Wallace Community College vs. Northwest Shoals Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare George C Wallace State Community College Selma in Selma, AL with Northwest Shoals Community College in Muscle Shoals, AL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northwest Shoals Community College is larger than Wallace Community College based on total student enrollment (4,665 students vs. 1,925 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• George C Wallace State Community College Selma is located in Selma, AL (Rural Fringe setting); Northwest Shoals Community College is in Muscle Shoals, AL (Small City setting).
• George C Wallace State Community College Selma is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Northwest Shoals Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: George C Wallace State Community College Selma 15:1; Northwest Shoals Community College 18:1.

Wallace Community College vs. Northwest Shoals Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wallace Community College or Northwest Shoals Community College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwest Shoals Community College than Wallace Community College ($3,054 vs. $8,787).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwest Shoals Community College are 9.1% lower than at George C Wallace State Community College Selma ($10,000 vs. $11,000).
• Northwest Shoals Community College is 8.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wallace Community College (about $391 more per year; $5,131.00 vs. $4,740.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.5% higher at Northwest Shoals Community College than at George C Wallace State Community College Selma (about $391 more per year; $9,001.00 vs. $8,610.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at George C Wallace State Community College Selma than at Northwest Shoals Community College (94% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by George C Wallace State Community College Selma students is 31.7% larger than aid received by Northwest Shoals Community College students ($10,655 vs. $8,090).

Wallace Community College vs. Northwest Shoals Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wallace Community College or Northwest Shoals Community College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Northwest Shoals Community College and Wallace Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wallace Community College - Open admission; Northwest Shoals Community College - Open admission.

Wallace Community College vs. Northwest Shoals Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wallace Community College and Northwest Shoals Community College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Northwest Shoals Community College earn a median of about $2,500 more per year than Wallace Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,900 vs. $27,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.