Northwest Shoals Community College vs. Bishop State Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Northwest Shoals Community College is larger than Bishop State Community College based on total student enrollment (4,665 students vs. 4,001 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Northwest Shoals Community College is located in Muscle Shoals, AL (Small City setting); Bishop State Community College is in Mobile, AL (Midsize City setting).
• Northwest Shoals Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Bishop State Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Northwest Shoals Community College 18:1; Bishop State Community College 17:1.

Northwest Shoals Community College vs. Bishop State Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwest Shoals Community College or Bishop State 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 Bishop State Community College ($3,054 vs. $5,695).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwest Shoals Community College are 38.2% lower than at Bishop State Community College ($10,000 vs. $16,182).
• Bishop State Community College is 4.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Northwest Shoals Community College (about $209 more per year; $5,340.00 vs. $5,131.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.3% higher at Bishop State Community College than at Northwest Shoals Community College (about $209 more per year; $9,210.00 vs. $9,001.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bishop State Community College than at Northwest Shoals Community College (85% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northwest Shoals Community College students is 7.1% larger than aid received by Bishop State Community College students ($8,090 vs. $7,554).

Northwest Shoals Community College vs. Bishop State Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northwest Shoals Community College or Bishop State 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 Bishop State Community College and Northwest Shoals Community College.

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

Northwest Shoals Community College vs. Bishop State Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northwest Shoals Community College and Bishop State 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 $3,200 more per year than Bishop State Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,900 vs. $26,700), 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.