National Park College vs. NWACC

Comparable Facts

Compare National Park College in Hot Springs, AR with NorthWest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville, AR on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

NorthWest Arkansas Community College is larger than National Park College based on total student enrollment (8,412 students vs. 1,805 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• National Park College is located in Hot Springs, AR (Rural Fringe setting); NorthWest Arkansas Community College is in Bentonville, AR (Small City setting).
• National Park College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. NorthWest Arkansas Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: National Park College 16:1; NorthWest Arkansas Community College 13:1.

National Park College vs. NWACC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, National Park College or NWACC? 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 Arkansas Community College than National Park College ($7,329 vs. $13,429).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at National Park College are 25% lower than at NorthWest Arkansas Community College ($6,750 vs. $9,000).
• National Park College is 22.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than NWACC (about $1,124 more per year; $6,050.00 vs. $4,926.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 39% higher at National Park College than at NorthWest Arkansas Community College (about $2,042 more per year; $7,280.00 vs. $5,238.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at National Park College than at NorthWest Arkansas Community College (88% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by National Park College students is 39.7% larger than aid received by NorthWest Arkansas Community College students ($6,344 vs. $4,541).

National Park College vs. NWACC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, National Park College or NWACC? 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 NWACC and National Park College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: National Park College - Open admission; NWACC - Open admission.

National Park College vs. NWACC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for National Park College and NWACC? 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 Arkansas Community College earn a median of about $8,400 more per year than National Park College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,500 vs. $28,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, National Park College graduates have a $2,217 lower median loan debt than NWACC graduates ($11,533 vs. $13,750).
• Among borrowers, National Park College graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NWACC graduates ($119 vs. $142).
• More NWACC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former National Park College students, three years after graduation. (40% vs. 30%)

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.