JSCC vs. Northwest Shoals Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Jefferson State Community College is larger than Northwest Shoals Community College based on total student enrollment (9,240 students vs. 4,665 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Jefferson State Community College is located in Birmingham, AL (Midsize City setting); Northwest Shoals Community College is in Muscle Shoals, AL (Small City setting).
• Jefferson State Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Northwest Shoals Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Jefferson State Community College 19:1; Northwest Shoals Community College 18:1.

JSCC vs. Northwest Shoals Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, JSCC 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 JSCC ($3,054 vs. $8,778).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwest Shoals Community College are 37.2% lower than at Jefferson State Community College ($10,000 vs. $15,921).
• Northwest Shoals Community College is 0.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than JSCC (about $31 more per year; $5,131.00 vs. $5,100.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.3% higher at Northwest Shoals Community College than at Jefferson State Community College (about $31 more per year; $9,001.00 vs. $8,970.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwest Shoals Community College than at Jefferson State Community College (80% vs. 70%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northwest Shoals Community College students is 28.4% larger than aid received by Jefferson State Community College students ($8,090 vs. $6,302).

JSCC vs. Northwest Shoals Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, JSCC 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 JSCC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: JSCC - Open admission; Northwest Shoals Community College - Open admission.
• Accepted freshman Northwest Shoals Community College students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at JSCC (2.98).

JSCC vs. Northwest Shoals Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for JSCC 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 Jefferson State Community College earn a median of about $2,900 more per year than Northwest Shoals Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,800 vs. $29,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Jefferson State Community College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than Northwest Shoals Community College graduates ($8,500 vs. $11,000).
• Among borrowers, JSCC graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northwest Shoals Community College graduates ($87 vs. $113).
• More JSCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northwest Shoals Community College students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 37%)

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.