Northwest Iowa Community College (NCC) is celebrating a historic milestone with record-breaking credit enrollment figures for the 2024-2025 academic year. Building on the momentum from the previous year, the college has seen unprecedented enrollment numbers for both the fall and spring semesters, positioning NCC to surpass the all-time enrollment record set in the 2023-2024 academic year.
For Spring 2025, NCC reports a remarkable 2,036 students enrolled, marking a 4.30% increase from last year’s spring enrollment of 1,952. This achievement represents the largest spring cohort in the college’s history since its founding in 1966.
The Fall 2024 semester also contributed to this growth, with enrollment reaching 1,907 students—an impressive 6.42% increase from Fall 2023’s record of 1,792 students. These strong fall numbers underscore NCC’s continued commitment to serving the educational needs of the region, ensuring that academic engagement is on the rise year after year.
As the 2023-2024 academic year concluded, NCC recorded a total unduplicated headcount of 2,778 students, a 2.85% increase over the prior year. This steady, sustained growth reflects the college’s ability to evolve with the needs of the community while remaining a cornerstone of higher education in Northwest Iowa.
Several factors contribute to this success, including NCC’s flexible scheduling options, which offer multiple terms and start dates throughout the year, making higher education more accessible to a rural student population. The college’s impressive academic outcomes are another key reason for its continued success. NCC boasts a graduation rate of 55.4%, the highest among Iowa community colleges and one of the best nationwide. Additionally, the college maintains the highest student success rate in Iowa at 61.2% and an exceptional federal loan default rate of just 1.5%, according to the 2023 Iowa Department of Education Profile Report.
According to the State of Iowa’s Education Outcomes report, NCC graduates earn more after graduation than those from any other community college in Iowa. This achievement reflects NCC’s core message: ‘Your Success is Our Story.’ The college is dedicated to providing exceptional educational opportunities that meet the needs of students, leading to impactful careers post-graduation.
Recent national recognitions reflect NCC’s continued excellence:
• Aspen Prize For Community College Excellence eligible – 8 times, Aspen Institute
• #1 Best Two-Year Online Agriculture Degree Programs of 2025 (Intelligent.com)
• #1 Best Associate College in Iowa (UniversityHQ)
• #1 Best Online Community College in Iowa. (UniversityHQ)