”
NCC also highlighted its recognition as a Top 20 College for the 2025 Aspen Prize and recognition from the Carnegie Foundation for Impact, Access, and Student Success.
Prospective students can learn more through a Find Your Thunder group visit day or an individual campus visit. Visits include opportunities to tour campus and residence halls, meet faculty and current students, and speak with admissions representatives.
